Plant nopales to start your own prickly pear.
Opuntia engelmannii cactus, also known as prickly pear, is a common North American cactus. Its bright yellow flowers and red fruit make it a frequently seen ornamental in xeriscape gardens. The best way to start prickly pear in your own yard is to plant nopales. Nopales are the wide, flat, edible pads that give the prickly pear its interesting shape. An ideal place to obtain nopales is at a reputable nursery. Or, harvest six-month-old or older nopales on your own. Allow the cut to dry and callous for two weeks before planting.
Instructions
1. Put on a pair of thick gardening or work gloves to protect your hands from the spines.
2. Plant the bottom of the nopal 1-inch-deep into the ground. Position the nopal so that the thin sides face north and south and the flat edges face east and west. This way the sun will hit the slimmest part of the nopal during the hottest part of the day and prevent sunburn.
3. Keep one hand on top of the nopal to steady it.
4. Place rocks next to the broad sides of the nopal to steady it and keep it upright.
5. Remove the rocks after roughly six weeks. The nopal will have put down roots and will stand up on its own. Replace the rocks and check again in two weeks if the nopal is unsteady.
6. Give the nopal 1 inch of water once it can stand on its own. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again. Use a gentle spray from a hose or watering can.
Tags: prickly pear, nopal steady, weeks nopal
