Prickly pear: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you plant a prickly pear cactus?
Before planting Opuntia ficus-indica, check whether your climate genuinely allows outdoor ground growing. It likes warmth and sunshine but dislikes frost and winter wet. In cool regions, prefer a draining pot that can move to a bright, frost-free place. For outdoor establishment, wait for a mild spring period without frost risk.
Prepare a very free-draining cactus medium containing mineral material and use a container with drainage holes. In suitable ground, avoid hollows where water collects. Adding ordinary compost alone to a clay pit does not solve drainage. Do not soak roots for hours as though treating a thirsty shrub. Remove the pot carefully, retain healthy roots and position the base near its previous level without deeply burying pads.
Handle with tongs and suitable protection: tiny glochids can penetrate ordinary gloves. Stabilise the rootball gently without heavy compaction. Do not impose abundant watering followed by daily watering. Check the medium and allow drying between applications during growth. Acclimatise a sheltered plant gradually to outdoor sun to limit scorching. Damp mulch against the base cannot replace suitable winter shelter.
When does prickly pear flower and how do you monitor its blooms?
When and how do you prune prickly pear?
How do you harvest prickly pear fruit?
