Cactus Fruit aka Prickly Pear

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Ekierk

Registered:1349141058
Posts: 165

Posted 1368373360	Reply with quote #1

Does anyone have pads from a prickly pear? A recent trip to Italy has brought memorys from the Prickly Pear. I remember from my childhood, a field full of Prickly pears and in the late summer, they would be all ripe, so during summer vacation, one day my whole family would go to field and pick prickly pears. They weren't as good as the ones in Italy, but still a VERY close second. Does anyone have pads of Prickly pears? Someone in my neighborhood has prickly pears growing. I asked them, they said the had it for 10 years, from Mexico, and never gotten a fruit on it.

shah8

Registered:1339623766
Posts: 657

Posted 1368376155	Reply with quote #2

contact nullzero, he's the major cactus fruit guy on fruit growing forums. __________________ Especially desired figs: UCD 187-25, UCD 200-48, UCD 157-17, UCD 309-B1, Princesa, Black Madeira, high quality sugar fig that ripens Sept-Oct. Probable desired fig: Smith, St Jean, JH Adriatic, CddB, Gulbun, Pastilliere, Sucrette Rooting: Smith, CDDB--this pretty much means I have my fun tries (tho' important since they are truly desirable), and only interested for this year: Gulbun, BM, 187-25, or something wildly exotic or precious that nobody has any good reason to send me.

BLB

Registered:1214341548
Posts: 2,936

Posted 1368406179	Reply with quote #3

I do and can send you a couple to grow, but be prepared to winter the plants indoors

americanfiglover

Registered:1236649731
Posts: 643

Posted 1368410121	Reply with quote #4

The fruit is good. Getting to the fruit on top without falling in was the challenge for me. This was years ago when I was in elementary back in 2001. Haven't had one since. __________________ Jarrett Spokane, WA ZONE 6A Proudly Serving in the United States Armed Forces, 2009-Present Everyone should have a green thumb Figs: Nero600m

Ekierk

Registered:1349141058
Posts: 165

Posted 1368410665	Reply with quote #5

BLB: I contacted you. American Fig boy: The plants weren't that tall in Italy, only like 5 feet tall. It would of sucked if you had fallen in the prickers

gorgi

Registered:1188888396
Posts: 2,864

Posted 1368411357	Reply with quote #6

Prickly Pears come in (at least) white, yellow and red color variations. Attached Images DSC02455.JPG (147.07 KB, 66 views) __________________ George, NJ_z7a.

elin

Registered:1360863025
Posts: 1,271

Posted 1368437662	Reply with quote #7

Hi here in israel they grow these in side of the roads everywhere. i took a pad one year ago and now it looks like: the problem is it doesnt fruit yet dont know hwy. maybe i am over watering it or maybe it needs to be root bound? anyhow at least its rooted..... ill take more pads of the side of the roads.... does anyone knows if somone can grow these from the fruit (as seen in youtube)? films with a ficus indica farm for some fun: Attached Images CIMG1563.jpg (107.00 KB, 20 views) __________________ Eli ,Israel ,Zone 10? Too humid and hot, yada yada yada https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1298814119 Growing: Sbayi, Hmadi, Black Portugal, Black Brazil,Excell, Flanders, Hmari , RDB, Niagra Black,Natalina, CDDN,Maya, Preto Torres, Preto Arge

7deuce

Registered:1275528558
Posts: 566

Posted 1368474982	Reply with quote #8

Those look delicious. What do they taste like? __________________ Jason V Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/ Zone 7 Wishlist: Nothing.

pino

Registered:1383190021
Posts: 2,117

Posted 1396742072	Reply with quote #9

Bumped up - original post question; The secret to getting prickly pear to flower and thus produce prickly pears is among other things make sure it gets full winter dormancy. It has worked for me by keeping the temp around 0C. Here is a photo of it last fall. __________________ Pino, zone 6, Niagara, JCJ Acres Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1396749375	Reply with quote #10

I have this hidden pocked of Prickly pears growing in a secret hillside with dirt driveway... every summer i go there to harvest these...yummy yum yums... the orange variety.

Charitup

Registered:1364254079
Posts: 592

Posted 1396752593	Reply with quote #11

I got a start several years ago maybe 20 years or so ago. I just set them out in some poor Georgia red clay and never do anything to them except pick some fruit every year and it seems to do just fine all on it's own. Very easy keeper and bears lot's of fruit every year. I love the blooms too. __________________ goss North Ga. zone 7

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1396752872	Reply with quote #12

what are they like? taste? texture? i see them all the time, but never had them before. not that i'm looking for more stuff to grow.. __________________ Pete Durham, NC Zone 7b "don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher *** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. * * and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...***

Dieseler

Registered:1215735852
Posts: 8,252

Posted 1396755070	Reply with quote #13

Dad use to bring them home from club friends and they were fabulous.

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1396763892	Reply with quote #14

Pete, they are seed pods, you have to carefully peel them first, each seed is surrounded with some pulp around it, you just mush it in your mouth and swallow, don't chew the seeds, they are tough. They come in Green, yellow, orange and Purple colors. sweetness varies according to color. I think the sweets I have tasted are orange ones so far, and the purples are the most aromatic. I think, if you search the YouTube under my screen name (Aaron4USA) you may find a short vid how to peel and eat them... It's an awful take. LOL

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1396764206	Reply with quote #15

In Italy they are called FichiD'india, in Spanish they are Tunas, in Israel they are Sabras. They grow all over Sicily. My great-grandmother used to make cookies with them in Sicily. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

elin

Registered:1360863025
Posts: 1,271

Posted 1396768556	Reply with quote #16

I am growing mine in clay pot. this plant was started from one pad 2 years ago, dont know if it will fruit but hopefully with the dryness of the clay pot ill get it to flower. also saw in some mexican youtube video that they chop half of the pods for some reason -maybe to get them to fruit? Attached Images unnamed.jpg (25.52 KB, 14 views) __________________ Eli ,Israel ,Zone 10? Too humid and hot, yada yada yada https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1298814119 Growing: Sbayi, Hmadi, Black Portugal, Black Brazil,Excell, Flanders, Hmari , RDB, Niagra Black,Natalina, CDDN,Maya, Preto Torres, Preto Arge

cis4elk

Registered:1347840383
Posts: 1,718

Posted 1396817979	Reply with quote #17

Are all pad type cactus fruits edible? In the plains we have a smaller native pad type cactus and everything is similar to Prickly Pear, just smaller..and more prickly. They are probably a waste of time but I wonder every time I see one with fruits on it. __________________ Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6 Wants List: For everyone to clean-up after themselves and co-exist peacefully. Let's think more about the future of our planet and less about ourselves. :)

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1396821883	Reply with quote #18

if they are sweet, enjoy them :)

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1396823661	Reply with quote #19

I learned about these last fall and ordered 2 different kinds off ebay. The one with the new growth turns purple as summer goes on. I believe they are both the red fruit varieties. Maybe I will look for some more colors. Attached Images DSC02006_(1024x905).jpg (550.73 KB, 3 views) DSC02005_(1024x767).jpg (443.48 KB, 3 views) __________________ Tami SE Texas

rafed

Registered:1252876934
Posts: 5,308

Posted 1396824296	Reply with quote #20

I used to enjoy seeing them when I used to drive in the Southwest. All kind of colors from red to yellow, orange and purple. They were a beautiful sight to see.

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1396828771	Reply with quote #21

I'd like some for the part of our property outside the chain link. They would provide another fence, but they spread pretty fast, and how do you harvest the middle? In thinking mode. Suzi __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1396829735	Reply with quote #22

Just keep them trimmed to a thin line so you can reach. __________________ Tami SE Texas

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