Prickly Pear Cactus Growing Guide

Opuntia ficus-indica, Opuntia humifusa

Prickly Pear Cactus

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Tropical prickly pear cannot tolerate freezing weather.

Feeding

None needed.

Spacing

Single Plants: 60cm (1' 11") each way (minimum)
Rows: 60cm (1' 11") with 60cm (1' 11") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Prickly pear cactus can be started from seed, but it takes three years for seedlings to reach maturity. Instead, start with a container-grown plant, or root a pad shared by a friend. Allow the cut pad to heal for at least a week before setting it in sandy, well-drained soil. Spring to early summer are the best seasons for planting prickly pear cactus. Young plants need water their first year, but after that prickly pear is very drought tolerant.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Most Opuntia species are prohibited in Australia so please check state and local weed lists before you choose to plant Opuntia ficus-indica. Wear thick gloves when handling this plant. When transplanting, it helps to wrap the plant in paper to reduce injury to you and the cactus. Tropical prickly pear grows into a huge plant, bearing flowers that many be white, yellow, or red. The young pads of all species are edible.

Harvesting

Gather young pads for eating in early summer.

Troubleshooting

Prickly pear cactus is generally trouble-free when grown in a sunny site. Cactoblastis Moth was introduced for biological control of feral Opuntia species in Australia, the larvae of which can cause significant damage to cultivated plants if left untreated. In Australia fruit fly are a pest of prickly pear, make sure to take appropriate control measures in areas where they are present. It is important to dispose of any infected fruit and fruit has fallen to the ground by placing them in a sealed plastic bag in the sun for at least 7 days to kill the eggs and larvae. Do not compost fruit as this will lead to the fruit fly completing their life cycle and lead to the problem recurring.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Prickly Pear Cactus