Eric gave me a couple of pads of prickley pear cactus last fall. These went into the ground at the time but didn’t root before winter. I know this because something knocked them out of the ‘hole’ and they sat there all winter, uncovered, looking shriveled and purple. Eric swore to me that they would come back this spring though I would have had my doubts had he not assured me. Eric is an excellent gardener and I can pretty much take what he says as gospel with regards to landscape/flowers/ornamentals etc. My experience with those is sorely lacking and I need all the advice I can get.
This spring during a round of cleanup I very carefully picked one of the pads up to find that it had started to put out some roots. I planted the pieces and have watched them slowly plump up and come back to life. Go Eric!
Lately I have noticed some growths on the edge of a couple of the pads. I am guessing flowers. Eric tells me his are loaded with flowers. I can hardly wait. I had wanted some of this cactus for some time, one variety of prickly pear grew quite happily out in California where I grew up. Kind of like a bit of home.
Hm. I should go and check mine, and see if I have anything looking like a bloom.
Right after it stops raining.
Rain!
Yeah I do remember something called sun back in the far reaches of my memory. That and warmth. Its more like early April here than mid May sans the frosts.
I’ve been told that the one on the left is probably a flower. The flower buds are more rounded and the ones that will turn into another pad tend to be flatter.
You know you can make some of the most yummy jelly out of the pickly pears of the cactus. Just wait until they turn that dark pinkish/red color.
Susan,
I knew the pads were edible but hadn’t heard of the jelly. Got a recipe u care to share?
I have several cuttings of the prickly pears. Can someone tell me how to “start” them. I read on the internet that just set them in sandy soil and wait for them to form the callous, however I do NOT know whether to water them or what to do! I am way up here in Maine. but know that they DO grow in Ontario, Canada which is as cold as it is here!! Tis Aug. 13th and would like them to take root before fall (which is about a month away! Can anyone “HELP”??? Many thanks! Janet