PRICKLY PEARS

Opuntia ficus-indica

This prickly pear bush has a very heavy crop of mature fruit

Attractive fruits produced on a pad

The small spines are visible when fruits are closely inspected

The inside of the fruit has a sweet pulp

This is a delicate operation requiring a knife and fork. Care needs to be taken not to touch the skin

Once the inner flesh is separated, be prepared for a tasty suprise

When all else fails and there is no luck in the garden, you can always grow the prickly pear. This extremely drought tolerant cactus will grow well in dry climates even if soils are poor.

Fruit Of Many Hard Seeds

A native of Southern America the prickly pear has now been grown as an ornamental and food source in temperate and warm dry regions throughout the world. Producing fruits the size of a smallish elongated apple, green immature fruits develop a strong yellowish- red colour when ripe. The pulp has a sweet and refreshing flavour, but there are also many hard seeds found within the fruit.

Large Fleshly Pads As Vegetable

As a cactus the plant produces large fleshy pads that can be boiled and used as a vegetable, provided the spines have been removed! Uncontrolled thickets of prickly pears will become an impenetrable barrier growing as high as three metres and can become a nightmare to eradicate. Prickly pears grow readily from pads should they be cut and left on the ground, and they will also grow readily from seed.

A Cactus Fruit For Warm Areas

Outbreaks Of Prickly Pears

Outbreaks of prickly pears in Australia once became a serious weed problem, but these were brought under control with the introduction of the cactoblastus moth from Argentina. The larvae of this moth burrow into the prickly pear pads gradually killing the plant. It is interesting to note that the prickly pear was introduced into Australia as food for cattle. A spineless plant was developed in America and later introduced into New South Wales and Queensland for fodder production. Unfortunately the spineless type quickly reverted back to the normal spiny plant when seeds were produced. Cattle refused to eat the spiny pads and so the prickly pear quickly became a noxious weed.

Not A Popular Fruit For Hobby Farm

The prickly pear is not a popular fruit due it the skill required when eating fruits. The skin needs to be removed carefully as many small spines are found on the outside of fruits. These will become lodged in the mouth and on the tongue and of course on any skin surface that touches the fruit. As a youth these problems were no real deterrent and I learnt to deal with the thorns when preparing a tasty snack.

I find the need to duel with a prickly pear less compelling nowadays, but still plan to grow a clump as a hardy and attractive ornamental.