Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas

Richard · 01-25-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltydad

Richard, the only edible cactus/succulent I'm growing is my Opuntia humifusa. The problem is it's in my front bed next to the street and the deer get to the fruit before I do!

The Cactus plant tribe Opuntieae is historically an important source of food for both humans and fauna.

The young joints, pads, or pods of the plants are called Nopalitos, and so are many foods and/or fillings derived from them. The very small pods are boiled and served like snap peas. Young pods are pressed to exude a thick white liquid or paste which is used as a substitute for eggs. The pods are also chopped and cooked in foods and/or fillings -- typically with chopped onions and peppers, sometimes also with cheese, eggs, and spices. The chopped pods are also marinated or pickled into a plethora of appetizers, candies, and condiments. One treasured cultivar for nopalitos is a completely spineless deep green Opuntia called Supra nopalito, another is a cultivar of Opuntia ficus-indica called Burbank's Spineless (yeah, a Luther Burbank cultivar).

Then of course there are the fruits. These are eaten fresh, dried into cakes called Tunas, pressed or boiled into a syrup, fermented into alcoholic beverages, and more. Species from which commercial fruiting cultivars have been derived include Opuntia ficus-indica, Opuntia megacantha, Opuntia streptacantha, and Opuntia tuna.

For more details, I recommend Stephan Facciola's book "Cornucopia II".

mbfirey · 01-25-2011, 05:05 PM

Any of the "fruiting" cultivars hardy to zone 8?

We've got lots of Prickly Cactus here in SC but the fruits are just to seedy to enjoy eating. I do however buy the red and green "tunas" from the local latin market frequently. I'd love to try to grow them.

Richard · 01-25-2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbfirey

Any of the "fruiting" cultivars hardy to zone 8?

Well, they all fruit. I have observed some Opuntia species growing in mountainous areas of the southwest desert in what is definitely zone 8, and probably zone 7.

As for the cultivars of certain species, I'm not sure but I'd like to find out!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbfirey

We've got lots of Prickly Cactus here in SC but the fruits are just to seedy to enjoy eating. I do however buy the red and green "tunas" from the local latin market frequently. I'd love to try to grow them.

Ok, but how are they doing with sources of Nitrogen and Potash? The prickly pear that is planted as a living fence alongside citrus groves and receive a trickle of the irrigation water with fertilizer produce awesome fruit.

palmtree · 01-25-2011, 07:50 PM

I like the spineless one!
I have an eastern prickly pear (native to here apparently). I haven't noticed any fruit, but it does have very nice yellow flowers.

Jananas Bananas · 01-25-2011, 09:57 PM

I have prickly pear spined and the Burbank spineless:

And I eat nopalitos - to me with a little salt and butter, they taste like green beans. I made my own from my own cactus and have bought them at the grocery store.

I have eaten the purple flesh tuna and it was OK. I just ate it off the cactus - it would have been better chilled. IMO

~JaNan

mbfirey · 01-26-2011, 09:28 AM

When I said "Fruiting" I meant the kind generally used for Fruit- like mentioned in the first post, like you'd buy at a store.
The ones here seem to do great, I picked a garbage bag full from a friends plant, but they just didn't peel well, nor could they be eaten fresh with the enjoyment we get from the store-bought ones.

Richard · 01-26-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbfirey

When I said "Fruiting" I meant the kind generally used for Fruit- like mentioned in the first post, like you'd buy at a store.
The ones here seem to do great, I picked a garbage bag full from a friends plant, but they just didn't peel well, nor could they be eaten fresh with the enjoyment we get from the store-bought ones.

Well, with any luck there's someone here on bananas.org growing a great-tasting variety in zone 8 (average winter lows in the range 10F to 20F [-12C to -7C]).

mbfirey · 01-26-2011, 11:24 AM

Here's hoping....

Jananas Bananas · 02-11-2011, 09:53 AM

Dean did you say you had a boatload of the Spineless? I think Mike and Alex would like some!

Here is a link I found (looking for something else) that you guys might like to check out. Several recipes and quite a list for varieties.

SEDONA VISIONS PRICKLY PEAR

Richard, I figured you would really appreciate this link!

~JaNan

The Hollyberry Lady · 02-11-2011, 11:33 AM

Here's my prickly pear cutting from JaNan...

Shortly after it rooted, it began to produce a flower bud! I thought more branches would grow first but it's growing a flower instead!

: )

Jananas Bananas · 02-11-2011, 11:40 AM

Sherry's is the Spineless (though called Spineless they can sometimes have tiny ones - the needles are not huge like the average prickly pear). I have searched all over to try and find a flower bud before it is a flower without luck. It may be a new branch, but I don't know why it would be flowing like that. None of parent plants have any new growth here yet, but I will be watching!

~J

The Hollyberry Lady · 02-11-2011, 11:38 PM

I gave it a regular supply of organic DNF (Dutch Nutrient Formula) starter formula for seedlings & cuttings, so this could be why it's flowering. Plus it's in excellent bright light.

Too cool that it's flowered while still this small. It happened when Bob sent me a Plumeria cutting too...it produced a flower bud right away and it bloomed in the middle of winter in my window.

I'll show shots as the prickly pear grows...

: )

Richard · 02-13-2011, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hollyberry Lady

I gave it a regular supply of organic DNF (Dutch Nutrient Formula) starter formula for seedlings & cuttings, so this could be why it's flowering.

Which of these formulas did you feed it?
Dutch Nutrient Formulas
Or was it something else?

The Hollyberry Lady · 02-28-2011, 09:10 PM

What the @%!$ is going on?!

Remember that bud I showed you guys a little bit ago on my prickly pear cutting from JaNan? Well it's since fell off, because I may have let the cutting get a bit too dry...

but a new one has developed and here it is today...

: o

Sorry Richard...I missed your post before.

I use a 2-part blend of DNF for the early growth of seedlings & cuttings...

Part A = 2-0-2...

Part B = 0-1-3...

Together, they equate to a 2-1-5 formula.

I also use another 2-part formula that promotes flowering and fruiting. Here's the part B...

: )

Richard · 03-02-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hollyberry Lady

What the @%!$ is going on?!

Potash with a dash of Phosphate, plus Nitrogen for quick uptake.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hollyberry Lady

Together, they equate to a 2-1-5 formula.

Actually the numbers are percentages by weight, so equal parts will give you about 1-1-3.

The Hollyberry Lady · 03-03-2011, 12:12 AM

Now I'm wondering if it really is a bud at all because someone commented that the cutting is just growing another "segment"!!!

It doesn't look like another branch but maybe it is. That would explain why one fell off and another one grew.

Guess I'll know soon enough...

: )

The Hollyberry Lady · 03-08-2011, 01:00 PM

Growing bigger...

: )

Dean W. · 03-11-2011, 01:27 AM

Don't know all the names, but here we go.

Prickly Pear

Close up of the fruits.

another

spineless

The Hollyberry Lady · 03-17-2011, 01:46 PM

Omg, I'm so in love with this plant...

Thanks so much, JaNan!

: )

01-25-2011, 05:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
mbfirey mbfirey's Photo Gallery Location: Pageland SC- Zone7b/8a line Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Mike Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 340 BananaBucks : 92,479 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 261 Times in 125 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas Any of the "fruiting" cultivars hardy to zone 8? We've got lots of Prickly Cactus here in SC but the fruits are just to seedy to enjoy eating. I do however buy the red and green "tunas" from the local latin market frequently. I'd love to try to grow them. __________________ www.nstarleather.com North Star Leather Company Quality Leather Goods-Made in USA!

01-25-2011, 07:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
palmtree palmtree 's Photo Gallery Location: New York City Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: Alex C Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,016 BananaBucks : 108,414 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,492 Times Was Thanked 1,428 Times in 644 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 103 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas I like the spineless one! I have an eastern prickly pear (native to here apparently). I haven't noticed any fruit, but it does have very nice yellow flowers. __________________ Location: New York City, zone 7b

01-25-2011, 09:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jananas Bananas Jananas Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: Austin, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b/9a Name: JaNan Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4,438 BananaBucks : 398,154 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,341 Times Was Thanked 7,059 Times in 2,683 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 133 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas I have prickly pear spined and the Burbank spineless: And I eat nopalitos - to me with a little salt and butter, they taste like green beans. I made my own from my own cactus and have bought them at the grocery store. I have eaten the purple flesh tuna and it was OK. I just ate it off the cactus - it would have been better chilled. IMO ~JaNan __________________ Jananas Bananas

01-26-2011, 09:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
mbfirey mbfirey's Photo Gallery Location: Pageland SC- Zone7b/8a line Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Mike Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 340 BananaBucks : 92,479 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 261 Times in 125 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas When I said "Fruiting" I meant the kind generally used for Fruit- like mentioned in the first post, like you'd buy at a store. The ones here seem to do great, I picked a garbage bag full from a friends plant, but they just didn't peel well, nor could they be eaten fresh with the enjoyment we get from the store-bought ones. __________________ www.nstarleather.com North Star Leather Company Quality Leather Goods-Made in USA!

01-26-2011, 11:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
mbfirey mbfirey's Photo Gallery Location: Pageland SC- Zone7b/8a line Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Mike Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 340 BananaBucks : 92,479 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 261 Times in 125 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas Here's hoping.... __________________ www.nstarleather.com North Star Leather Company Quality Leather Goods-Made in USA!

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02-11-2011, 09:53 AM	#9 (permalink)
Jananas Bananas Jananas Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: Austin, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b/9a Name: JaNan Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4,438 BananaBucks : 398,154 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,341 Times Was Thanked 7,059 Times in 2,683 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 133 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas Dean did you say you had a boatload of the Spineless? I think Mike and Alex would like some! Here is a link I found (looking for something else) that you guys might like to check out. Several recipes and quite a list for varieties. SEDONA VISIONS PRICKLY PEAR Richard, I figured you would really appreciate this link! ~JaNan __________________ Jananas Bananas

02-11-2011, 11:33 AM	#10 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,325,822 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas Here's my prickly pear cutting from JaNan... Shortly after it rooted, it began to produce a flower bud! I thought more branches would grow first but it's growing a flower instead! : )

02-11-2011, 11:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
Jananas Bananas Jananas Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: Austin, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b/9a Name: JaNan Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4,438 BananaBucks : 398,154 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,341 Times Was Thanked 7,059 Times in 2,683 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 133 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas Sherry's is the Spineless (though called Spineless they can sometimes have tiny ones - the needles are not huge like the average prickly pear). I have searched all over to try and find a flower bud before it is a flower without luck. It may be a new branch, but I don't know why it would be flowing like that. None of parent plants have any new growth here yet, but I will be watching! ~J __________________ Jananas Bananas

02-11-2011, 11:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,325,822 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas I gave it a regular supply of organic DNF (Dutch Nutrient Formula) starter formula for seedlings & cuttings, so this could be why it's flowering. Plus it's in excellent bright light. Too cool that it's flowered while still this small. It happened when Bob sent me a Plumeria cutting too...it produced a flower bud right away and it bloomed in the middle of winter in my window. I'll show shots as the prickly pear grows... : )

02-28-2011, 09:10 PM	#14 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,325,822 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas What the @%!$ is going on?! Remember that bud I showed you guys a little bit ago on my prickly pear cutting from JaNan? Well it's since fell off, because I may have let the cutting get a bit too dry... but a new one has developed and here it is today... : o Sorry Richard...I missed your post before. I use a 2-part blend of DNF for the early growth of seedlings & cuttings... Part A = 2-0-2... Part B = 0-1-3... Together, they equate to a 2-1-5 formula. I also use another 2-part formula that promotes flowering and fruiting. Here's the part B... : )

03-03-2011, 12:12 AM	#16 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,325,822 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas Now I'm wondering if it really is a bud at all because someone commented that the cutting is just growing another "segment"!!! It doesn't look like another branch but maybe it is. That would explain why one fell off and another one grew. Guess I'll know soon enough... : )

03-08-2011, 01:00 PM	#17 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,325,822 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas Growing bigger... : )

03-11-2011, 01:27 AM	#18 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,279 BananaBucks : 241,413 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,325 Times Was Thanked 2,130 Times in 972 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 300 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas Don't know all the names, but here we go. Prickly Pear Close up of the fruits. another spineless __________________

03-17-2011, 01:46 PM	#19 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,325,822 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Nopal, Opuntia, Nopalitos, Prickly Pear, Tunas Omg, I'm so in love with this plant... Thanks so much, JaNan! : )

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