J
Fruit & berries
Prickly pear
Opuntia ficus-indica
A paddle cactus with edible prickly pears. Note: several Opuntia species spread as invasives in southern Europe (Spain lists them officially).
- Light
- Full sun (6 h or more)
- Height
- 2–4 m
- Watering
- Low: every 7–15 days, drought-tolerant
- Soil
- poor and dry; loose and well-drained
- Edible?
- Yes: the fruit
- How to plant
- Dig a hole twice the root ball; 3 m apart. Water well the first summer.
- Care
- Buy only nursery plants labelled O. ficus-indica and don't plant it next to wild land. Peel the fruit with gloves: it has fine spines.
Calendar by climate
Warm coast
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Mild Mediterranean
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Southern interior
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Continental interior
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Cold interior and uplands
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Atlantic
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Canary Islands (subtropical)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
SowPlantHarvestPruneFeedTreat
Dates are for growing outdoors, based on the local climate. In a greenhouse or tunnel everything comes earlier.
Feeding and doses
Mild Mediterranean
Not needed.
Pest prevention and doses
Mild Mediterranean
- Scale insectsPotassium soap · Jun10–20 ml / L
Approximate doses: always follow the product label. Spray in the evening, never in full sun or on flowers visited by bees. No sulphur above 30 °C.
How easy to grow by climate
- Warm coastEasy
- Mild MediterraneanEasy
- Southern interiorEasy
- Continental interiorDifficultFrost and a short season
- Cold interior and uplandsNot recommended outdoorsHard, long frosts
- AtlanticNot recommended outdoorsRain and humidity: fungal disease
- Canary Islands (subtropical)Easy
Plants in the same category
- Strawberry
- Lemon tree
- Olive tree
- Fig tree
- Raspberry
- Blueberry
- Grapevine
- Orange tree
- Almond tree
- Pomegranate
- Loquat
- Avocado
- Peach tree
- Persimmon
- Date palm
- Apple tree
- Pear tree
- Cherry tree
- Plum tree
- Apricot tree
- Quince tree
- Walnut tree
- Hazel
- Sweet chestnut
- Kiwi vine
- Mandarin tree
- Lime tree
- Grapefruit tree
- Kumquat
- Dragon fruit
- Pistachio
- Bitter orange
- Mulberry
- Carob tree
- Citron
- Jujube
- Cornelian cherry
- Nectarine
- Banana
- Blackberry
- Strawberry tree
- Sour cherry
- Stone pine
- Passion fruit
- Pineapple
- Cherimoya
- Tree tomato (tamarillo)
- Feijoa (pineapple guava)
- Guava
- Redcurrant
- Bergamot orange
- Chinotto (myrtle-leaved orange)
- Common medlar
- Service tree
- Gooseberry
- Mango
- Blackcurrant
- Mirabelle plum
