Cactus grows faster than weeds and it is good to eat.

[Gary350]

I lived in Tempe Arizona for 6 years and never knew cactus grew this fast. We live in Tennessee now and have about 80 varieties of winter hardy cactus growing every where in the yard. Cactus can grow 6" in one week. We cut pieces off the cactus then plant the pieces in soil. It sprouts roots any place soil touches the plant. It makes no difference if it is planted upside down, right side up, on its side or flat on the ground it still grows fine. We mix 30% child play sand with 70% potting soil plus a hand full of 15/15/15 fertilizer. Cut off pieces of the cactus then let the cut area dry in the sun for a week before planting. Plant 1/3 of the plant piece in the soil and water it once a week.

I have been giving cactus away all summer on craigslist we had 2 pickup truck loads and still have one more pickup truck load of cactus to cut down. The mexican people have been coming to get free cactus they eat it. I have ask them how to cook it and this stuff is very good. The new growth has no thorns. Old growth just cut off the thorns. Slice and dice with onions fly in the skillet add tomatoes and cilantro and it is ready to eat. Put in scrambled eggs or meat if you want. Slice the pads down the middle fill with meat, onion, cilantro, tomato bake in oven then scoop out the filling and throw away the cactus pad. Flavor is different than anything I have eaten but it is very very good.

Cactus is very amazing you throw a piece on the cement driveway, squirt some water on it and in 1 weeks time it sprouts roots and tries to grow to the cement driveway.

This is 1 week of new growth.
[img]https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1627.jpg[/img]

These pads were planted 3 weeks ago 1 pad has already grown a new pad.
[img]https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1629.jpg[/img]

This is a different kind of prickly pear. We never called this prikly pear when I lived in Arizona. I planted this a few days ago.
[img]https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1630.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/Cactus1.jpg[/img]

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1388.jpg

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/cactus3.jpg

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/cactus5.jpg

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1339.jpg

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1336.jpg

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1635.jpg

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1637.jpg

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1638.jpg

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1639.jpg

I planted this yesterday. Some of the pieces are laying flat on the soil. This will grow 100s of sprouts that I can cut off and grow. I should have 500 to 600 sprouts soon that I can plants along the property line of the yard. I want a 3 ft wall of cactus 7 ft tall the full 240 foot length of the property.
https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1632.jpg

[tinypixiexoxo]

Holy Moly!!!!! That's a lot of cacti!!!!!!!!

[adobo]

I'm curious about the flavor of the cactus? how was it?

[nickolas]

These pads were planted 3 weeks ago 1 pad has already grown a new pad.
[img]https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1629.jpg[/img]
I call those ones wheel cactus, I don't have any yet but I know were I can get a lot locally for free.


This is a different kind of prickly pear. We never called this prikly pear when I lived in Arizona. I planted this a few days ago.
[img]https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1630.jpg[/img]
I have a lot of that one to very easy yo propergate.

I planted this yesterday. Some of the pieces are laying flat on the soil. This will grow 100s of sprouts that I can cut off and grow. I should have 500 to 600 sprouts soon that I can plants along the property line of the yard. I want a 3 ft wall of cactus 7 ft tall the full 240 foot length of the property.
https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/gary350/100_1632.jpg

very nice gary350 I have similar plans for my prickly pear plants, I am interested how you propagate this one, you should give the method I use a try if you don't all ready use it. First I get a good pair of gloves than I get a very sharp knife I then make little horizontal slices about ¼ 0f the way into the plant all the way up the plant about every 2-3 inches or so on 2 sides(so I don't weaken the plant to much), I then cut the top 4-5 inches off the top of the plant which I also put horizontal slices in once it has produced roots in the ground, I then leave the whole lot to rest. And when you come back in a few weeks there will be a new branch just below each one of the slices, which can then be either broken off and planted as new plants or can be left on there and when they get a bit bigger they to can produce any where from 5-10 new branches/plants depending on how many slices you put in. you will have some where around 500 new plants from the one original big plant not including the cut off tops in the space of 6-12 month’s.

[Gary350]

We probably have close to 100 different kinds of winter hardy cactus. We have noticed they will sprout roots anywhere they touch soil or anywhere they touch something wet. I can throw several pieces of cactus on the cement driveway after a small rain a week later they will all be sprouting roots on the bottom side trying to grow to the cement. Throw them in the grass, dirt, sand, leaves, anywhere they try to grow roots if they get wet. Cactus doesn't care if it is planted upside down, right side up, on its side it will still grow. If you want to grow some fast plant lay the pieces flat on the soil the more surface contact the plant has with wet soil the more root is will grow. Once it sprouts roots within 1 to 2 weeks it will be sprouting new growth. I can take a cactus and cut it into several pieces and plant all the pieces they all sprout and grow roots and new plants. The only thing that seems to kill cactus is too much water. Soil needs to be at least 30% play sand and WELL DRAINED. Plants like full sun but it is not needed. I have about 30 cactus planted under windows on the north side of the house they make a great security system to keep people from breaking into your house through the windows with cactus growing there. I just throw several pieces of cactus on the ground and in 4 months I have a patch 3 ft tall, 5 ft wide, 2 ft deep, 50 branches of cactus with lots of sharp needles to protect my window. We have 2 wheel barrels of cactus we are going to plant along the property line tomorrow. I use BBQ grill tools to pick up cactus like picking up a hamberger or hot dog or pork chop on the grill. I shovel out about 4" of sand/soil mix on the ground then throw the cactus pieces on the surface. Cactus grows better and faster than weeds.

[cactus99]

hi there. I live in clarksville tn.

I am interested in getting, trading cactus etc for some of yours.
I also have passion fruit (cold hardy) and I think you mentioned morning glory. I have allot of seeds (purple president tyler type) to trade.
I also have trumpet flower tree in pink and yellow. anyway my name is paul and would be happy to hear what cacti you have to give , sell, trade away.
have a great evening. hope to hear back soon. paul :