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Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: nullzero on January 13, 2013, 10:13:39 PM

Title: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on January 13, 2013, 10:13:39 PM
I have posted a while back about Opuntia sp. Jeronimo MV with some pics. http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=2672.msg37732#msg37732 (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=2672.msg37732#msg37732)

Here is another fantastic selection, I am calling Torrance PCH#1. The fruit is large, red, and tasty. Seed count is low, Seeds are small and soft  (I was able to easily chew on them and break them up) Fruit was sweet and refreshing with a watermelon flavor. This is one of the few Opuntia sp., that I have seen holding great tasty ripe fruit through out the winter.

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h9moDAirTPw/UPNtLu48lMI/AAAAAAAAEik/5F4I6kgcoag/s640/P1060170.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I9jJ8wnpQms/UPNtPUaBVCI/AAAAAAAAEi0/2m5wygUCG7I/s640/P1060173.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6OV3y_FoLFI/UPNtUxQbg8I/AAAAAAAAEjE/7x562_jjZNU/s640/P1060180.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ziR-5LoZ2IA/UPNtRqkgzXI/AAAAAAAAEi8/UuvEM0DyccM/s640/P1060176.JPG)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Xeno on January 13, 2013, 10:18:58 PM
Did you take any pads? This sounds like a winner. Sounds like something I would like to grow soon! About how many seeds were inside?
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on January 13, 2013, 10:28:19 PM
Did you take any pads? This sounds like a winner. Sounds like something I would like to grow soon! About how many seeds were inside?

Of course I get pads, I have other people interested in some pads. Will take a while to have available pads. I did not specifically count all the seeds, but it was definitely on the lower side. The seeds are small and soft and do not affect the eating experience at all.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: JF on January 13, 2013, 10:48:35 PM
Nullzy

You got my attention. Remember my neighbor's cactus? It still has fruits. I will take pics tomorrow and pick a few fruits.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on January 13, 2013, 10:57:44 PM
Nullzy

You got my attention. Remember my neighbor's cactus? It still has fruits. I will take pics tomorrow and pick a few fruits.

JF,

Thank you, I was always curious about your neighbors prickly pear  ;D. I find these prickly pears rather refreshing top quality fruit. Now that its winter time, they don't have any mangoes or other fruits to compete with. I would say they hold a top tier spot right behind the Cherimoyas and Persimmons.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on January 13, 2013, 10:59:43 PM
Nice looking fruit & pads.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Jackfruitwhisperer69 on January 14, 2013, 03:08:04 PM
Hi Null,
WOW never seen a prickly fruit with that colour  :o Looks like caramel, YUMMY ;D

Null, that succulent growing next to the Torrance PCH#1, is great for healing burns and wounds...it stings a bit, but them scars will be minimized or disappear altogether. I have used it several times :)

Thanks for sharing, Buddy :)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on January 14, 2013, 03:36:59 PM
Yeah Carpobrotus edulis, has some edibility of the leaves and fruit. I have not tried the fruit yet, but probably will this year. Steven, the color is indeed very vibrant red/orange hues.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Jackfruitwhisperer69 on January 14, 2013, 03:50:08 PM
Yeah Carpobrotus edulis, has some edibility of the leaves and fruit. I have not tried the fruit yet, but probably will this year. Steven, the color is indeed very vibrant red/orange hues.

Indeed, it is edible and in South Africa a jam is made with the fruit...never tasted the fruit or jam :( It must be fun hunting them pricklies...Indiana Jones type quest of finding them supreme tasting fruits alongs dirt roads, hiking and freeways  ;D 8)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on January 14, 2013, 03:52:00 PM
Yeah Carpobrotus edulis, has some edibility of the leaves and fruit. I have not tried the fruit yet, but probably will this year. Steven, the color is indeed very vibrant red/orange hues.

Indeed, it is edible and in South Africa a jam is made with the fruit...never tasted the fruit or jam :( It must be fun hunting them pricklies...Indiana Jones type quest of finding them supreme tasting fruits alongs dirt roads, hiking and freeways  ;D 8)

The Opuntia sp. collecting is is getting larger by the day  :o.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Ethan on January 14, 2013, 04:14:56 PM
Another nice looking one, congrats again Indiana Nullz.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on January 14, 2013, 04:22:33 PM
Another nice looking one, congrats again Indiana Nullz.

Thanks Ethan, I got a Visalia, CA selection. Should do well for you. Columnar growth habit, large yellow sweet fruit with melon flavor.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Ethan on January 14, 2013, 05:27:59 PM
Thanks, it sounds interesting, I'll put it w/the others.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Felipe on January 14, 2013, 06:00:38 PM
This tuna looks great! Is the fruit maybe a little overripe?

Eating tunas in winter would be awesome  ::) Over here we can eat cactus fruit in Fall and Winter, but those fruits are from Opuntia dillenii.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on January 14, 2013, 06:40:37 PM
This tuna looks great! Is the fruit maybe a little overripe?

Eating tunas in winter would be awesome  ::) Over here we can eat cactus fruit in Fall and Winter, but those fruits are from Opuntia dillenii.

They were not over ripe, they were all perfectly sweet and tasty. This Prickly Pear has a trait of holding perfectly ripe fruit on the pads for a while. I sampled one of the same fruits 1 month earlier, and it was the same delicious taste.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: JF on January 14, 2013, 09:47:12 PM
Nullzy

here are some pics. It had 4 or 5 fruits I picked 2 nice one and when I cut them open they looked rotten. What happen are these over rippened?

(http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af304/culov/Tropica%20fruits/IMG_4515.jpg)
(http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af304/culov/Tropica%20fruits/IMG_4516.jpg)
(http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af304/culov/Tropica%20fruits/IMG_4517.jpg)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on January 14, 2013, 10:30:58 PM
They look fine to me, did you taste them? If a prickly pear is rotted you can tell right away. It will have blotches of brown and black with a soggy flesh that breaks apart way to easily. It will also could have mold. What you showed me looks perfectly fine.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Jackfruitwhisperer69 on January 15, 2013, 07:00:30 AM
Yeah Carpobrotus edulis, has some edibility of the leaves and fruit. I have not tried the fruit yet, but probably will this year. Steven, the color is indeed very vibrant red/orange hues.

Indeed, it is edible and in South Africa a jam is made with the fruit...never tasted the fruit or jam :( It must be fun hunting them pricklies...Indiana Jones type quest of finding them supreme tasting fruits alongs dirt roads, hiking and freeways  ;D 8)

The Opuntia sp. collecting is is getting larger by the day  :o.

Null, i reckon you should grow a bunch of your best pricklies and sell them on craig's list, ebay  or wherever...etc and make some benjies to help at least to pay the gas, pots and soil. ;) Just my 2 cents of the day...please don't shoot me  ;D
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on January 18, 2013, 01:33:52 AM
Nullzero,
You rock. You're the best. I received your package today. It was awesome. I am impressed and you beat my expectations.
I'm sure that my reaction has something to do with the fact, that this is the first and only time, that I've ever tasted an Opuntia.
Nevertheless, let me just say, that the Opuntia pad and fruit of this variety, were just fantastic in every way.
To be honest, I felt as if I was in a dream. I almost couldn't believe it! ;D
I liked the taste, texture, soft-seeds, appearance and overall quality. It's just great!
I've heard horror stories, including of seeds being super hard and breaking teeth.
This reminds me of the saying: Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. Well, you came through for me.
Thank your very much and keep up the good work.
Best Regards,
Leooel

Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: FlyingFoxFruits on January 18, 2013, 01:39:24 AM
I agree  1000%

I've tasted some of nullzeros opuntia fruits, and they are first class!

just like Nullzero (Steven)

Nullzero,
You rock. You're the best. I received your package today. It was awesome. I am impressed and you beat my expectations.
I'm sure that my reaction has something to do with the fact, that this is the first and only time, that I've ever tasted an Opuntia.
Nevertheless, let me just say, that the Opuntia pad and fruit of this variety, were just fantastic in every way.
To be honest, I felt as if I was in a dream. I almost couldn't believe it! ;D
I liked the taste, texture, soft-seeds, appearance and overall quality. It's just great!
I've heard horror stories, including of seeds being super hard and breaking teeth.
This reminds me of the saying: Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. Well, you came through for me.
Thank your very much and keep up the good work.
Best Regards,
Leooel
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on January 18, 2013, 02:39:07 AM
Nullzero, also known as the Indiana Jones of Opuntias, Dragons...  ;D
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on January 18, 2013, 11:16:37 AM
Thanks guys for the kind words of encouragement. Leo, I am glad you enjoyed the fruit greatly. DNT, the plant is near Calle Mayor and PCH.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: JF on January 18, 2013, 12:19:25 PM
They look fine to me, did you taste them? If a prickly pear is rotted you can tell right away. It will have blotches of brown and black with a soggy flesh that breaks apart way to easily. It will also could have mold. What you showed me looks perfectly fine.

No, I didn't taste it look too gross.... didn't smell too good either. Your looks delicious.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on January 18, 2013, 12:36:14 PM
They look fine to me, did you taste them? If a prickly pear is rotted you can tell right away. It will have blotches of brown and black with a soggy flesh that breaks apart way to easily. It will also could have mold. What you showed me looks perfectly fine.

No, I didn't taste it look too gross.... didn't smell too good either. Your looks delicious.

Sounds like fermenting fruit? You going to the OC scion exchange this Saturday JF? I could bring a fruit for you to try of this Prickly Pear.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: johnb51 on January 18, 2013, 01:42:28 PM
How does prickly pear do in South Florida?  My wife grew up eating "tuna" in Bolivia.  She loves them.  I like the flavor, hate the hard seeds.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on January 18, 2013, 02:13:02 PM
From the info that I've gathered, it should do just fine. Plenty of sun & limited water.

Just about any soil type should do. I think. Although, I'm sure some soil types are better than others.

Please let me know if you find out what is the best type of soil in our Zone 10b for the Prickly Pear Cactus Opuntia that I got from Nullzero.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on January 18, 2013, 02:39:40 PM
The selection in this post was growing mostly in a sandy loam mix on top of a hill, and thriving. Organic material was on the lower end, if I had to take a guess I would say it was +60% sand.

Torrance PCH#1, should tolerant higher humidity levels with minimal to no rotting. The great thing about this selection is the fruit holds through out the cool wet winter (with no signs of rotting or deteriorating fruit quality). This specific selection was growing near the SoCal coast, in an area that gets lots of morning clouds/fog (Think it would be a great NorCal Prickly Pear as well).

However I don't know how the roots will adapt with nematodes (This Opuntia sp. could very well thrive in the FL soil, I just don't know yet without observations). I would suggest having a container plant with a potting cactus mix. Once you get multiple pads you can then plant it in the ground. There are also strategies of grafting to native Florida Opuntia sp. to improve adaptation to soil and nematodes.

Almost all Opuntia sp. can tolerant lots of heat, sun, and minimal watering. I was very surprised by the sweetness and quality of the fruit in the winter time, especially considering the location of the plant (cooler coastal SoCal in the winter time).

I could envision having several of these planted out in a grove, and doing repeated daily smaller harvests through the winter. Since the critters won't be touching many of them!

For those that write off this fruit because your afraid of the glochids or the hard seeds (I don't like collecting many Opuntia sp. with hard seeds, even have a confirmed seedless selection)... I feel bad for what your missing :(.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Xeno on January 18, 2013, 08:49:57 PM
Thanks guys for the kind words of encouragement. Leo, I am glad you enjoyed the fruit greatly. DNT, the plant is near Calle Mayor and PCH.
In Redondo Beach? Is it on the PCH?
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on January 18, 2013, 10:39:14 PM
Thanks, Nullzero, for the valuable info on growing Opuntia in S. Florida, Zone 10b.

This is just what I needed to know on how to plant the Opuntia pad I got from you.

I'm gonna get a large clay pot, with drainage, fill it with the appropriate sandy loam mix you metioned. All on a sunny spot in my yard. And, voila! Godwilling, Opunti fruit should be on their way.

This is kinda exciting. I'll keep you guys posted on the development. :)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on January 22, 2013, 08:19:37 PM
Thanks guys for the kind words of encouragement. Leo, I am glad you enjoyed the fruit greatly. DNT, the plant is near Calle Mayor and PCH.
In Redondo Beach? Is it on the PCH?

Sad news, the mother plant was hacked up and almost completely removed. I drove by last two days back from work. The home owner nearby, decided to construct a new replacement fence and gate on the back of the property. Well this Opuntia sp. is intertwined with their fence and the common area. They ripped up the plant and removed majority of it, because it was in the way. However I did see a pile of detached pads near the area where the plant was rooted (I am sure it will reroot in the area again).

Luckily I was able to capture the pictures of the mature plants form and collect pads. This is not the first time I have ran into selecting these plants, then having them disappear. It feels good knowing you just secured the existence of a worthy selection.

Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on January 23, 2013, 03:20:45 AM
Nullzero,

Wow, now I feel so responsible in making sure that the Opuntia pad I got from you survives.
That's a lot of pressure! Securing the existence of this selection  ;) But, exciting at the same time.

By the way, I've already planted the Opuntia Torrance PCH#1 Pad, according to the instructions you posted online.
I found around my house a med. size bag of: sand, a bag of garden-soil and a bag of cactus soil, all purchased at Home Depot.
I mixed the sand with the garden-soil and put it in a large clay pot. On top of that I put the cactus soil. And, finally the Opuntia pad on top.
I didn't water it or nothing. Now, I'll just leave it alone and keep an eye on it.
I hope this baby doesn't just survives, I hope it thrives and produces a lot of fruit.
 
I'm still sort of pinching myself. I mean, after several years of trying to obtain a quality prickly pear, I finally have one.
And, it's all thanks to you.

So, thank you very much, lots of luck, you're the best at this, Regards,

Leo

 
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on January 23, 2013, 11:38:43 AM
Leo,

Keep up the good work, it sounds like it should do well. Once the temps go up and the days get longer don't hesitate to water 2-3 times a week. Just make sure that the soil mix is moist but not soggy or drenched.

I have two pads of this selection, if I goes well will have multiple pads at the end of fall.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on May 12, 2013, 07:36:03 PM
Torrance PCH #1 now starting to get ready to flower and set fruit. One of the first in the collection to start the process of flowering so far (besides a new selection I made in R.P.V.). Impressive that it is flowering (soon to set fruit) and pushing pad growth at the same time from 1 pad :).

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a5wxxS2uh3w/UZAkwNERoAI/AAAAAAAAFVc/G9NwE_IC514/s800/P1060707.JPG)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: natsgarden123 on May 12, 2013, 08:23:26 PM
Torrance PCH #1 now starting to get ready to flower and set fruit. One of the first in the collection to start the process of flowering so far (besides a new selection I made in R.P.V.). Impressive that it is flowering (soon to set fruit) and pushing pad growth at the same time from 1 pad :).

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a5wxxS2uh3w/UZAkwNERoAI/AAAAAAAAFVc/G9NwE_IC514/s800/P1060707.JPG)

The ones you sent me look like that as well- one pad has 12 fruit on it!  :)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: JF on May 12, 2013, 08:30:20 PM
Nullzy, my neighbor's have flowered and are setting fruits....I'll keep you updated.

Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on May 12, 2013, 09:31:34 PM
Nullzy, my neighbor's have flowered and are setting fruits....I'll keep you updated.

Nice sounds like its an earlier selection. I have few early selections, flowering in first week of march. Keep me updated JF.

Nats,

Not all buds will be fruit a good amount should be pads, the pads were of nice size it should establish nicely. On larger pads taken in the spring from mature plants, the hormones for flowering and fruiting are contained within the pad I believe in greater amounts. The picture is from a pad taken around december and rooted about 3 -4 weeks later.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Tropicquest on May 13, 2013, 12:08:41 AM
Nullzero:  What's your method for plucking those tunas from plants (not in your yard).   I see lots of them around, and was wondering how to do it rather quickly.  I saw on youtube, someone using a blow torch, but that wouldn't be an option for me.  There is a really grand one on the property of a public library.  I might be arrested if I were to show up with a blow torch.  They would never believe that I just want to harvest some prickly pear.   I thought maybe just using some pruning shears would work quickly.   What's your method.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on May 13, 2013, 12:17:04 AM
Nullzero:  What's your method for plucking those tunas from plants (not in your yard).   I see lots of them around, and was wondering how to do it rather quickly.  I saw on youtube, someone using a blow torch, but that wouldn't be an option for me.  There is a really grand one on the property of a public library.  I might be arrested if I were to show up with a blow torch.  They would never believe that I just want to harvest some prickly pear.   I thought maybe just using some pruning shears would work quickly.   What's your method.

Long metal or plastic tongs, grab,twist, pull. Place in opened bag, bring home, and prepare. Use metal tongs to pull out of bag then burn of glochids over gas stove.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on May 13, 2013, 12:32:06 AM
Nullzy, the Torrance PCH#1 cactus pad you sent me has been planted in the ground for about a month now, and it has gone crazy growing. Now it has three new pads. Two of them are the same size as the original pad, and the third pad is one and a half times bigger! So far, no sign of nematode problems and I'm keeping my fingers closed and saying a few prayers.

During one of the first heavy rain downpours of the year, the new pads dramatically curled over. I'm embarrased to say it, but I was a nervous wreck with worry. Nevertheless, when the rain went away and the sun came back out the next day, they were straight again like a soldier standing at attention. They've been like that eversince, even after subsequent downpours.

I'm not watering it at all, I'm letting the rain do that for me.

Now I'm just waiting for it to get established a bit more and for it to fruit. If it bears fruit during the winter months, it would be like icing on a cake, as they say.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on May 13, 2013, 12:56:32 AM
LEOOEL,

Great to hear the reports! Keep em coming, any fruit developing? My pad looks like the slow poke compared to what you guys are reporting :). I think its probably because of the 1 gal container root restriction...

What are you guys growing it in? I know Leo is in the ground how about Nats and others?
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Kay on May 13, 2013, 07:04:58 AM
That is very cool.  soft seeds from ficus-indica?  thats a winner on its own :)  seeds are the only reason i dont grow them in bigger numbers.  Job well done :)

If you trade/sell internationally, i would like to pm you
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on May 14, 2013, 09:39:59 PM
Does anyone have rooted pads of PCH #1? If its not to much to ask, I would love to see new growth photos (so I can get an idea about its adaptive nature). Just curious :), really want this selection to thrive for all those testing it out.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on May 14, 2013, 10:40:17 PM
I plan to post picture(s) this week, of the prickly pear, Torrance PCH#1; God willing (first time that I'll be posting a picture, ever, wish me luck).
Nullzero, thanks for asking for pictures, I'm as excited about this prickly pear variety as you are. I hope it produces a lot of fruit in my Temperature Zone 10b.
Thanks again for the encouragement and positive words.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Kay on May 15, 2013, 10:11:29 AM
Quote
How does prickly pear do in South Florida?
I have grown O. ficus indica, and some other sp., outdoors in southern mountains of Taiwan.  max rain = 2.5m/day and lighter days of 50-150cm/day can last over a week.  they do well.  sitting in a low spot for more than a week submerged, rot can start, but on a mound even in clay they can handle insane rainfall.  potted plants are more often than not far more prone to rot.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on May 17, 2013, 12:21:29 AM
Kay, I planted the Torrance PCH #1 prickly pear fruit pad in an elevated, mound, part of the ground. According to you this will help any cactus thrive. Come to think of it, this makes a lot of sense, as it improves water drainage. I now feel even more optimistic about the future prospects of this prickly pear cactus. Thank you for your valuable input.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on June 02, 2014, 03:33:07 PM
Here is some pictures of another selection called P.V. Spineless #3, this is an earlier fruiting Opuntia sp. selection with high production and good vigor.

The fruit has nice spacing and is on the larger size (not quite as large as Torrance PCH#1, but about 60-70% of the size). The production is much higher then a lot of Opuntia sp. I have seen. The fruit spacing is critical to avoid fruit rot in humid conditions. P.V. Spineless#1 is up on a hill about 1mi as the crow flies to the ocean. Marine layer is frequent and humidity is higher then most parts of Southern CA (40% to 70% usually).

I am sure it should adapt well to Florida conditions as well. Unfortunately, I have not tasted a fruit of this one yet! I plan to stop by in about 2-4 weeks to check up on the rest of the fruit ripening. On the entire Opuntia sp. patch, I saw 1 red ripe fruit. Which was out of reach unless I got in the middle of it.

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TSilXpXvJa0/U4zP169pJUI/AAAAAAAAG5s/ZozCwJnUEZg/s640/CAM00280.jpg)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_WD06tGKMlI/U4zQDTAqwpI/AAAAAAAAG58/9GcT9R-7kA8/s640/CAM00277.jpg)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on June 15, 2014, 01:27:02 AM
On the first picture above, I can see one ripe Prickly Pear fruit that's very enticing and ready for the picking. I'd love to get a quality report on this variety. The fact that it's also spineless, this is a quality that it's like the icing on a cake.

The quest for the Prickly Pear holy grail is still on, one with large fruits that's reliably productive and sweet.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: ricshaw on August 29, 2014, 02:03:47 AM
This is the fruit producing type of Opuntia I am looking for:

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/Opuntia_fruit_zps36880362.jpg)

Anybody know of a source for 'Reyna' or 'Cristalina' from Mexico? I do not know anything about the variety pictured above.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on August 29, 2014, 11:25:39 AM
This is the fruit producing type of Opuntia I am looking for:

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/Opuntia_fruit_zps36880362.jpg)

Anybody know of a source for 'Reyna' or 'Cristalina' from Mexico? I do not know anything about the variety pictured above.

I have seeds of Cristalina, however I have not been able to find a pad source. If your interested in some seeds, I can send some your way.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: ricshaw on August 29, 2014, 11:35:56 AM
I have seeds of Cristalina, however I have not been able to find a pad source. If your interested in some seeds, I can send some your way.

Thanks for the offer, but I think I will wait for a pad source.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on August 29, 2014, 01:10:56 PM
I have seeds of Cristalina, however I have not been able to find a pad source. If your interested in some seeds, I can send some your way.

Thanks for the offer, but I think I will wait for a pad source.

Keep me updated if you found a pad source. I should have a pad of Torrance PCH#1 available in 3 months. I recently gave 1 to a friend which has been waiting for a pad.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on September 02, 2014, 12:26:39 AM
The Torrance PCH#1 that I got from Nullzero is doing great and it looks really good and healthy. I suppose that after a year of planting, it now has developed a good root system. From one planted pad, it now has 3 multi-pad branches. It has a full sun location, and I'm not watering it at all, to induce fruiting. I'm just sporadically fertilizing it.

I hope that it will soon look like the giant multipad 'tree' picture that Nullzero posted on this Thread (before it was destroyed, suposedly, by the owners of the property; it was kinda sad to see that happen, that 'tree' was a real beauty) and with the same abundant fruit quantity/production.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: gunnar429 on October 15, 2014, 11:18:30 AM
Nullzero, how many selections of opuntia would you consider top-tier?

How long is your season, taking into account the different varieties you have, having different fruiting seasons?
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on October 15, 2014, 04:02:56 PM
Nullzero, how many selections of opuntia would you consider top-tier?

How long is your season, taking into account the different varieties you have, having different fruiting seasons?

Season can start in June and last till late Winter, depends on the selections and the weather conditions. I would say there is about a 3 month gap around February to April. Flowering starts in spring and continues until early fall (at least in Southern, CA). Some selections show excellent holding of fruit on the plant, kind of like some avocado varieties that can be picked anytime within a 3-6 month period holding on the tree.

As for how many selections that are top tier, I do not have a complete idea yet from the ones I have. I have a bunch of PARL selections that I have not be able to taste the fruit yet, which are reported to have excellent sweet fruit. The only PARL selection I have tasted was PARL 244, the first fruit was seedless and excellent. I have 7 other PARL selections I need to taste. I also have sampled many wild prickly pears and selections I have made.

As for the criteria of what makes a prickly pear top tier fresh eating for me is the following; taste (unique flavor profile, extra sweetness, acid balance, intensities of flavor), color/texture (seed hardness, lack of seeds, dryness of flesh) and finally size.

Here are some examples from my experience of what I would call top tier;

Torrance PCH#1, Good watermelon flavor. What really made this a top tier in my eyes was the size of the fruit, the lower count of seeds and the softness of the seeds. Also the beautiful coloration of the fruit. Not to mention the other qualities of rot resistance and holding qualities.

Visalia Yellow, Nice refreshing melon flavor with floral notes, large fruit. (since its been a while since I had 2 fruits from the mother plant), but I have strange attachment to the fruit where it makes my body kind want to crave another one till this day. The seeds were on the harder side though, so a slight negative.

PARL 244, first fruit was a smaller one. I shared it with my GF and mother. Unfortunately the tasting did not last long enough! Very sweet seedless fruit (not sure if this will happen again or it was a random incidence due to lack of pollination) with a nice rich melon flavor.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: ricshaw on October 15, 2014, 04:40:33 PM
Texas A&M University
Evaluation of Fruit Quality and Production of Cold-Hardy Opuntia Fruit Clones
http://www.jpacd.org/downloads/Proceedings/2_EGI12a-12e.pdf (http://www.jpacd.org/downloads/Proceedings/2_EGI12a-12e.pdf)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on October 15, 2014, 04:52:53 PM
Thanks Ricshaw, those accessions translate to some of the PARL selections?

Here is something interesting relating to the PARL selections;
http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/40/4/1067.2.abstract (http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/40/4/1067.2.abstract)

Also another interesting Opuntia sp. recently patented;

https://www.google.com/patents/USPP24052 (https://www.google.com/patents/USPP24052)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on October 18, 2014, 12:11:27 AM
Thanks Ricshaw, those accessions translate to some of the PARL selections?

Here is something interesting relating to the PARL selections;
http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/40/4/1067.2.abstract (http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/40/4/1067.2.abstract)

Also another interesting Opuntia sp. recently patented;

https://www.google.com/patents/USPP24052 (https://www.google.com/patents/USPP24052)

Good fruit size on the PARL selections, I sure would love to get some future updates on (1) the Brix (sugar) content, (2) Seed specs. (soft, med. or teeth breaking hard), and last but not least, (3) Fruit 'P R O D U C T I V I T Y' (Zone location always matters).

The 'Seleno-Red' (patented variety) Opuntia seems promising. It's reported to be 'spineless' when the tree gets a bit older.

I sure wish there were more Opuntia breeders at my S. Florida location.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: simon_grow on November 01, 2014, 07:56:04 PM
After reading some of these threads on Opuntia, I have started to become really interested in these plants as a drought resistant source of quality fruit. Nullzero has inspired me, through his find of Torrance PCH, to actively seek out and taste test varieties I spot as I drive along the roads.

I've started to actively seek out prickly pear plants and on my drive to work alone, I have spotted about 40 different patches of various sizes. I spotted this patch today as I was dropping my daughter off at dance class. The cactus has spines and there are plenty of glochids. The size of the fruit is about the size of a small orange or medium to large Tangerine. I'll give it a taste test tomorrow and let everyone know how it tastes along with a Brix reading if it's a good quality fruit.

I have harvested wild prickly pear fruit before that weren't very good so I'm not expecting much from these fruit.

Simon
(http://s29.postimg.cc/xm1soyoir/image.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/xm1soyoir/)

(http://s29.postimg.cc/p2ier7g6b/image.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/p2ier7g6b/)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on November 02, 2014, 12:39:15 AM
I wish those fruit turn out to be sweet. But, regardless, at the very least, I think you've stumbled onto something with potential.

From your great photos, it appears that the fruit are of substantial good size, they have an attracitve appearance, and seems to be a variety with better than good fruit productivity. I also appears that you have a nack for this kind of discovery/thing, nice find!
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: simon_grow on November 02, 2014, 01:07:58 AM
Thanks for the encouraging words Leo! Well, I couldn't wait so I put on some gloves and washed the fruit to remove the glochids, I didn't want to mess with a blow torch. The fruit were good size and the inside of the fruit was a reddish burgundy color. The fruit had good acidity and tasted very strongly of Rasberries. Unfortunately, the fruit had very hard seeds and there were plenty of them. There were so many seeds, there was hardly any flesh between the seeds. The most disappointing thing about these fruit is the lack of sweetness. They had an average Brix of 11% but I could barely taste any sweetness at all.

Earlier this year at the Mira Mesa Farmers market, I purchased some green skinned fruit with a greenish interior and they were Extremely sweet but unfortunately they had very hard seeds as well. These green fruit were so sweet that I was able to overlook the hard seeds and actually purchased more the following week. I didn't have a Refractometer at that time but I would guess that the fruit were about 18-19% Brix.

All in all, it was a lot of fun collecting these fruit and I will continue sampling fruit from the fields of San Diego. These fruit did have dark colored flesh with excellent Rasberry flavor so I would assume there is at least some healthy antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. The thought crossed my mind that these fruit would be great if juiced and combined with some other juice like apple, grape or sugarcane. The only problem is that I'm afraid the hard seeds may quicky dull the blade of the average juicer. Perhaps an auger type juicer would be good for extracting the juice?

Simon
(http://s1.postimg.cc/9hx0s2aij/image.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/9hx0s2aij/)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on November 02, 2014, 02:58:00 AM
Simon,

From my experience the Red fruited type prickly pears from the rugged spiny type pads are usually the same description which you describe. These are native to CA I believe it may be Opuntia phaeacantha you can ID from link below. These types usually produce inferior fruit with hard seeds. Skip over any spiny type pads when you are making selections (there may be some gems out there, but narrowing down your selection will help find good ones faster).

Look only for small spines or spineless type prickly pear pads that look close to O. ficus-indica or a hybrid of it. There are plenty of naturalized O. ficus-indica to select from. Also fruits that have less fortified glochids usually are better.

Here is a good reference to the native and naturalized Opuntia of CA; http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/specieslist.cgi?tmpfile=cf467699&num-matches=66&max=50&prevwhere=&button_flag=&prevselect=&table=nspecies&dump=&backlink=&row-to-start=50&page=previous+50 (http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/specieslist.cgi?tmpfile=cf467699&num-matches=66&max=50&prevwhere=&button_flag=&prevselect=&table=nspecies&dump=&backlink=&row-to-start=50&page=previous+50)

Since O. ficus-indica was cultivated at majority of missions, any mission areas from Northern CA down to SoCal are possible genetic hotspots for previous semi cultivated prickly pears that went wild. Also many generations of families from Mexico have introduced new genetics in and around SoCal. You can spot O. ficus indica everywhere if you tune in your selection and keep a eye out for them. Just scanning google earth you can find amazingly large amount O. ficus-indica just in a 1 mi radius from your home. Check vacant areas, public areas, sides of freeways, ravines, hiking trails, Latino majority neighborhoods, and parks.

Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: ricshaw on November 02, 2014, 01:36:48 PM
Look only for small spines or spineless type prickly pear pads that look close to O. ficus-indica or a hybrid of it. There are plenty of naturalized O. ficus-indica to select from. Also fruits that have less fortified glochids usually are better.

I agree...  my logic is that the early humans who selected cacti for good tasting fruit, would have also selected for small or spineless varieties.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on November 02, 2014, 02:03:53 PM
Look only for small spines or spineless type prickly pear pads that look close to O. ficus-indica or a hybrid of it. There are plenty of naturalized O. ficus-indica to select from. Also fruits that have less fortified glochids usually are better.

I agree...  my logic is that the early humans who selected cacti for good tasting fruit, would have also selected for small or spineless varieties.

There are a few exceptions like PARL 342 http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652725. (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652725.) This is probably some hybrid or just has reverted to a spiny form.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: ricshaw on November 02, 2014, 02:22:36 PM

I agree...  my logic is that the early humans who selected cacti for good tasting fruit, would have also selected for small or spineless varieties.

There are a few exceptions like PARL 342 http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652725. (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652725.) This is probably some hybrid or just has reverted to a spiny form.

Yes, there is a difference between a cactus collected along a Mexican highway and one from active human cultivation.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on November 02, 2014, 02:37:41 PM
Some examples of the Opuntia ficus-indica at the Mission's;

Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.50181,-117.6618652,3a,49.9y,328.02h,83.26t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sDwN15PWNJ9DRSHHg3pTJrQ!2e0?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.50181,-117.6618652,3a,49.9y,328.02h,83.26t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sDwN15PWNJ9DRSHHg3pTJrQ!2e0?hl=en)

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.5025853,-117.6633781,3a,25.1y,80.34h,85.32t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sofiVC3xAw-bskK66nIQPQA!2e0?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.5025853,-117.6633781,3a,25.1y,80.34h,85.32t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sofiVC3xAw-bskK66nIQPQA!2e0?hl=en)

Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.2321011,-117.3192469,3a,36y,276.44h,83.34t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sTRZQks0-n3J_9NNXdefFEw!2e0?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.2321011,-117.3192469,3a,36y,276.44h,83.34t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sTRZQks0-n3J_9NNXdefFEw!2e0?hl=en)

Mission Basilica, San Diego
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7837886,-117.1043861,3a,28.6y,309.75h,99.02t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sfFLzsgS1e8KJ8kJdaGVAxA!2e0?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7837886,-117.1043861,3a,28.6y,309.75h,99.02t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sfFLzsgS1e8KJ8kJdaGVAxA!2e0?hl=en)

Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: simon_grow on November 02, 2014, 02:53:56 PM
Thanks for the info Nullzero! I just googled images for O ficus Indica and they look very similar to the cactus I harvested from, i don't really know what to look for between a cactus with good vs poor fruit. The only thing I can look for now as you recommended is a cactus with less or no spines?

Also I noticed from the pictures that the o ficus indica may have larger and thicker pads?

Simon
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: ricshaw on November 02, 2014, 03:38:49 PM
Some examples of the Opuntia ficus-indica at the Mission's;

Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.50181,-117.6618652,3a,49.9y,328.02h,83.26t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sDwN15PWNJ9DRSHHg3pTJrQ!2e0?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.50181,-117.6618652,3a,49.9y,328.02h,83.26t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sDwN15PWNJ9DRSHHg3pTJrQ!2e0?hl=en)

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.5025853,-117.6633781,3a,25.1y,80.34h,85.32t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sofiVC3xAw-bskK66nIQPQA!2e0?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.5025853,-117.6633781,3a,25.1y,80.34h,85.32t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sofiVC3xAw-bskK66nIQPQA!2e0?hl=en)

Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.2321011,-117.3192469,3a,36y,276.44h,83.34t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sTRZQks0-n3J_9NNXdefFEw!2e0?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.2321011,-117.3192469,3a,36y,276.44h,83.34t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sTRZQks0-n3J_9NNXdefFEw!2e0?hl=en)

Mission Basilica, San Diego
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7837886,-117.1043861,3a,28.6y,309.75h,99.02t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sfFLzsgS1e8KJ8kJdaGVAxA!2e0?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7837886,-117.1043861,3a,28.6y,309.75h,99.02t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sfFLzsgS1e8KJ8kJdaGVAxA!2e0?hl=en)

Camarillo, CA
What is so special about this one?

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/lomita1_zps06c18816.jpg)

The owner said it is from Mexico AND he is growing it for the fruit.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on November 02, 2014, 03:38:57 PM
Thanks for the info Nullzero! I just googled images for O ficus Indica and they look very similar to the cactus I harvested from, i don't really know what to look for between a cactus with good vs poor fruit. The only thing I can look for now as you recommended is a cactus with less or no spines?

Also I noticed from the pictures that the o ficus indica may have larger and thicker pads?

Simon

Yeah usually thicker pads with less spines. Btw, that Mission San Juan Capistrano prickly pear looks interesting... may need to get a future collection of it.

Quote
Camarillo, CA
What is so special about this one?

It looks like a good one for pads as well as fruit. We have really no idea on the potential of good prickly pears until we start having test testings and ratings to sort the junk from the excellent. We can start by selection of size, amount of seeds, and hardness of seeds.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: fyliu on November 02, 2014, 09:02:14 PM
Thanks for the tips on collecting O. ficus-indica. What's a good time of year for fruits? Is there and early and late season as well?

I have around 3 pads of Torrance PCH and Geronimo available if anyone wants to try them. I guess it's the PCH #1 that was on a fence next to the freeway. I had 2 fruits form it the first year but they disappeared. My neighbor's plumeria grew very tall and dense this year and shaded out both plants and they didn't flower anymore.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: fyliu on November 02, 2014, 09:58:03 PM
Nullzero, what shipping method do you use to ship pads? I think the place I normally go to always gives me the higher cost method which I don't think helps for shipping cactus.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on November 02, 2014, 11:02:45 PM
Nullzero, what shipping method do you use to ship pads? I think the place I normally go to always gives me the higher cost method which I don't think helps for shipping cactus.

I try to always fit them in the USPS flat rate box medium # 2

Outside:
14" x 12" x 3 1/2"
Inside:
13 5/8" x 11 7/8" x 3 3/8"

Any gaps are filled with scrunched up trader joes bags. If they wont fit the box because they are to tall, I try to cut an inch or so off the bottom then cure them for a couple days so the cut drys out a bit.

Quote
Thanks for the tips on collecting O. ficus-indica. What's a good time of year for fruits? Is there and early and late season as well?

Prime season starts around late August into late September. However there is so much diversity you can find ripe fruit from from May until February (if the fruit holds well on the plant).
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on November 03, 2014, 12:08:37 AM

Camarillo, CA
What is so special about this one?

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/lomita1_zps06c18816.jpg)

The owner said it is from Mexico AND he is growing it for the fruit.

Wow, this is a Prickly Pear cactus fruit hedge, beautiful, amazing and exotic, all at the same time, thank you for the picture.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: simon_grow on November 11, 2014, 09:58:45 PM
I was driving around town looking for Opuntias with thicker pads and fewer spines and came across these beauties. They both look very similar but one has larger pads and larger fruit. These fruit felt soft to the touch so I washed off the glochids and gave them a Brix and taste test. The smaller fruit had a Brix reading of 15 and the larger fruit had a Brix reading of 17%. These fruit were overripe as they were a bit mushy. I think they will taste much better if they were picked more firm but this will likely decrease the sugar content. I still have a few fruit to try so hopefully they will be a little more firm.

The taste was that of melon and the flesh was pleasantly sweet. One of them, I forget which one, had a hint of banana flavor. The seeds were much softer than the other Opuntia I picked last week but I would still classify the seeds as hard. There were much fewer seeds in these fruit, I did not count how many.

Simon
(http://s9.postimg.cc/x9gyurw4b/image.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/x9gyurw4b/)

(http://s9.postimg.cc/p2oz3761n/image.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/p2oz3761n/)

(http://s9.postimg.cc/5jkdtu7a3/image.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/5jkdtu7a3/)

(http://s9.postimg.cc/4srno24wr/image.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/4srno24wr/)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: ricshaw on November 11, 2014, 10:45:38 PM
I was driving around town looking for Opuntias with thicker pads and fewer spines and came across these beauties. They both look very similar but one has larger pads and larger fruit. These fruit felt soft to the touch so I washed off the glochids and gave them a Brix and taste test. The smaller fruit had a Brix reading of 15 and the larger fruit had a Brix reading of 17%. These fruit were overripe as they were a bit mushy. I think they will taste much better if they were picked more firm but this will likely decrease the sugar content. I still have a few fruit to try so hopefully they will be a little more firm.

The taste was that of melon and the flesh was pleasantly sweet. One of them, I forget which one, had a hint of banana flavor. The seeds were much softer than the other Opuntia I picked last week but I would still classify the seeds as hard. There were much fewer seeds in these fruit, I did not count how many.

Simon

It sounds like you found a couple of winners!
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on November 11, 2014, 11:03:18 PM
I was driving around town looking for Opuntias with thicker pads and fewer spines and came across these beauties. They both look very similar but one has larger pads and larger fruit. These fruit felt soft to the touch so I washed off the glochids and gave them a Brix and taste test. The smaller fruit had a Brix reading of 15 and the larger fruit had a Brix reading of 17%. These fruit were overripe as they were a bit mushy. I think they will taste much better if they were picked more firm but this will likely decrease the sugar content. I still have a few fruit to try so hopefully they will be a little more firm.

The taste was that of melon and the flesh was pleasantly sweet. One of them, I forget which one, had a hint of banana flavor. The seeds were much softer than the other Opuntia I picked last week but I would still classify the seeds as hard. There were much fewer seeds in these fruit, I did not count how many.

Simon,

Nice selection, I like the red on red look to it. Looks like a keeper, so many possibilities for good selections around CA. I think we should plan a prickly pear taste testing sometime in the future. So we can sort out the BRIX, taste, texture, and presentation. Then the top 10 selections can be shared among fruit enthusiast, crfg members, etc. This way can promote tasty fruit, a tasty vegetable, an excellent landscape plant, and especially drought tolerant and water wise.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: simon_grow on November 12, 2014, 12:12:56 AM
Thanks ricshaw and Nullzero. I still have two fruit of each selection left so shoot me a pm if you are interested in trying these. I saw on some earlier posts that the Brix is around 13 for some varieties but I don't think these would be sweet enough to satisfy many tasters palates. I'm hoping the remaining fruit will be similarly sweet but firmer.

The green skinned fruit from the farmers market is still way more sweet than these fruit. I'm eager to get a Brix reading of the green skinned fruit since I didn't have a refractometer back when they were in season.

Simon
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on November 16, 2014, 07:20:54 PM
Here are some pictures of a prickly pear I just ate today. It was picked on Friday, the last prickly pears holding on the plant. This prickly pear is collected from the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains, growing wild. It produced at least 12 prickly pears this season, it just started to produce fruit (so we will see how well it produces

Fruit is Medium Large, medium seed count of moderate hard seeds. Flavor excellent papaya honeydew melon taste. Texture of a ripe papaya (but with medium seeds close to guava size). I think the fruit has most potential as a smoothie type fruit (seeds. Not sure on production of plant yet.


(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rofCzsHlSCg/VGkwLby-waI/AAAAAAAAHSA/-HMvnIoW1To/s400/CAM00626.jpg)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y-WqWd0fKLM/VGkwjV9H8mI/AAAAAAAAHSY/qzuim6By6h0/s400/IMG_20141116_151455.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6tTc7alAWXA/VGkwkUlF_RI/AAAAAAAAHSg/hl99yhf8gU0/s400/CAM00630.jpg)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_JfHCx9qYXw/VGkwbuxyvhI/AAAAAAAAHSQ/jec4l1NYhcs/s400/CAM00622.jpg)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: ricshaw on November 22, 2014, 11:55:24 PM
The Wagon Wheel motel and restaurant was a famous Southern California office, motel and restaurant complex located at the intersection of Hwy 101 and the Pacific Coast Highway.
Its convenient roadside location made it a popular stop for travelers between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, during its heyday in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
It was demolished in 2011 due to pending development. A family apartment complex is the first new building on the site.
The apartments were first offered to the residents of the Wagon Wheel Trailer Lodge. The demolition of the trailer park was started in 2013.

http://youtu.be/UGVolu4BHb0 (http://youtu.be/UGVolu4BHb0)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: TheWaterbug on November 07, 2015, 12:09:59 PM
Sad news, the mother plant was hacked up and almost completely removed. I drove by last two days back from work. The home owner nearby, decided to construct a new replacement fence and gate on the back of the property. Well this Opuntia sp. is intertwined with their fence and the common area. They ripped up the plant and removed majority of it, because it was in the way. However I did see a pile of detached pads near the area where the plant was rooted (I am sure it will reroot in the area again).

Luckily I was able to capture the pictures of the mature plants form and collect pads. This is not the first time I have ran into selecting these plants, then having them disappear. It feels good knowing you just secured the existence of a worthy selection.

I have Torrance PCH pads! On Hallowe'en afternoon I hiked up the slope with a hand pruner and tongs, and I took these cuttings. Should I leave that double pad as it is? Or should I separate them and have 4 plants? BTW if all of these root I am more than open to giving some of these away. I only want to keep two plants; the rest are for insurance :D:


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3552590/TorrancePCHCuttings.jpg)


The fruit twisted off pretty easily, but I haven't opened one yet. Maybe this afternoon:


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3552590/TorrancePCHFruit.jpg)


After a week sitting inside, the ends look like this:


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3552590/TorrancePCHCured.jpg)


Does that look ready to plant? Water or no water?
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: simon_grow on November 07, 2015, 12:42:43 PM
Congratulations on the pads, how did the Torrance PCH fruit taste? When I received my pad, the cut was dry and I immediately planted it into a pot and it is doing very well. If you want more plants, you can remove that attached pad, if you don't need any more plants, just leave it on.

Simon
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: gunnar429 on November 07, 2015, 04:28:19 PM
Sad news, the mother plant was hacked up and almost completely removed. I drove by last two days back from work. The home owner nearby, decided to construct a new replacement fence and gate on the back of the property. Well this Opuntia sp. is intertwined with their fence and the common area. They ripped up the plant and removed majority of it, because it was in the way. However I did see a pile of detached pads near the area where the plant was rooted (I am sure it will reroot in the area again).

Luckily I was able to capture the pictures of the mature plants form and collect pads. This is not the first time I have ran into selecting these plants, then having them disappear. It feels good knowing you just secured the existence of a worthy selection.

I have Torrance PCH pads! On Hallowe'en afternoon I hiked up the slope with a hand pruner and tongs, and I took these cuttings. Should I leave that double pad as it is? Or should I separate them and have 4 plants? BTW if all of these root I am more than open to giving some of these away. I only want to keep two plants; the rest are for insurance :D:


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3552590/TorrancePCHCuttings.jpg)


The fruit twisted off pretty easily, but I haven't opened one yet. Maybe this afternoon:


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3552590/TorrancePCHFruit.jpg)


After a week sitting inside, the ends look like this:


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3552590/TorrancePCHCured.jpg)


Does that look ready to plant? Water or no water?

I would love to be on the waiting list.  Holler at me if they end up rooting.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: ricshaw on November 07, 2015, 06:07:06 PM
After a week sitting inside, the ends look like this:

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3552590/TorrancePCHCured.jpg)

Does that look ready to plant? Water or no water?

Leave the double pad as is.

I would clean up the end and let dry out.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: TheWaterbug on November 08, 2015, 12:13:25 AM
Congratulations on the pads, how did the Torrance PCH fruit taste?


Good! We ate all three this evening. I've never eaten these before, so I didn't know what to expect.


I don't love them like I love mangos, but they're good, and definitely worth growing and serving.


There were notes of kiwi, papaya and watermelon, though the latter was faint, and possibly even induced by reading this thread :D
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: starling2 on November 08, 2015, 12:58:34 AM
Nullzero is reliable, honest and great to trade with in my experience. He keeps his word, his material is well packaged and vital, and I would definitely recommend him.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: TheWaterbug on May 12, 2016, 01:12:56 PM
6 month update on my 3 cuttings:


Opuntia1 is doing great! It sat dormant for a few months, or maybe it was just getting stuff going underground, and then in March it starting pushing out new growth. Here it today (well, yesterday), with 4 beautiful new leaves/pads/thingies. The main pad and the pad with the little Velcro strap are the originals:


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3552590/Opuntia1_ManyLeaves.jpg)


Opuntia2 looked like this in March:


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3552590/Opuntia2_StartingOut.jpg)


and like this today:


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3552590/Opuntia2_BigLeaf.jpg)


Opuntia3 is to its left, and has not pushed out anything, though it also hasn't died, shriveled, or turned brown. Maybe it's just biding its time.


I had no idea these grew so fast! When will they plump up? When will they lose their spines? When do they fruit? The wild plants I see all over LA have green fruit on them already, so I'm assuming my plants have missed the window for this season. Do they often fruit in their second season?


Based on the vigor of plant #1, and the fact that I'm running out of pots, I will give away both #2 and #3 to anyone who wants to pick them up from my home in Palos Verdes (90274) or my office in Torrance (90502). 1 per person! I don't want to unpot them or ship them.


In exchange I ask only for a clay pot of similar or larger size. PM if you're interested!
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: nullzero on May 12, 2016, 01:51:39 PM
Really nice, are all these Torrance PCH plants?
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: TheWaterbug on May 12, 2016, 05:32:51 PM
Really nice, are all these Torrance PCH plants?


Yes! Thanks again for the pointer!
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: gnappi on May 12, 2016, 07:48:09 PM
I am collecting cuttings from local small older mature cactus, and once rooted they grow fast. I hope to have some flowering next year in 2017.

 I'm REAL tired of spending .75 to a dollar each on tuna.

Funny about flavor perception, I get strong watermelon flavor with a raspberry undertone... love them.

 
Title: Everbearing cactus
Post by: gnappi on May 14, 2016, 05:43:13 PM
Today I made my third trip to a gone wild cactus that is petite at around 2 ft tall, and seems to be everbearing.

Every time I saw it the plant was in every phase of fruiting... new closed flowers, open flowers, green, ripe and spoiled fruit on it.

Is this typical? Or should I be growing seeds and starting cuttings?
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: TheWaterbug on July 10, 2016, 11:25:13 PM
6 month update on my 3 cuttings:

Opuntia1 is doing great!
Opuntia2 [is also growing well]:
Opuntia3 is to its left, and has not pushed out anything, though it also hasn't died, shriveled, or turned brown. Maybe it's just biding its time... .


I had no idea these grew so fast! When will they plump up? When will they lose their spines? When do they fruit? The wild plants I see all over LA have green fruit on them already, so I'm assuming my plants have missed the window for this season. Do they often fruit in their second season?


Based on the vigor of plant #1, and the fact that I'm running out of pots, I will give away both #2 and #3 to anyone who wants to pick them up from my home in Palos Verdes (90274) or my office in Torrance (90502). 1 per person! I don't want to unpot them or ship them.

In exchange I ask only for a clay pot of similar or larger size. PM if you're interested!


So Opuntia #3 also started growing! It grew a pair of Mickey Mouse ears, and it now on its way to being a reasonable plant.


#2 and #3 are still up for donation if anyone wants them.


In November I also cut some pads and fruit from another spineless Opuntia here in Palos Verdes. I never got a chance to taste the fruit, because guests were coming over so I hurriedly stuffed a whole bunch of stuff in a closet, including the Opuntia pads and fruit. 5 months later (no kidding!) I was looking in the closet and "found" my Opuntia. Both pads were very pale green, and one was quite shriveled, so I thought they were goners, but I put them in some dirt anyway.


Here's what the shriveled one looked like a few weeks ago:


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3552590/UnkillableOpuntia.jpg)


It's pale and sickly looking, but it's alive! The other pad looks a tad better, and has just started pushing out new growth.


So it looks like these things are pretty unkillable!
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: akanonui on July 11, 2016, 12:40:03 AM
I tried a lot of prickly pears in Peru, from yellow fruited to orange to deep purple. They sell them in the market for 3/1sol and they are delicious. There were some more bland than others but over all my favorite was the orange one. I  didn't catch the variety name of any of them other than tuna but they all grew at an elevation between 7,000 and 11,000 feet, so cool dry climate. I also have the wild midwest prickly pear growing in my garden along with some in the yard of my down the street neighbor, which have done well for a while now and are just this year flowering after 2 or 3 years from the first cutting. I personally find opuntia fruits to be refreshing but rather insipid. I have been reading about a few other cold hardy varieties from the northern southwest US as well as some edible cold hardy cholla cacti that I may buy if I have space.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: raimeiken on September 15, 2018, 10:14:15 PM
anyone familiar with these Luther Burbank spineless varieties? I'm looking for source of pads of these if anyone have any, let me know.

http://ucanr.edu/sites/NC-140_Annual_Meeting_2015/files/224508.pdf (http://ucanr.edu/sites/NC-140_Annual_Meeting_2015/files/224508.pdf)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: TheWaterbug on September 16, 2018, 12:11:44 PM
Based on the vigor of plant #1, and the fact that I'm running out of pots, I will give away both #2 and #3 to anyone who wants to pick them up from my home in Palos Verdes (90274) or my office in Torrance (90502). 1 per person! I don't want to unpot them or ship them.In exchange I ask only for a clay pot of similar or larger size. PM if you're interested!
So Opuntia #3 also started growing! It grew a pair of Mickey Mouse ears, and it now on its way to being a reasonable plant.#2 and #3 are still up for donation if anyone wants them.In November I also cut some pads and fruit from another spineless Opuntia here in Palos Verdes. I never got a chance to taste the fruit, because guests were coming over so I hurriedly stuffed a whole bunch of stuff in a closet, including the Opuntia pads and fruit. 5 months later (no kidding!) I was looking in the closet and "found" my Opuntia. Both pads were very pale green, and one was quite shriveled, so I thought they were goners, but I put them in some dirt anyway.Here's what the shriveled one looked like a few weeks ago:It's pale and sickly looking, but it's alive! The other pad looks a tad better, and has just started pushing out new growth.So it looks like these things are pretty unkillable!

2 years hence I now have 4 robust Opuntia plants--two "Torrance PCH" and two of these other local plants that I'll call "PV Rhone," because that's where I cut them from.

But last week I found out that:

1) Spineless cacti aren’t.
2) Prickly pear isn’t a great pot cactus, because it’ll bust right out of your pots.
3) Repotting a cactus is not fun.
4) There’s a second one that needs repotting.
(http://www.kan.org/pictures/OpuntiaBustingOut.jpg)

I still don't have any fruit yet, from any of my four plants. One of my PV Rhones set 3 fruit a few months ago, but the contractors rebuilding my fence knocked all of them off the plant when they moved the pot.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: TheWaterbug on September 16, 2018, 12:52:14 PM
BTW, I can donate pads from either variety to anyone who can pick up from my home in Palos Verdes or from my office in Torrance. No shipping.


I just have to remember which one is which!
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: ricshaw on September 16, 2018, 12:56:03 PM
But last week I found out that:

1) Spineless cacti aren’t.
2) Prickly pear isn’t a great pot cactus, because it’ll bust right out of your pots.
3) Repotting a cactus is not fun.
4) There’s a second one that needs repotting.

Welcome to the club.

I have a collection of spineless Opuntia cactus.
i planted a selection of 11 on the steep hillside behind my house. For the curious, listed below:
The Opuntia planted on the hill, in general, are doing much better than the ones growing in pots.
Even with the drought, surviving the Thomas Fire, loss of drip irrigation, I am getting fruit.

“Andy” — pad collected from cactus growing over back fence at house next to Andrew’s Koi, Anaheim, CA.

“Petit Ave.” — from prickly pear cactus planted along the side of the road next to a citrus orchard, Ventura, CA.

“12th St.” — from a cactus growing behind the fence of a house on the shoulder of a rural road, Santa Paula, CA.

“PARL 244, Nopal de Castilla” — Collected in Mexico from two sites on an abandoned plot, 1/2 km behind the town of Malpa Alta, Mexico.

“PARL 246, Verdura” — Collected in Mexico by the Universidad Autonoma de Chapingo, Mexico.

“PARL 247, Amarilla” — Collected in Mexico by the Universidad Autonoma de Chapingo, Mexico.

“Wagon Wheel” — collected from old, large cactus at old abandoned trailer and mobile home park, Oxnard, CA.

“PCH” — called Torrance PCH#1, from cactus growing over back fence at house next to PCH, Torrance, CA.

“Santa Ynez” — pad donated by CRFG member, original cactus may be from Rivenrock Cactus Nursery, Nipomo, CA who says original cuttings from a Navajo family whose ancestors had bred it over a couple centuries.

“O. ficus indica Peru” — Peruvian Opuntia ficus-indica from Florida cactus collector.

“O. ficus indica Nipas, Chile” — Nipas Chile Opuntia ficus-indica from Florida cactus collector.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: raimeiken on September 16, 2018, 06:26:00 PM
How are the fruit on those selection? What are the best? Any seedless or little seeds? Size?
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: ricshaw on September 16, 2018, 07:22:58 PM
How are the fruit on those selection? What are the best? Any seedless or little seeds? Size?

I recently moved back into my house after being gone for 9 months.

Too early for the data you want.  I am still in the documenting the color of flower and color of the fruit stage.
 
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Mark Miner on October 14, 2019, 03:14:45 AM
Hi all,
Wonderful thread with lots of information on fruiting opuntias.
Like Nullzero, I'm inspired to collect germplasm and maybe do a little breeding.
I help out with a community garden by SDSU.
I have most of the fruiting selections released by Rolling River Nursery, and am interested to experiment with O. aciculata, which is said (YT: Weird Fruit Explorer #233, Foraged Cactus Fruits, Fruit #3) to have a flavor profile of "Blackberries-cherries-pears-cotton candy." (!!)
I also have most of the Walk in Beauty hybrids released by Cold Hardy Cactus nursery. Flowering opuntias with fabulous colors and multiple bloom flushes per year. (!)
Love to trade pads and host tastings once I get my plants to fruiting size.
I'll be hosting a fairly massive fruit-tasting -- GRAPES!-- in mid-August, as I have 20 NEW vines coming into bearing, heirlooms, new releases from USA breeding programs, new vines from other countries via UC Davis.   A lotta stuff you've never even heard off, much less tasted, unless you're a fellow grape-maniac.

DEFINITELY want to acquire all "top-tier" opuntias mentioned in this thread!

---Mark Miner
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Francis_Eric on October 14, 2019, 02:18:19 PM
(DISCLAIMER) I know Nothing of Optunia Cultivars Only wht I ate at the Grocery store.

I found a very sweet one In Memphis At a Mexican Resturant
Very Soft, and gooey.

I was traveling through Memphis On my way To New orleans,
 and a mexican resturant Had one Out side in a outside Planter

maybe the owners Selected It I am not sure

I was Full of typical garbage though Bottles wrappers etc So I'm not certain
I did get a grocery bag full.

What time do these Fruit ?  I  tried Email (megabus Recite isn't there)

By the way We Have to Native ones In IL.
Eastern Prickly pear
Opuntia humifusa
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/prickly_pearx.htm (https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/prickly_pearx.htm)

Brittle Prickly Pear
Opuntia fragilis

https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/br_prpear.html (https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/br_prpear.html)
Opuntia fragilis
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Francis_Eric on October 14, 2019, 02:20:22 PM
I mean do you know if these fruit the same In Memphis as they do In California
The ones in NOLA didn't taste as good on the ground.

(edit)
I'd Go and pick some stalks
(?n ot to sound to sweet I'd want some from t hat bush myself anyways)

If you'd want to see what happens with em

Not sure anytime soon as it is persimmon season, and trying to find my own varieties (of those in the wild)
but have a week off work every other week.
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: Francis_Eric on October 14, 2019, 02:50:54 PM
I forgot  Big-rooted Prickly Pear (Opuntia macrorhiza)

USDA says In IL, and Minesota too all the way North
Haven't read that site for a while, and getting offline.

I think a lady on freecycle gave me one of those bigger padded ones ,
but didn't want in garden anymore, and (was Lazy)never transplanted anywhere after..
they'll come back even if stored all shriveled up like completely dry though hahah

Is there any where You can buy some of these fruits from these cultivars?
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: ricshaw on October 14, 2019, 04:43:26 PM

Is there any where You can buy some of these fruits from these cultivars?


(https://i.postimg.cc/0zz1cZy1/vallarta.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0zz1cZy1)

(https://i.postimg.cc/XXjhsxs1/tuna-verdes-ad2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XXjhsxs1)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: LEOOEL on August 05, 2022, 01:00:32 PM
The Opuntia (Prickly Pear) Variety, Torrance PCH#1,
that I got from Nullzero in 2013 is F R U I T I N G !!!
for the very first time!

When the years were passing by,
I decided I was going to let it grow into the giant cactus (Medusa) pictures that Nullzero has posted.
And, it seems to have worked/payed-off.
The fact that the tree is a beautiful cactus, IMO, also helped.

After several years of waiting for fruit production in my high humidity Zone 10b,
I’m ecstatic with this Breakthrough (I had almost given up all hope),
that this Opuntia Variety will bear fruit in the Miami, Florida area.

Now I’m waiting for multiple fruits to grow, ripen (turn red), harvest, and
comment on the fruit quality: taste experience & edibility of the seeds.

Thank you Nullzero for this Opuntia.

I can’t wait to hear of other varieties that are:
as productive or more so, with even better quality fruit.

The Torrance PCH#1 that I got from Nullzero is doing great and it looks really good and healthy. I suppose that after a year of planting, it now has developed a good root system. From one planted pad, it now has 3 multi-pad branches. It has a full sun location, and I'm not watering it at all, to induce fruiting. I'm just sporadically fertilizing it.

I hope that it will soon look like the giant multipad 'tree' picture that Nullzero posted on this Thread (before it was destroyed, suposedly, by the owners of the property; it was kinda sad to see that happen, that 'tree' was a real beauty) and with the same abundant fruit quantity/production.
(https://i.postimg.cc/hXCNrFmH/73803-A9-B-14-EE-46-A0-ABFC-9-EB726-AC0-B2-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hXCNrFmH)

(https://i.postimg.cc/w7WdWs8f/AA86-D08-C-F3-D8-448-A-BDE6-D86-D9-C887-F26.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/w7WdWs8f)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: greg_D on October 11, 2022, 02:03:50 PM
I stopped by the PCH#1 site today and it seems like a new plant has established from the remnants of the old one. The slope is steep and sandy, and dumps you onto a busy road if you fall down it, anyone who wants to see it proceed with caution.
(https://i.postimg.cc/tskfHnP1/2-DCCFB65-93-E7-4-C21-B3-E9-D8-DAAEE8789-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/tskfHnP1)
Title: Re: Another prickly pear selection
Post by: mangomike on October 31, 2022, 04:03:35 PM
Ric,

I know this is an old post, but I was wondering if you would have pads for sale for these Opuntias? I just began collecting them as I recently moved to Arizona. I have also spotted a few large-fruited O. ficus-indica types around here and could collect pads from them to trade if you like.