Quote:
Originally Posted by nullzero
I am growing over 20 different Opuntia. Mostly for the fruit some for pads. Generally the most cultivated Opuntia are from the O. ficus-indica and hybrids from this.
So far I have;
14 Opuntia ficus/Opuntia sp. (selected for fruit and/or pads)
Opuntia monocantha (rootstock/fruit)
Opuntia tomentosa (fruit/landscape)
Opuntia engelmannii var. subarmata (pads and landscape)
Opuntia Stricta (pads)
Opuntia cochenillifera (pads and fruit)
Opuntia humifusa (rootstock)
Most of these Opuntia are rated down to zone 9a to 8a. Taste of pads varies quite a bit from different species. Some of my favorites has a good lemony green bean flavor of the pads. Fruit quality is very good from most types with some having a tart/sweet flavor while others having a pleasant sweet flavor.
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Way to go!
It's those lemony green bean flavor pads that the peoples of central Mexico crave and I really enjoy them too.
Opuntia monocantha (?) are you referring to Eastern Prickly Pear, aka O. vulgaris?
The purple fruits of Western Prickly Pear (O. humifusa) are prized by my middle-aged customers who are 1st or 2nd generation Mexican immigrants.