Planting a cactus garden

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July 19, 1:14 PM

by Mary Choate, Denver Gardening Examiner

 

 

Cactus in bloom

      In agriculture, there are fields of cultivated trees, and fields of cultivated bushes.

      The difference between a bush and tree is complex, but can be simplified to a differentiation in size. Trees are the largest plants, providing the upper three stories of shelter in a forest, bushes are the mid-sized plants that provide the middle three stories of shelter in a forest. They both differ from the shrubs that provide the lower three stories of shelter in a forest.

      Of the most valuable agricultural commodities that can be grown in Colorado, the easiest by far is that of the prickly pear. This amazing plant is forgiving to an extreme: it provides you three chances of harvest. Can’t get to all the pads in time due to weather or lack of labor? Wait a few weeks and harvest the flowers. Can’t get the flowers? Harvest the red ripe fruits.

      Early July is the best time to transplant them if you have irrigation, otherwise the best time to transplant is in the spring before the rain. Water is, by far, more important than sunlight.

      The sunlight begins to wane after the solstice in very late June. This encourages all the plants to begin preparing for winter by building up their stores of sugar. In Spring, plants build out roots and prepare to set forth fruit. If, in the midsummer, their fruit is killed (by eating or – as you will do – by pruning), they take all their stored energy and put it into their roots and leaves so they can be more ready for fruiting next year.

      Find a plant with at least two segments above the ground. (Don’t take any from protected areas!)

      Carefully remove the green fruits from the prickly pears and either discard them, compost them, feed them to your animals (after removing the spines) or eat them yourselves (beware, it’s an acquired taste). 

      Grip the bottommost segment that is completely above the ground and gently rotate it until it separates from the anchored segment. 

      In a well tilled bed, plant the bottommost segment you are holding either 3/4 under ground (if you are going to irrigate) or bury the next-highest segment 1/4 underground (if they are to be dry-established).

      The cacti will throw out roots from the pad and, next year, begin fruiting and producing pads!

      Select cacti that are plump and healthy for the best establishment – these are full of the necessary sugar to build roots and has the best chance of survival! 

      Sometimes it may take two years for a cacti to establish, but with adequate water and tillage, the cacti will thrive even in the first year.

      If you are planting the giant prickly pears that are typical of warmer areas (such as California, Spain or other places), we suggest planting them like trees (because they are trees): 10-15 feet apart on 6 foot beds and 12 foot aisles. 

      If you are using the smaller pears that are more common to Colorado, plant them in two rows on a 6 foot bed with 6 foot aisles. Space the plants approximately 3-5 feet apart.

      Onions, garlic, thinly planted beans and other crops that will not shade the sun-loving cacti too much are great to improve yields during that year of establishment. On our water-established beds, we will make the best use of the land by growing bean sprouts for the last few months of the growing season.

      If possible when harvesting for transplants, you can attempt to dig up the roots of the cacti as well. Be warned, though, their roots are very sensitive and extend sometimes dozens of feet around the cacti.

      Finding the pears for your garden is easy: many farmers and ranchers might even pay you to remove them from their fields! If you want a fun afternoon of cacti-hunting, bring a picnic and see who can find the most prickly pears during the afternoon. Pay attention to what plants grow near the cacti, and what animals and fungi are friends or enemies to the cacti.

      Be careful of the spines – sensitive children might cry if their hands get pricked, but it is a good lesson to learn: the small spines hurt a lot, but do little damage. The tasty cacti are trying to protect themselves against all those animals who would eat it. People are able to perceive pain as well as any animal, but are better at understanding exactly how much damage is caused: those little spines do not dissuade us from the worthy goal of a cactus orchard!

      Who eats cacti? Deer, antelope, cattle, rabbits, mice…lots of animals would if they could, but few do. The spines also serve to shade the plant and keep it cool.

      You can look forward to eating the cacti too: it’s delicious! 

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