Cactus

[Dani]

Just an FYI. . after pickly pears have bloomed (normally during the spring/or early summer depending on where you live), there is a red "bulb" on the end. This is the fruit. You will need to peel it before eating, but it is very good. It can be eaten year round, but will be a little tart after season. It is sweet and also hydrating. The prickly pear "pad" can also be eaten, by frying. You will need to peel it as well.

 

[Bravery]

I have also eaten the flat kind of cactus many times. It is quite good!

 

[old_anorak]

I found out a few years ago that we have freaking cactus growing on our land? I mean WTH?? Cactus in Missouri?? And it's a native specie?? I have no idea if it is edible or not.

 

[Roninsensei]

If its flat like a beavers tail then yes its edible, if not then only the fruit is. Just remember the beaver tail thing its a good way to know if cacti is edible. The tube species can kill you.

 

[old_anorak]

Thank you for the information. The pads are flat and kind of an off kilter oval.

 

[jimLE]

i hear that the nopalea cactus is one of the best when it comes to the fruit.and that if you can squeeze the juice out of all the ripe ones.then mix 3-5 ounces of it to every 32 ounces of water.that way your not only drinking the juice thats good for ya.but your drinking water at the same time..

 

[old_anorak]

I am going to have to make it a point to find out if the cactus here in MO are edible.

 

[Dani]

Thinking I may have to try adding it to my tea when it is time

 

[jimLE]

some cactus leafs are good to eat..at least most of them have a bitter taste to them..and if you can find a leaf from a nopalea while the leaf thats around 2 years old,it'll have a better taste to it.and you can peel it with a peeler or shreed it with a chesse shreeder.then you can add a lil bit to a salad for better taste

 

[bubbadreier]

Oh I never even thought about cactus! Oklahoma has a ton of cactus growing, I just need to read up on whats edible and not. Thanks for the tip!

 

[old_anorak]

Our cactus are flat.

 

[Wiredog8]

Nopales, cactus are a staple here in South Texas.
We skin the prickly pear cactus ears and cook them with veggies and/or meat.
They are really good with fajitas ( beef skirt) cebolla ( onions) chile morron ( bell peppers) and champinoñes ( mushrooms.
La tuna, (prickly pear fruits) are used for preserves and jams.

 

[bubbadreier]

I should have known about cactuses, I eat them pretty much every time I go to my in-laws place! (mexicans)

 

[jimLE]

ok bubba i aint going there with that,on acount it's to early for that when it comes to me..still wakeing up to folgers

 

[jimLE]

wiredog..which part of south tx you live in? on acount im wanting to get some of them nopales for growing here.and tell ya the truth i aint sure if there's any growing in this part of tx or not..

 

[jimLE]

i had gone into a wal mart to do my monthly shoping the first part of last year.i went to the veggie department where i found napola pads by accident..i bought 2..in which i planted both..one servived.it now has 2 new pads on it..and because of that.i went there and got 4 more last week and planted them into flower pots..now it's a matter of seeing if they take root or not..

 

[Kenny Lee]

What's up with the round cactus? Can I still punch them open for water?

 

[old_anorak]

I wouldn't Kenny. The fluids from barrel cactus can cause serious diarrhea and vomiting and if I remember right, one of the species of barrel cactus here in North America is toxic.

 

[Roninsensei]

Use them only for a solar still. DO NOT use them in any other way for water.

 

[Kenny Lee]

That's it! I blame Hollywood and cartoons for giving bad bad prepping advise! No using cactus for water....is a camel's hump still good?

 

[old_anorak]

LOL, nope 'fraid not unless you want to use the hump for mostly fat.

 

[Dani]

i had gone into a wal mart to do my monthly shoping the first part of last year.i went to the veggie department where i found napola pads by accident..i bought 2..in which i planted both..one servived.it now has 2 new pads on it..and because of that.i went there and got 4 more last week and planted them into flower pots..now it's a matter of seeing if they take root or not..

After hurricane Ike hit and wiped out our beach areas, I found some pads on the beach from a neighbor of grannys beach cabin. I picked 3 up of them and planted them in my yard and they have since multiplied. I can get a lot of "fruit" and just within a few years.

 

[Dani]

Moisture within the pulp of a cactus is very acidic and many cacti contain toxic alkaloids. You can, however, eat the fruit.

 

[old_anorak]

I've been looking around our place where I've seen it grow in years past and I'm not seeing it this year. I wonder what may have killed it out.

 

[jimLE]

After hurricane Ike hit and wiped out our beach areas, I found some pads on the beach from a neighbor of grannys beach cabin. I picked 3 up of them and planted them in my yard and they have since multiplied. I can get a lot of "fruit" and just within a few years.

you know what spicies they are?.cause you might want to take pic's of them and show um to someone who knows.or email the pic's to someone..

 

[jimLE]

What's up with the round cactus? Can I still punch them open for water?

id have to say no,on acountt those ones could be toxic enough to kill u..so if your curious might try checking with experts 1st

 

[Dani]

you know what spicies they are?.cause you might want to take pic's of them and show um to someone who knows.or email the pic's to someone..

These are Opuntia, more commonly known as the prickly pear cactus. The cactus has been a staple of the Mexican and Central American diet for thousands of years. In parts of the U.S. it has been gaining popularity as an exotic and gourmet food, The prickly pear plant has three different edible sections: the pad of the cactus (nopal), which can be treated like a vegetable, the petals of the flowers, which can be added to salads, and the pear (tuna), which can be treated like a fruit.

 

[Dani]

I've been looking around our place where I've seen it grow in years past and I'm not seeing it this year. I wonder what may have killed it out.

I haven't seen anything that does kill them, at least naturally. These grow up in Canada all the way down to Mexico, so I am not surprised that some maybe living in your area somewhere. They are know to be the most cold hardy of all the cactus family.

 

[jimLE]

These are Opuntia, more commonly known as the prickly pear cactus. The cactus has been a staple of the Mexican and Central American diet for thousands of years. In parts of the U.S. it has been gaining popularity as an exotic and gourmet food, The prickly pear plant has three different edible sections: the pad of the cactus (nopal), which can be treated like a vegetable, the petals of the flowers, which can be added to salads, and the pear (tuna), which can be treated like a fruit.

OH WOW!!! wish i had that in my yard..pluse at least 3 or 4 more like it..

 

[old_anorak]

If I had that in my yard, I'd fall in it. How do you think I found out we had cactus on our place to begin with? I fell on it.