Opuntia cochenillifera syn. Nopalea cochenillifera

Here is a huge opuntia cochenillifera cacti that i trimmed today. I trimmed it from 15' cacti down to 6' and got tons of cuttings. All of these will be recycled and taken to my farm for a 2nd life, where they will keep on producing leaf pads and fruit. Ever since i finished my farms fence i havent thrown a single cacti away, probably saved a few thousand from the landfill by now. #cacti #nopales #opuntia #mexican #farmer #farming #la #cali #gardening #gardener #nature #happy #plants

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@cyndi yes with the farm i recycle most fruit trees, shade trees, cacti, agaves and anything that will take in the desert really. Most of my farm is other peoples trash lol

How old is a 15' cactus guessed to be?!? 🌵😯 That is a monster! I'm so happy to hear that you are replanting them on your farm! Like @cyndi said, #wastenotwantnot #savetheplanet 🌎

@cyndi thank you 😀 i have never heard that saying, i like it 👌 so true.

Hey, Steve, I was asked this question the other day and didn't know the answer, but you probably do. Are all these cactus paddles edible? I know the thin little Opuntia nopales are, but what about these huge ones like your post?

@KariSamuel based on its trunk, height, and density, i would put it at 45 to 55 years old. They can get maybe 30'. The one i posted a few weeks back is actually going to be brought down as well. That one is much taller haha. Yes i am happy to save them and at the same time get free cuttings for my farm, cacti are super expensive 😂. i exchange my labor for free, they dont pay for, or use the landfill , & they get pruned to where they are viable for easy picking 👍

@lovestogarden if its an opuntia species yes. Every other cacti produces edible fruit tho. Some just suck to peel, that why not seen much. Super thick ones even like these trunks could be diced and eaten, but would be very fiberous. You want fresh new pads, sort of like microgreens, the small new pads are the best to cook with and healthiest. Thick pads are the best propogations, thicker the better, while the pads you want to cook, have too much water to propogate well.

Amazing! Will they produce fruit in our lifetime then? (Don't giggle, I'm old!)

@KariSamuel strong propogations will produce fruit next year, weak ones in 2 lol.

Thank you so much for the information Steve. It all makes perfect sense. Yes, those thorns from the fruit 😵. I read once to use a torch to burn off the thorns still on the plant. Those plants you are moving must be outrageously heavy. 💪 💞👏👏👏

@lovestogarden haha each one is different . I have some cacti that fruit has no spines and some with little spines on pads . Yup torch method works i use it, although if ur a pro peeling them is faster lol. Downside is the world has not invented an agile glove that wont get spines inside them 😂 lol i got some branches that were 200 lbs by themselves, had to use 2 trucks to carry them all 😁✌

Here is a couple rows of cochineal cacti we have planted in pots for our small nursery. Luckily theyve gotten a bit established with rain 😄 These cacti are extremely drought tolerant, produce edible cacti pads and small cacti fruit. They are a great addition to any permaculture garden or food forrest. We sell the pads of these cacti on our etsy shop.#cactus #cacti #nopales #pricklypear #tunas #fruit #opuntiacochenillifera #agriculture #sembrador #summer #garden #gardening #foodforrest #gardener

#farmer #farm #farming #nature #happy #plants #entrepreneur #landscaper #naturephotography #landscaping #permaculture #losangeles #ediblelandscaping #california #smallnursery #lancaster #mojavedesert

Wow 🤩

@suerichards they are goin 👍

Quite a production line you have going there! Merry Christmas 🎅🏻🎄🤶🏻🥂🥳

@kez001uk they love the desert 😄 thank you! Merry christmas to you and your family ❤

Picking small prickly pears off this giant opuntia cochenillifera(cochineal nopal). They are not as large as your usual prickly pears, but still are very sweet. I like smashing them and grinding them for juice 😛👌 the pads are great for cooking too, this is the species i eat most because its easy to despine. this cactus is easily 60 to 70 years old. #cactus #cacti #nopales #pricklypear #tunas #fruit #peruvianapplecactus #agriculture #sembrador #summer #garden #gardening #foodforrest #gardener

#farmer #farm #farming #nature #happy #plants #entrepreneur #landscaper #naturephotography #landscaping #permaculture #losangeles #ediblelandscaping #california #avocadoheights

Wow

Wow! Huge.