Growing prickly pear

Q: I have a jar of prickly pear seeds extracted from prickly pear fruit a year or two ago and I am wondering what would be the best way to try to grow them.

A: My retired colleague, Jack Kelly, wrote a nice publication on this topic called “How to Propagate Agaves and Cacti from Cuttings and Seed” that you can find on the Internet and our website by searching for the title or AZ1483. The publication is too long for this space, but here is the first part to get you started. Download the rest if you are interested — it’s free!

Always start with fresh, clean seed. The seed should be sown in shallow, wide containers in a soil mix that assures good drainage and provides air and some organic matter to hold nutrients and moisture. Mixes that typically contain 50 percent inorganic material such as perlite or pumice are excellent. The other half of the mix should be either sphagnum peat or well composted organic material. Avoid animal manures, as these may inhibit seedling establishment. Nighttime temperatures of 65–70 degrees are conducive to good germination and growth. Spread cactus seed evenly over the surface of the pot, and very lightly cover with coarse sand to avoid covering the cactus seed too deeply. Place the container in a waterproof tray, and fill with water up to half the height of the container, allowing water to wet the medium from the bottom of the container. Place the seeded pot in a bright warm outdoor location, but not in direct sunlight.