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A few years ago a neighbor gave me a 'leaf' from what I'll generically call a prickly pear cactus, it was a little more successful growing with no attention than I'd planned on. I'd like to get rid of it, the spines aren't bad but it has these tiny little 'hairs' that get under your skin are VERY annoying. I've had little success with today's weedkillers, nowhere near as effective as the old school ones were. Is there some chemical(s) I can spray on them that will hopefully make them shrivel up and be easier to handle?
A pitchfork to the base will let you rip it out of the ground.
As for disposal, chop it up with the blade of a shovel and bury the chunks. No need for the soil to lose everything the cactus took out of it.
Go to the grocery store and get a heavy duty produce carton that they throw away. Cut down the cactus in pieces. Use a b-b-que tong to pick up the pieces and put them in the cardboard box. Seal the box with tape and let the trash people take it away. Once cut down it's easy the dig up the shallow root system.
FYI: Thorns will come through plastic bags and bite you.
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Originally Posted by wit-nit
Go to the grocery store and get a heavy duty produce carton that they throw away. Cut down the cactus in pieces. Use a b-b-que tong to pick up the pieces and put them in the cardboard box. Seal the box with tape and let the trash people take it away. Once cut down it's easy the dig up the shallow root system.
FYI: Thorns will come through plastic bags and bite you.
Good idea! Technically, my service says no garden waste but a box noe and then works and it being biodegradable I wouldn't worry too much about it.
Did you try to eat the fruits? Pretty tasty!!
Prickly pear cactus — or also known as nopal, opuntia and other names — is promoted for treating diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and hangovers. It's also touted for its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
When ripe, they are syrupy sweet. https://www.organicfacts.net/health-...kly-pears.html
Did you try to eat the fruits? Pretty tasty!!
Prickly pear cactus — or also known as nopal, opuntia and other names — is promoted for treating diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and hangovers. It's also touted for its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
When ripe, they are syrupy sweet. https://www.organicfacts.net/health-...kly-pears.html
These "Tiny spines – called glochids – are thinner than a human eyelash and look a little bit like fur. At the slightest touch, they’ll embed themselves into your skin and clothes – and removal is almost impossible." gave me a nasty surprise.
Knowing they're there I've never tried eating any of it. I know both the fruit and the 'leaves' are eaten. Do those nasty little spines go away when cooked? They're bad enough on your hands, I'd hate to have any in my throat.
A few years ago a neighbor gave me a 'leaf' from what I'll generically call a prickly pear cactus, it was a little more successful growing with no attention than I'd planned on. I'd like to get rid of it, the spines aren't bad but it has these tiny little 'hairs' that get under your skin are VERY annoying. I've had little success with today's weedkillers, nowhere near as effective as the old school ones were. Is there some chemical(s) I can spray on them that will hopefully make them shrivel up and be easier to handle?
I see the pads in the vegetable section of the grocery stores. You might try eating one before you do anything. They're said to taste like green beans.
Oh they are delicious.
If you cut off the new tender growth every season - it would not get very big
These "Tiny spines – called glochids – are thinner than a human eyelash and look a little bit like fur. At the slightest touch, they’ll embed themselves into your skin and clothes – and removal is almost impossible." gave me a nasty surprise.
Knowing they're there I've never tried eating any of it. I know both the fruit and the 'leaves' are eaten. Do those nasty little spines go away when cooked? They're bad enough on your hands, I'd hate to have any in my throat.
No - you harvest the new pads. The "spines" are very tender little things and you slice them off. My mom would do it with a razor blade. The baby spines are not sharp at all.
You can eat them and also can them. They sell them in stores in jars or fresh.
A few cactus pads concealed by Styrafoam peanuts would make a good gift for porch pirates.
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I've had little success with today's weedkillers, nowhere near as effective as the old school ones were. Is there some chemical(s) I can spray on them that will hopefully make them shrivel up and be easier to handle?
