How to Grow Prickly Pear (Nopal)

Updated June 2026

A warm-season fruit for the home garden across the warmer US.

Prickly Pear (Nopal) is a rewarding warm-season crop for backyard growers.

When to plant

Plant Prickly Pear (Nopal) in spring once the soil has warmed and all frost has passed. In the warmest regions a second crop is possible in late summer. See your region on the prickly pear (nopal) page for exact timing.

Varieties

Spineless (Burbank), Easy-handling pads and fruit (nurseries)

How to grow it

Sun & soil: full sun, rich well-drained soil with even moisture.
Spacing: about 3.9 ft between plants.
Sowing: sow about 2 in deep.
Water: roughly 0.5 gal per plant every 14 days in hot weather.

Pests & problems

Watch for Cochineal scale. In humid regions, Rot in wet soil can appear, so space for airflow and water at the roots in the morning.

When to plant in your region

Pick your region to see exactly when to plant prickly pear (nopal) where you garden.

See what to plant this month

Pick your region for a month-by-month calendar tuned to your climate.

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