16. Cactus Forest Project
Imported Cactus Tree Pear thrives at Janahn Forest on a sandstone ridge. These cactus are never watered except when it rains in our 600 mm rainfall zone – which means they are a “dryland crop” (that being never irrigated). They grow to 6 – 8 metres in height and yield about 10kg of fruit per cactus each year. Fruit is edible – yet difficult to harvest due to micro prickles. The key to its survival is shade and wind protection from its surrounding Ironbark and Cypress Forest. Take the Cactus Tree Pear away from the forest and it will fail to thrive. The number of fruiting dryland tree crops for the greater part of Australia is limited.
Objective is to create a productive dryland forest that will be easy to establish and manage. What is not fully known yet = Which species will work here (600 mm annual rainfall cool sub-tropical) in a dryland forest ? Pitaya aka Peruvian Apple Cactus and Aloe Vera are currently growing here – both thrive and survive under dryland conditions. Pitaya fruit is soft and prickle free. It is a commercial crop in Israel.
70% of the Australian Continent receives less than 500mm of annual rainfall. Then most of the remaining parts of Australia are prone to extended periods of no effective rain. This type of dryland food forest is suitable for the 500mm to 800 mm rainfall zones of Australia. It is being developed on sand/clay duplex soil. Constructed adgingbongs (shallow ponds) increase available subsoil moisture. Periodic grazing with sheep and small cattle are essential to manage groundcovers – especially grasses.
LATEST RESEARCH: See Hedge Gardens for Food Crops with Pitaya Cactus (+ Leucaena + Vetiver Grass) planted for Shade + Wind Protection + Mulch Production + Increased Water Holding Capicity of Soil = Go via Link Below to Hedge Maker Kits
PHOTO 1: Pitaya aka Peruvian Apple Cactus in Flower. Pitaya grows to 4 metres in height. It is capable of persisting without supplementary water in this climate. It fruits when it rains or you may induce fruiting 2-3 times per annum with applied water. Original mother cactus is still growing strong in this district in black soil after 30 years. No known insect pests. Fruit are the size of a golf ball. Skin of the fruit is textured like leather – it is soft and edible – inside is a white sweet pulp like crystallized sugar. Date of Photo: Dec 2019
PHOTO 2: Pitaya Pup planted next to an Old Man Saltbush with companion rock. “Pups” are taken from established plants to grow as individuals. With in the Long Yard Garden there is a dedicated section of Pitaya and Saltbush = collectively growing as ideal Turkey habitat.
PHOTO 3: Triple Row of Old Man Saltbush in Longyard Garden. Pitaya is planted next to each Saltbush in Centre Row. Objective is to encourage tall Saltbush aligned North South to provide shade for centre row. Centre row of Saltbush is constantly pruned to keep it short. All Saltbush is periodically trimmed for Woody Mulch. Sheep have acces here for several nights every 6 or nine months. Over time the sheep will prune the Saltbush to grow tall. Green cover is Burr Clover. Photo: 01/03/21
PHOTO 4: Paddock full of Old Man Saltbush interplanted with Bunya and Hoop Pines. Saltbush grows to 3 metres and may be configured as a multiple function hedge. Date of Photo: 13/03/21
PHOTO 5: Emerging Old Man Saltbush Heath will form a closed canopy in background – with Pitaya in foreground. Heath is ideal poultry habitat and for succulents from its shade house effect. Date of Photo: 13/03/21
PHOTO 6: Giant of The Forest – Cactus Tree Pear grow to 8 metres in height. Soil type is sand/clay/gravel.