Looking for some advice on growing two adult Desert Torts fresh cactus. I have plenty of property (as the first picture shows i literally have wild cactus growing on it)but have decided to grow a row of the Prickly Pears strictly for tortoise food. I so far planted five plants (as pictured) but can get as many more as needed. I never worked with this plant and it is a very painful plant to mess with (to me this is Satan's cabbage not Marijanna) and only want enough to feed. It is outside their fenced area but is close enough to water occasionally and harvest easily. I am starting many edible plants and gasses for them this year in their yard but this is on the outside.
My questions are
1 how soon till I can start harvesting off plants of this size?
2 how much can I harvest off each plant when they are large enough?
3 should I start more plants and as they get bigger remove some to begin harvesting sooner?
4 how many plants is the best amount for 2 tortoises?
Thank you to those who take the time to answer.
My questions are
1 how soon till I can start harvesting off plants of this size?
2 how much can I harvest off each plant when they are large enough?
3 should I start more plants and as they get bigger remove some to begin harvesting sooner?
4 how many plants is the best amount for 2 tortoises?
Thank you to those who take the time to answer.