We just drop them on the ground, it takes some time.
They seem to grow easiest though by leaf pads.
The pads can also just be left on the ground.
New growth will surprise you when you least expect it.
Also pull/cut a pad from a plant and stick it in the dirt.
For us they are quite capable when left alone.
k

I keep having them com up in my pots by the mother plant. I don't try since it is so easy to grow them from pads.

Did you pick the seeds out before you ate them? It makes a difference.

And that's a great handle.

if they are all over the place...

why not just get some plants ... and skip the year or two of growing them from seed to fruit bearing????

i understand the thrill of doing it yourself.. from scratch ... but you might get to be eating some while your babes mature to fruit bearing ...

wonder if they come true from seed???? ... my guess would be.. they probably do ....

ken

Ken, In some states digging up all cactus is illegal, in other's one must have the landowners permission if they are not endangered. I have a ethical thing about digging them up from the roos, but if it is a opuntia, I do not have an ethical thing about taking a pad if I have permission.

Jeff, EEEWW

Assuming the seeds are good it's pretty easy. If you just use good soil it's not much different than growing a regular plant. Some can take a while to grow though. Giant saguaros take two years. Prickly pears I'm not sure.

Prickly pear seeds need a cold stratification to break the seeds dormancy. They need a 3 month cold stratification.

So this is my O. robusta seedlings, they're a year old now, I don't water much so growth is slow (I have a habit of over water when in plastic pots)
I went the seed way as I couldn't afford a pad (ã20 in UK) at the time.
So I got my seeds they came dried still with bits of fruit on, so the seller said to put into hot (light/medium bubbling water) for ten mins to remove the inhibitors it worked I got 7out of the ten seeds, so I bought more, I tried with out and they never germinated so I tossed them.
I also used saltpetre I had 5 of the 10.

I tried other opuntia seeds with less success.

But I agree if they're common just pinch a pad or two.