Zone 7

I am trying to grow prickly pears is it possible and how?

 

could you give us more information on your location , the minus temperature and tell us if you got a south position in your garden.

but yes you can , but not the edible variety .

 

Ocean City maryland its a new Garden was starting indoor then summer move outside. The winter months may get 35 at the coldest summer spring 75 to 80 daily. I was looking into groing prickly pears i grow ice plants easily.

 

If you manage to grow ice plants , you are half way there ...the secret is replace all the soil with a stratification of sand , gravel and compost , the prickly pears can resist the cold but will suffer the rain ....so need a really good drainage soil , plus the best advice is to protect them in winter with a cover of bubble wrap or similar also there are many frost hardy variety of Opuntias (prickly pears ) try to get them if you can ....this is an Uk website where you can see some of the cold variety opuntias check all the one that say hardy in Uk , sure you can find them in Us with no problem .

http://www.cactusshop.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_OPUNTIA_99.html




also read this thread

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/frozen-cacti.40458/

 

Yes, there are some Opuntias that can be grown outdoors. The exact species escapes me at the moment, will have to check my books later.
But you need to have very well drained soil.

 

35F as a nightime minimum?
If so, I'm sure you could grow many types of Opuntia, just avoid the ones that come from the tropics.