In message , David Rance
writes
On Sat, 16 May 2009 June Hughes wrote:
OTOH, I could do one on growing figs because someone here gave me good
advice about five years ago when I acquired a fig tree and I have had
a modicum of success with it but I don't think many people would be
interested in growing figs. In any case, there isn't a great deal to
say about them once the tree is established.
I would be interested. I have a fig tree which may or may not have
fruit - and I'd like to know what to do to get the best out of it. It
produces lots and lots of embryo figs but, often, few get to maturity.
David
Well, David, I am no expert but was told here in urg not to let the
roots spread, so have it in a huge pot where it can get lots of sun. (I
am not now sure this is correct as my neighbours are Greek Cypriots and
their two fig trees are planted in the ground without restricting the
roots, producing many figs. We also stayed with a Cypriot man in Bath a
couple of years ago and he too had his fig tree in the ground without
restricting the roots. Its figs were huge but he had it under a canopy
of corrugated plastic.)
I feed mine with seaweed every so often, as instructed by the man from
whom I bought it. At the end of each summer, there are little nodules
on the branches and these are the figs of next year. Any larger figs
that have not ripened, I remove. The figs grow until ripe in early to
mid- August, when you have to pick them pretty sharpish or the wasps
will beat you to it. The tree needs to be kept well-watered once it is
established and seems to grow an inch or two each year. (Perhaps that
is why your figs fall off but there must be someone here who will know
better than me).
Mine is a brown turkey fig, which I understand is the easiest to grow.
It produced some seven figs in the first season I had it and about 30
the year after. Last year for some reason, it produced very few but
that could have been due to the cold, rainy summer we had. I have an
abundant crop this year, so barring accidents or disasters, they should
see me through to September. No-one else in the family likes figs. If
you asked me about diseases of fig trees, I would have to look the
subject up or take advice. Good luck.
PS I talk to mine
--
June Hughes