fig query
I bought two tiny one-day-will-be fig trees in Lidl the other day.
They are about 30 cm tall at this stage, but apparently very healthy, with nice new leaf buds, and healthy looking rootballs. Having done my research in Hessayon's Fruit Expert and a couple of other books, I have potted them in large pots, with a load of stone for maximum drainage, in a compost made of some garden soil, some of my home-made compost, a little bought multipurpose, and some gravel for extra drainage. I firmed the trees (each to its own pot) well in their compost, watered them with a little liquid multipurpose feed. They are now located at the base of a SW facing wall which gets the sun a great deal of the day, is sheltered from the elements by another wall jutting out, and from too much rain by being just under the overhang of the roof. They also rest on gravel, which should ensure they never have wet feet. The label - which says eff' all else - states they tolerate temperatures from -4 to +40 which amply covers (especially at the lower end) the kind of temp we get here. My first priority is that they would thrive, and get to a respectable size - time and TLC will do that. My second priority would be that they set fruit, which I understand is best done by restricting their roots - which will be the case when the trees have grown and their roots are restricted by the pots. My motivation is the nostalgia of my parents' huge figtree near the chicken coop - though I suspect I'll never get the pure honey gooey uber-ripe fruit it used to give... But I live in hope.. Has anyone here who is growing or has grown fig trees successfully to the point of producing fruit any advice on dos and don'ts? TIA Cat(h) |
fig query
Sacha wrote: On 31/7/06 16:05, in article , "Cat(h)" wrote: snip Has anyone here who is growing or has grown fig trees successfully to the point of producing fruit any advice on dos and don'ts? TIA Last autumn, my step son cut down our fig tree right back to the base where it disappears under stone flags in a courtyard. There's wasn't one leaf to be seen. This year it's over 5' tall but isn't going to fruit. However, normally, it fruits very well in this sheltered and sunny spot. I hope you haven't over-potted them, though? Too big a pot can mean too much wet compost just slopping around the roots and rotting them off. That said, fig trees grow very quickly so they might well grow into their new homes fast. -- Ahem. You may have a point... The very uninformative label which came with the wee trees said "mini 10 l pot". Now, to be frank, I went well above that, selecting handsome frostproof clay pots about 60cm high and 40 cm diameter in the top opening. That's WAY larger than 10 litres. However, I think I addressed the drainage issue reasonably well, and I know that fig trees grow very fast, so I hope I won't live to regret my choice of pots. I'll keep my toes crossed... Thanks! Cat(h) |
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