The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Fruit => Topic started by: northfifeduckling on October 24, 2011, 09:34:54 am

Title: what do fig trees need?
Post by: northfifeduckling on October 24, 2011, 09:34:54 am
we have 3 small fig trees in pots in the greenhouse. There were a few fruit on them but they fell off before they were mature. What do fig trees need? what kind of soil, do I need to wrap them against the cold? :&>
Title: Re: what do fig trees need?
Post by: Millwood on October 24, 2011, 09:44:42 am
They like to have their roots restricted, so keep them in the pots & sink them in the ground. Usually also grows best against a sunny wall, wrapping them in fleece may help overwinter if they are quite young.
Title: Re: what do fig trees need?
Post by: egglady on October 24, 2011, 11:11:42 am
thwy like a certain kind of compost - cant remember what though - suspect maybe ericacious?  mine be repotted soon so will need to be checking myself.

i bring mine indoors in the winter as our last 2 winters are just too cold for them.  the do need cold over the winter, just not as cold as we have here!  well at least until they are a decent size i find
Title: Re: what do fig trees need?
Post by: northfifeduckling on October 24, 2011, 11:21:10 am
thanks! Let me know about the soil when you find out, Laura, I still have a bag of ericaceous for the blueberries. :&>
Title: Re: what do fig trees need?
Post by: ellisr on October 24, 2011, 11:55:49 am
Figs need a loamy soil with plenty of organic matter and of course the roots restricted
Title: Re: what do fig trees need?
Post by: Frieslandfilly on November 15, 2011, 12:21:06 pm
You may want to google this to clarify but as far as I remember a Fig in its country of origin will fruit twice, it will also try over here but we dont have the weather and so one of the fruitings should be removed but I cant remeber at which end of the year. This will mean that the fig will put all its effort into just one fruiting per year and you should get a good crop. They do best next to a warm wall or building etc and can get huge if left unrestricted in a position they like, even in this country!!
Title: Re: what do fig trees need?
Post by: Blonde on November 27, 2011, 02:28:22 am
we have 3 small fig trees in pots in the greenhouse. There were a few fruit on them but they fell off before they were mature. What do fig trees need? what kind of soil, do I need to wrap them against the cold? :&>
I ahve mine growing in the chook pen  with a round of weldmesh to keep the chook a way from the roots and the truck, I now  have pigs in there and have the mesh kept there. I pruned all the branches poking out of the wires and the fit has gone absolutly mad.   I water it when I get a chance, but now that I have a wallow in the pen for the pigs it has done better than ever, the shoots have jumped out  of the ring and are rocketing towards the sky.  I have not had fruit this year as yet, but did last year.   quite a lot.    Water and manfure seem to be what a good vigourous fig trees desires.
Title: Re: what do fig trees need?
Post by: Pocagranja on January 16, 2012, 11:12:43 am
Hi, we have fig trees growing in our garden in Spain.  We have learnt that you do not water them when they have developed the fruit as it ruins the flavour & can make the fruit drop off. Fig trees hardly need any water, only when they are in flower, we never water ours!

Don't know if this applies to your potted trees?
Title: Re: what do fig trees need?
Post by: doganjo on January 16, 2012, 11:26:43 am
My potted one was outside all summer and developed new shoots, but no fruit (my son rescued it from B & Q I think, so it wasn't in a  good shape when I got it.  But I took it into the vestibule (low heat) and it has started doing the same as when I had it in the lounge the previous year - dropping leaves like mad.  It may not like being indoors but we have had havy frosts so I can't put it out.  I water it when I remember to  ::)
Title: Re: what do fig trees need?
Post by: northfifeduckling on January 16, 2012, 11:31:13 am
I might be lucky if it survives the frost just now as our greenhouse was shattered in the first of 3 storms and the pot's too heavy to be moved  :( :&> Thanks for the tip with watering, will try to remember when time comes!  :&>