Fig Trees
Linda writes~ I have a fig tree at least 6 years old (still
small) I think it is a monk something, I live in Fort Worth,
Texas, there is a huge one about 1/2 block from me. What can
I do to make it grow?
A. Edible fig trees [to discern from the indoor Ficus fig tree]
need full sun and warm temperatures to bear well. In shade or
partial shade, they will produce small 2" green fruit which
will drop from the tree. As in Italy, full sun is needed. Trim
away any nearby trees or shrubs to give it more light.
Food is very important, too. Water is needed, but they are deep-rooted
and used to semi-drought conditions. Give them a good fruit
tree fertilizer from your local nursery or garden center. Follow
the label directions, usually a big hit in the spring followed
by several applications throughout the growing season.
In the fall, mulch around the base with compost or dried leaves
to a 2" depth. This will keep the top feeder roots healthy
and warm. Do not feed in the winter.
Also, a stake may be needed to protect the tree from strong
rains and wind. Trim off lower branches and any sucker growth
which arises from the ground. These stems deplete the fig tree
and detract from the overall strength and growth. Before long,
your tree should be growing at a foot per year with proper care.
Littleman writes~
I need some information on fig trees. They look good when they
come on the trees. Just before they ripen, they turn brown and
are black looking inside and very hard. Sort of molded ones
on one side of the tree also. We live in Mississippi and each
year th is happens. When it's dry, we water very slowly
to dampen roots good for hours. We are wondering why. Think
we need to spray this tree?
Yes, I do. But, also some climate conditions must be considered.
Figs ripen best in dry situations (like Mediterranean climates!)
This is because the concentrations of sugars and flavor compounds
increase as the amount of water in the fruit diminishes resulting
in superior lusciousness. It's my observation that figs
do not ripen well in wet humid weather. This is because they
explode. They absorb so much moisture that they burst open,
sag, get moldy and stink. Sugars in the fig ferment transforming
it int o an alcoholic blob of fetid fruit.
Floridata assistance
Here are descriptions of the most popular ones. Some do have
the sad habit of splitting and molding when nearly ripe:
Black Mission Medium size teardrop shaped fruit with
purple-black skin and strawberry flesh. Very rich flavor. Good
fresh or dried. Fruit won't split open or get moldy when
ripe.
Brown Turkey Large bell-shaped fruit with purple-brown
skin and juicy, light strawberry flesh. Best fresh. Short growing
tree to about 10 feet. Excellent in containers.
Celestial Small pear- shaped fruit with violet-bronze
skin and sweet rich strawberry flesh. Quality is very good.
Good fresh or dried. VERY SWEET.
Flanders Medium to large teardrop shaped fruit with
green and violet-bronze skin and sweet, unusually firm flesh.
Ripe fruit won't crack. Excellent fresh.
Janice (Seedless Kadota) Large greenish-yellow fruit
with practically no seeds. The sweet flesh is of very good quality.
Long harvest.
Tiger (Panache) Medium size fig with cream and green
striped skin and bright red flesh. Superb cherry flavor. Not
a heavy producer. Ripe fruit tends to split and get moldy.
White Genoa Medium size fruit with greenish yellow
skin and amber to pink flesh. Good fresh. Best near coast, but
subject to mold.
Calimyra is also a very popular hybrid.
Laguna Hills Nursery assistance
Fusarium spp., causing endosepsis in figs, also called
internal rot, brown rot, eye-end rot, pink rot and soft rot.
When green, a cross-section of either infected caprifigs or
edible figs will show internal streaks of brown, discolored
areas on the base of flowers, or sometimes entire flowers are
brown. As figs ripen, the brown streaks become yellow-brown
spots affecting many flowers within the fig. Usually these colored
spots are first found in the pulp near the eye of the fig but
they can develop on any part of the pulp.
BENOMYL (Benlate 50SP)
4 oz/25 gal water
COMMENTS: Split figs in half and discard all those showing yellow
or brown discoloration; these are the first symptoms of endosepsis
infections. Treat split figs by dipping or spraying.
Please go to this website for much more info which I do not
have room to print for you:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r261100211.html
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