GROWING FIG TREES

A fig is a sweet, edible fruit produced by a fig tree (Ficus carica). Fig trees are grown primarily in the Middle East and western Asia, but are gaining popularity with growers on the west coast of the United States and in the state of Texas. There are hundreds of varieties of figs, so it is important to choose one that is right for your area and preference.

CHOOSING A VARIETY

SIZE

Fig trees can be maintained at 10‘ tall and 10‘wide as a multi-stemmed shrub or open centered tree. Fig respond well to pruning and can also be grown in containers or as an espalier in a fan shape. If allowed to grow their mature size varies from 10-15’ tall, depending on variety and location.

POLLINATION

The fig varieties offered at Raintree Nursery are parthenocarpic, meaning they do not require pollination, or a pollenizer variety, to produce fruit.

RIPENING TIME

Figs may produce two crops annually, depending on the variety (some only produce one crop) and your location. The first (breba crop) in mid-summer, the second (alpha crop) in fall. The breba crop needs to survive the winter to ripen in summer, the alpha crop generally needs a long and hot enough summer to ripen before fall frosts occur.

USDA HARDINESS ZONE

Figs are hardy to USDA zones 7-11. This rating tells you the minimum winter temperature the plants typically survive when properly hardened off. On our web site you will find a USDA Hardiness Maps link which provides information on the average minimum winter temperature in your location, by zip code.

CHILL HOURS

Many plants native to locations that have cold winters have a Chill Hour requirement to ensure uniform waking up of flower and leaf buds in the spring. The chill hour requirement of plants varies by species, by cultivar, and sometimes by the level of dormancy achieved.

WHERE TO PLANT YOUR TREE

Figs need to be planted where they receive at least 8 hours of direct sunlight measured in early summer (late June to early August). Sufficient sun exposure triggers the initiation of new flower buds for the next growing season, without which there will be no fruit. Fruit ripening and flavor development are also benefited by the carbohydrate production stimulated by the sun, as well as it’s heat, so choosing a location that is protected from wind or has a lot of reflected heat will benefit plants grown in cooler summer locations.

Figs will tolerate a wide variety of soils so long as they are well drained and moderately rich with a pH around 6.8-7.2, but perform best in a fertile loam soil. Improve your soil where you intend to plant by mixing an inch or two of plant based organic matter (manures are best for vegetable gardens), peat, or coconut coir into an area 1 1/2 to 2 times the diameter of the needed planting hole and up to a foot deep. A 2-4” deep layer of mulch (straw, leaves, or wood chips) applied after planting will continue to improve the soil.

Allow sufficient space for both the top of the tree and its roots when selecting the planting location. Refer to size descriptions for each variety, keeping in mind these are generally managed or pruned sizes, not maximum potential sizes. If you are planting an orchard be sure to include enough space between rows for transporting supplies in and fruit out.

GROWING IN CONTAINERS

Figs not good candidates for growing in containers for more than a few years

To grow a fig tree in a pot you need a final container size of at least 20 gallons. Trees will grow larger in a larger container, but make sure you have the ability and tools to move the pots heavy weight. It is important for the establishment of the root system to gradually increase the size of the container over several years, rather than go from small directly to very large.

Do not use soil from your garden in the pot, instead use a potting soil mix with some added compost and lime. For larger pots use a potting mix that has larger particles in addition to the smaller. Prune as a multi-stemmed bush to maintain plenty of fruit bearing one and 2 year wood.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

WATERING YOUR TREE

This is the most important and often the most difficult part of successfully growing plants. There are many factors, including the humidity, temperature, soil type, wind, and amount of direct sun that affect how much and how often water should be applied.

A general rule of thumb for plants in the ground is to ensure they receive an inch of water per week over the root zone. An inch of water is equivalent to about ¾ to one gallon per square foot of soil surface area. The typical three foot diameter planting hole would need 7 ½ to 10 gallons of water per week provided by rainfall or by the gardener.

Apply this water once a week, two times per week if soil is fast draining. This will of course depend on your own conditions and the plants you are growing! DO NOT waterlightly each day because this results in a wet surface and dry root zone area. The soil should be moist but not soggy to a depth of about a foot for most growing plants. The top inch or two can feel dry, and the plant still be well watered. The trick is to have the water available where the roots are. In hotter and sunnier areas, a mulch of straw, bark, etc. can greatly ease the burden of summer watering. For plants in containers, water until the soil is saturated and water comes out of the drainage holes. Let the container dry until the soil is dry to the touch 1-2 inches down (more deep with deeper pots) and the container is lighter in weight. A plant that has wilted canbe receiving either too much or too little water.

In rainy areas like the Pacific Northwest most of the plants that we offer will need relatively little supplemental irrigation ONCE THEY ARE WELL ESTABLISHED in the ground and have had a chance to develop a good root system. However even here it is important to make sure plants have regular, deep watering during the first couple of growing seasons, and the first summer is especially critical. In drier areas, or where soils do not retain water well, permanent irrigation is essential. Remember that you don’t want your trees to just survive, but rather to thrive. Make sure they get the water where they need it, starting at the drip line and extending away from the tree up to several feet (for older trees) where the feeder roots will be. Drip irrigation and soaker hoses can be an efficient way to deliver the water.

FERTILIZATION

For good steady growth and high productivity, your trees need to have adequate amounts of various mineral nutrients. Some people are fortunate and have naturally rich fertile soil. Many soils, however, are deficient in some nutrient or another and use of fertilizers, organic or chemical, can be highly beneficial if you want your trees to grow well. If you have a large garden or orchard it can be well worth it to have your soil analyzed by a qualified laboratory so you know for sure just what your soil needs. Typically this might cost $30-$60, depending on how detailed an analysis you want. Unless you know what is available in your soil, you will not be able to supplement it properly.

Use an all-purpose or balanced fertilizer like the organic fruit tree and shrub fertilizer. A couple of inches of well-rotted compost on the root zone can also be an effective fertilizer. A generous leaf or straw mulch around your trees will not only conserve moisture and help in weed control, but also keeps your soil healthy by building up humus, attracting earthworms, and supporting beneficial fungal organisms. This encourages young trees to be strong, healthy and productive. Use of concentrated products like chemical fertilizers or strong organics (for instance blood meal) is usually done from late winter through early summer. Applying fertilizer after early summer can encourage lots of soft new growth that is much more likely to be damaged by winter cold. Excessive use of fertilizer can in-crease disease problems on your plants and can even kill them. Use of too much fertilizer, whether chemical or organic, can contribute to stream and groundwater pollution, so please try not to use more than your trees really need. As a general guide, if your tree is producing about one foot of new growth or more a year and has healthy looking foliage, it may not need much or any fertilizer.

PESTS AND DISEASES

Find out what insects and diseases are typical in your area. Ask your local co-operative extension professional what the typical insect and disease issues are in your area. Then you can make selections based on resistance or tolerance information available in our catalog, or, make a plan for controlling problems you can expect with the susceptible varieties you prefer to grow. If you see resistance information about a particular disease for one variety but not another of the same kind of fruit, then that variety may be susceptible or might not have been tested so is unknown. The following are some of the more common issues.

FIG MITE

SYMPTOMS

Scattered small yellow circles on top of leaf, particularly the second and third leaf from top, brown russetting at edge of circles, yellow areas on fruit.

CONTROL METHODS

Lime sulfur spray at leaf fall and again at bud swell in spring. Remove stem tips with big buds during dormant season. Systemic miticide spray for eriophyid mite, will have to sacrifice crop though.

COMMENTS

Heavy infestation can induce early leaf drop reducing fruit quality, and cause damage to terminal buds and shoots. Apply wettable sulfur every 1-2 weeks during summer. It will leave residue.

FIG MOSAIC VIRUS

SYMPTOMS

Yellow mottled water-soaked looking pattern on leaf surface, may be pale or stronger yellow, or yellowing between veins, surface russetting possible.

CONTROL METHODS

No known cure.

COMMENTS

The virus is transmitted by the fig mite, controlling the mites reduces chance of infection. Many figs have it but are asymptomatic. Symptoms can be sporadic on tree. Container grown plants may be more symptomatic, but after establishing in ground become less so.

DEER

SYMPTOMS

Browsed shortened branches. Leaves are obviously munched on or plants are pulled up.

CONTROL METHODS

Fences or cages at least 8’ tall. Plastic mesh, electric, or woven wire fences.

COMMENTS

At Raintree, an 8’ woven wire deer fence has worked best. Repellents don’t work consistently. and only trained large dogs patrolling the perimeter are effective. Some have had success with the product “Deerchaser.”

BIRD

SYMPTOMS

Fruits disappear or have gaping holes in them. Strawberries, blueberries, cherries and filberts are most susceptible but most fruits suffer occasionally.

CONTROL METHODS

Reflective Bird Scare Tape can work well. Bird netting. Cages.

COMMENTS

Blue Jays start harvesting filberts when ready to pick, and so should you. Nuts dropped by jays are usually empty.

VOLE/MOUSE/RABBIT

SYMPTOMS

Bark eaten in a band from soil level up to 8” and roots eaten too, usually in snowy areas with lots of mulch or tall grass at base of trees.

CONTROL METHODS

Keep mulch 4”-6” away from trunk. Keep grass short and 1’-2’ from trunk. Use vinyl tree guard wrapped around trunk until tree well-established.

COMMENTS

Voles and mice will chew a couple inches above ground and also into the root system. Rabbits will chew up to 8” high, particularly apple trees.

APHID

SYMPTOMS

1/32 to 1/8” long pear shaped insects that multiply rapidly, espe- cially on the underside of leaves and on stems. Can be pink, green, black or white. Leaves show red blisters or are curled-down and stems turn black with sooty mold.

CONTROL METHODS

Natural predators like lady bugs and parasitic wasps often provide control. Knock aphids off with water spray. Spray with Pyrethrin, Rotenone, Insecticidal Soap, or delayed dormant oil. Control ants if they are also present.

COMMENTS

Trees can tolerate some infestation. Monitor in late spring and summer. Control is more important on new trees. Grow plants that attract predators, i.e. dill or yarrow.

ANT

SYMPTOMS

Numerous ants scurrying up and down the tree trunk; aphids, scale or mealybug present in large numbers, lots of sticky honeydew, perhaps sooty mold.

CONTROL METHODS

Find hill and apply pesticide. Apply Tangle Trap over 2-3” wide band of paper wrapped around trunk. Eliminate other pathways into tree.

COMMENTS

Ants nurture and protect these insects in exchange for their sugary secretions. Insects may be difficult to control until the ants are controlled.

BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG

SYMPTOMS

Poking-type feeding damage followed by decay on fruits, nuts, berries and leaves. Deformity in the healthy tissue surrounding the dead tissue. Brown spots can show up in stored fruit.

CONTROL METHODS

Monitor with traps, some broad spectrum pesticides may work. Researchers are working on finding effective controls, but no info has been released yet.

COMMENTS

BMSB over winters in groups in dry protected areas, such as houses. If you find them on or in your home use the vacuum, squishing releases their defensive stink. See stopbmsb.org for more info. Feeding begins in spring when the weather warms up and continues until new adults go dormant for winter.

RUST

SYMPTOMS

Lesions on the upper surface of the leaf, or on the fruit or stems, followed by orangish structures on the bottom side of the leaf, or on the fruit or stems, which produce spores. Most likely to occur on warm humid growing locations.

CONTROL METHODS

Copper fungicide after harvest before fall rains and again in early spring for prevention of some\ rusts. Remove and destroy infected parts of the plant. If possible select resistant varieties. Many varieties have not been studied.

COMMENTS

Rust diseases require an alternate host, removing the host (within 900’ radius), applying fungicides, or removing infected parts may help. Check with your extension office to see what rust diseases in fruiting plants may be common in your area, and their alternate host.