Fig trees

[pumpkinhead]

Hi, everyone this is my first post. Need some advice on Fig trees i have one tree which i have had for the second year. There are some figs on it but yet to ripen. Now some small figs have started to form in the past week. I thought i read somewhere i need to remove the smaller figs or are they the fruit for next year. Any advice gratefully received.

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Pumpkinhead!! Welcome to our forum!!

The tiny pea sized embryo figs which form in late summer overwinter to produce a crop next summer. The second crop of figs that the tree produces never ripens and should be removed in November. The tiny embryo figs can be damaged by frost so they should be protected.

I hope that helps.

[pumpkinhead]

Many thanks Lesley, that is very useful.

[Lesley Jay]

Was it really? Good! Did you restrict the roots when you planted the tree?

[runnerbean]

LJ How do you restrict the roots on a fig tree? I've never heard this before.

[Lesley Jay]

Runnerbean you can either plant it in the ground in a large pot or dig a planting pit and line it with something like paving slabs. If you don't restrict the root growth on figs it leads to poor fruiting.

[runnerbean]

l never knew that, LJ when is the best time to do this, as I have a 1 year old planted in the garden.

[Lesley Jay]

I would have thought the best time to dig it up would be whilst it is dormant over the winter. If you make a planting pit with paving slabs around the sides use bricks or rubble for the base to aid drainage, but make sure that it is a good thickness of bricks so that the roots can't get through.