If you love figs, growing them yourself is easier that you may think. They are actually the easiest fruit tree that can be grown. Because a fig tree can thrive when planted in the ground or in a container, these trees are excellent for any type of gardener. As long as you know about fig tree care, your tree will thrive.
Best Soil for a Fig Tree
When it comes to growing a fig tree, the soil that you use is extremely important. The soil should be well draining and very fertile. The best type of soil is loamy soil, which contains plenty of organic matter. The soil should have a pH of 6.0 to 6.5.
Warnings
When growing a fig tree, they should be protected from cold winter winds and direct winter sunlight. If there is an unseasonably warm winter day, it will cause the fig tree to grow. This can be good, as long as it does not happen too early in the season. If it does, and there is another freeze, your growing tree can be severely damaged.
The Best Time to Plant a Fig Tree
The ideal time to plant a fig tree in is late fall to early spring. You should use bare-rooted trees, which are free of root-knot nematodes. It is important to remember that your fig tree will remain dormant in northern exposure.
How to Plant Your Fig Trees
When looking for a place to plant the trees, you should find a spot that gets a great deal of sunlight each day, as fig trees require a great deal of sunlight. They also need a great deal of room to grow properly. It is best to plant your trees between 15 and 20 feet apart. You can also train your trees to be bushes. If you choose to do so, you should plant them 10 feet apart.
Fertilizing Your Fig Tree
You can fertilize your trees annually. It is important to make sure that there is not too much nitrogen in the soil. When fertilizing, you should do so at a rate of one pound of 8-8-8 for each year of the tree’s age, or each foot tall that the tree is. You should be sure not to use over 12 pounds each year. If you have heavy soil, you should fertilize the tree when the buds swell. If your soil is loamy, you can fertilize with half of the recommended amount when the buds start to swell. You can use the other half in late May or early June.
Pruning Your Fig Tree
Pruning is very important, however, understand that you do not need to prune much. You should prune your fig tree in late winter, before growth begins. Just be sure not to injure the tree. If you are unsure about how to prune your tree, you should contact Dave Lund Tree Services. We are experts in fig trees and fig tree care. For more information, contact us at +1 905-884-0511.
Harvesting Your Fig Tree
You can harvest your tree as soon as the fruit is soft. Be sure not to harvest them too quickly, as they will not taste good until they are ripe. After they are removed from the tree, they will stop ripening. Finally, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to two weeks before they go bad.