Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig
Varieties:
'White Marseilles', 'Brown Turkey'
Figs range in colour from white to green, purple, brown and even black, and
they've been growing successfully in the UK since the Romans were here. An
ideal container plant, figs do best when their roots are restricted. While they can
be grown outside in sheltered and southern areas, they do much better with
winter protection. If you container-grow them in a polytunnel they can give up
to two harvests a year.
Preparation
When ordering your fig tree make sure it's a self-fertile variety. This is extremely
important, as the only pollinator (the fig wasp) doesn't actually live in the UK.
'Brown Turkey' is the standard offering through catalogues because it is the best
suited to life outdoors, but there are many other varieties. Order a three-year-old
tree if possible.
Figs should be started in 25-30cm pots of soil and gradually moved into larger
pots (60-75cm or more) as they grow, until the pot is too big to move easily. The
soil should have plenty of organic matter mixed with it, but if you're adding
compost, make sure it's completely rotted down beforehand. The earth should be
firm around the tree, with a few centimetres of space between the surface and
the top edge of the pot for watering. Once it's in the pot give the tree a really good
watering.
Growing
Figs need good drainage but don't like to dry out, and even when they're dormant
during winter the soil should be kept very slightly damp. Following the dor-
mancy of winter, figs begin to grow again in March. Water as needed, increasing
the amount as the plant develops. From May, give a liquid feed of tomato fertiliser
every other week, alternating with liquid seaweed.
If your tree has a single stem, cut it back to around 20cm. If it's already developed
side-shoots, nip off the growing tips. This encourages side growth in either case.
As shoots develop, nip off the tips after five leaves. This is important, as fruit
forms only on new shoots; if you don't encourage new growth you won't be getting
many figs.
