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26.07.2024
- Fig tree origin
- Fig tree care and location
- Pruning a fig tree
- Watering the fig tree
- Fertilizing fig trees
Fig tree origin
The fig (Ficus carica) is a tree from the mulberry family that originally comes from Western Asia and Southeastern Europe. The fig was already cultivated in ancient times and is one of the oldest cultivated fruit plants.
In mythology, the fig is often associated with fertility and sexuality. It was worshipped, for example, by the Greek goddess Aphrodite and the Roman god Venus.
Depending on the variety and growing conditions, fig trees grow to between 5-10 meters tall and can live up to 100 years.
The leaves of the fig are 10 to 20 cm long and wide and have an oval to heart-shaped form. They are shiny green on the upper side and hairy on the lower side. The leaf surface is smooth and the edges are serrated. The flowers of the fig are small and inconspicuous and are located inside the fruit.
The fruits themselves are about 5 to 10 cm long, round and have a soft, leathery skin that can be in various colors from green to reddish brown. The flesh of the fig is soft and sweet and often has a sticky consistency. Figs can be harvested from July to September and are suitable for direct consumption or for further processing in jams, cakes or other desserts.
Fig tree care and location
Fig trees prefer sunny, warm and sheltered locations. The soil should be rich in humus and have good drainage so that the water can drain away easily. It is important that the soil does not remain too moist, as fig trees are sensitive to waterlogging. Fig trees have deep roots that can reach about 5-10 meters deep. However, there are also shallow-rooted fig trees that grow less deeply into the ground.
Pruning a fig tree
Fig trees are more productive if they are pruned in the spring before they sprout. This removes dry or diseased branches and shapes the tree. Young and newly planted fig trees should not be pruned too much so as not to impair their growth.
Watering the fig tree
The most important care measure in the first few years after planting is correct watering. Young fig trees need a lot of water to develop strong roots, leaves and fruit. Increasing dryness causes stress in fig trees. Depending on the location and the climatic situation, more frequent watering is necessary than in previous years. In dry periods, few new shoots are formed and the young plants suffer from the lack of water. Fig trees should be watered once a week from spring to autumn. It is important that the soil always remains moist, but not excessively wet. It is advisable to check the soil regularly and water when necessary. With conventional watering, only a fraction of the amount of water poured is absorbed directly by the fig tree, while large amounts of water only penetrate the soil superficially and evaporate or seep through into the soil without being able to reach the roots.
With tree bath watering bags a uniform moisture is achieved, which the roots near the surface can also absorb well. The bags release water drop by drop to the tree through two small holes over a period of several hours. This not only saves time and money, but also protects the trees in the long term and sustainably. The bag is placed around the tree trunk like a jacket and closed with a zip. Next, fill the bag with enough water that after further alignment no wrinkles are visible in the lower area and then let it fill up.
By filling a watering bag, young trees are provided with sufficient water. In order to water larger trees sufficiently in very dry periods, it is possible to connect two or more watering bags together.
It is helpful to cover the soil around the fig tree with mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Fertilizing fig trees
Fig trees usually do not require any special fertilization, as in nature they grow in dry and mineral-poor soils. However, if the soil is very sandy or poor in nutrients, it may be useful to occasionally provide the tree with a moderate amount of organic fertilizer or compost.
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