Pruning Figs: It's Not Too Late

 PLANT DOCTOR

Pruning Figs: 

Ficus carica is the edible fig that hails from the Mediterranean.

Fig trees aren’t quite as ubiquitous as citrus trees are in the produce garden but they are still a firm favourite.

What's not to like?

They are delicious to eat fresh and or dried, plus nothing beats home grown figs. 

There are a few different types: 

• 'Black Genoa' is typically a large growing fig tree and not suitable for small back yards. This is a fast growing heavy cropping tree that produces large sweet purple skinned fruit. Good for inlan Australia but not so good on the far north coast.

• White genoa-great for drying about half the size of black genoa: also grows well in cooler areas.
• Brown Turkey  good for eating fresh, is a very hardy tree that does well in inland areas.
• White Adriatic-a green skinned medium to large fruit.
• Dwarf Brown Slow growing and compact this small tree can be kept at about 1 - 1.5 m in height. Great for small spaces and pots and smaller backyards

There’s a only few things you need to know when attending to those trees and believe it or not, winter time is one of those times.

In fact, winter time is the time you need to go out and take a look at your fig tree, assessing it for what to prune and what to leave

• When you first get your fig tree, prune the tree by half; cut it back to 3 or 4 branches.
• Prunings can be used to propagate more trees as the cuttings take root very easily.

TIP: figs like to grow in shallow soil which has been enriched with limestone. 

• pH 8 is an ideal for figs, and you can do this by adding crusher dust to the soil. 
• What is crusher dust?
• Crusher dust is a blend of small crushed blue metal rocks and finer dust.
• Either add it to your pot or to the soil.
• Incidentally, crusher dust is a great medium for striking 'slow to take' cuttings.

Getting Down To Pruning

Steve’s tip is to prune new fig trees by half when you get them, but for older trees, prune one-third to one-half each year. 

• We are looking for the new growth to supply the current season's fruit.  
• Prune out any limbs that are less than 45 degrees to the trunk. Keep branches that are more or less at right angles to the main trunk.
• Remove any branches or laterals that are less than half a metre from the ground.
• If you need to, you can now bring it into shape but otherwise you have done your main pruning.

So let’s find out what more needs doing.
That was Steve McGrane, agriculturist and horticulturist.

If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675