
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Figs
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My greet produces well but the figs are dry and woody and very little flavor. Seems to ripen but maintains pulpy texture and no flavor. What should I do?
Figs are tricky to harvest as they need to be picked when they are fully ripe because they will not continue to ripen once picked.
With that being said, there could be other issues that led to your figs lacking that delicious flavor. Prolonged periods of heat or drought can affect the taste as can too much water. If it is an issue with lack of water, using straw or mulch to help with moisture retention would help. Fig trees also need 8 hours of sunlight a day and less than that can hinder the production of natural sugars. Figs don’t always require fertilization, but the addition of phosphorus and potassium help with fruit growth. Too much nitrogen may cause your tree to focus on growth instead of fruiting. Fertilizer should be added when the tree is dormant during the late fall, winter, and again in early spring.
It could also be a sign of disease, as fungi and bacteria brought about by insects can also cause a bland flavor of ripe figs. Checking your fruit for insects would be a way to see if there is a need for pest control or to rule it out as an issue.
All my fig trees were getting to tall and spreading over my neighbors yard. I pruned all my fig trees last winter. This spring they all looked really good. The largest tree really had an abundant crop. Before the figs ripened, on the largest tree, all the leaves started turning yellow and falling off. The tree now appears to be dead. The others are doing well. Is there any way to get the tree to revive next spring or should I just dig it up?
My experience is the fig tree is most likely lost. I would dig it up and replant.
Good luck.
PS…I love figs any way you prepare them, but eating from the tree is my favorite.
How long does it take before I can expect to see fruit on my fig tree? I planted it in a container this spring and it is growing very well outside. Will it produce figs the first year?
A good variety of fig should produce fruit the first year if it is grown from a cutting of a mature tree; 'however poor varieties or those produced from tissue culture can take up to 4 years to ripen fruit .
How long does it take to fruit? What to do for slow growth?
Hi Fehmida,
On average, a fig tree will take 3 to 5 years to bear fruit. In terms of slow growth, it could be a sign of disease or pest problem. Fig trees also need regular watering during the growing season. The amount of water depends on the type of soil it is planted in and how deep the roots are. Mulching will help the soil retain moisture, just be sure to keep mulch away from the base of the tree. Fertilizing can also help. Figs do not need a lot of fertilizer, but if it is planted in a low fertile soil, more fertilizer will be required to bring the soil back to an adequate level. You can choose a fertilizer specially made for fruit trees or use an all-purpose 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 fertilizer (a balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Just be sure to not over-fertilize. For frequency, refer to the tips above in the Growing section.
I have a turkey fig and I received a few figs the first year everybody told me to pick him at wait for the following I didn't I regret it they all fell off anyway but did you get fruit and it's usually twice a year spring and fall good luck
I live in northern Illinois. The Hardy Chicago fig over winters here, zone 5.
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