Growing Fig Trees

I am currently volunteering at Osho gardens in southern Portugal and as per my other posts this week, there are many fruit trees that were overgrown with weeds and grass. Out of all of them the figs trees (and olive trees) appear to of survived the best. So ill share with you below what i know and have done and hopefully you can help tell me what to do here

- The fit tree has two harvests, one in spring pon last years shoots, and one in autumn in this years shoots. Its spring now and the fruits are a bit hard and not nice.
- It survives in well drained rocky soil but has deep roots to find water, it likes water.
- Even though it was doing well i have given it some TLC by clearing the weeds, grass and pulling out wild olive trees growing under it.
- I have even pulled out a handful of new fig trees growing near the main stem with their roots and potted them into pots.
- We are adding layers of green and brown mulch and leaving wood chips on top.
- On the larger one there is a few big branches growing along the ground that have not rooted, should we cut these down?
- I have no idea what to plant around the small one in a guild, any tips? I read it doesn't need a lot of nitrogen. so maybe just plant any other herbs, veg and a shrub that grows here.
- Also there is a large fig tree growing right next to the largest fig tree, about 2 meters next to it. Should we keep both of chop down the smaller one that has less fruit?

thanks so much for your help

Laurence Keela wrote:I am currently volunteering at Osho gardens in southern Portugal and as per my other posts this week, there are many fruit trees that were overgrown with weeds and grass. Out of all of them the figs trees (and olive trees) appear to of survived the best. So ill share with you below what i know and have done and hopefully you can help tell me what to do here

- The fit tree has two harvests, one in spring pon last years shoots, and one in autumn in this years shoots. Its spring now and the fruits are a bit hard and not nice.

Are these fruits ripe yet? figs are hard right up until they start to ripen

- It survives in well drained rocky soil but has deep roots to find water, it likes water.
- Even though it was doing well i have given it some TLC by clearing the weeds, grass and pulling out wild olive trees growing under it.
- I have even pulled out a handful of new fig trees growing near the main stem with their roots and potted them into pots.
- We are adding layers of green and brown mulch and leaving wood chips on top.

A deep mulch will help tremendously with the water issue, fig tree leaves will wilt in the heat of the day and recover as the temperature cools towards evening if there is enough mulch.

- On the larger one there is a few big branches growing along the ground that have not rooted, should we cut these down?

To root these branches, do some cuts (@3cm long and only down to the cambium layer), dig a small trench and pin the branch at the bottom of this, then cover with soil and water and cover that with mulch.
The branches will form roots in about two months.

- I have no idea what to plant around the small one in a guild, any tips? I read it doesn't need a lot of nitrogen. so maybe just plant any other herbs, veg and a shrub that grows here.

Until the trees are well established it is best to not have any thing growing within the drip line. Once the trees are growing well, you can plant herbs, or shade needing vegetables that don't put down deep roots. Once the trees are up around 2.5 meters tall you can plant garlic in a ring half way between the trunk and the drip line.

- Also there is a large fig tree growing right next to the largest fig tree, about 2 meters next to it. Should we keep both of chop down the smaller one that has less fruit?

Instead of killing the smaller fig tree, try to dig it up with a root ball and move it away. Fig trees should be spaces aprox. 4 to 6 meters apart so they can grow properly.

thanks so much for your help

Good luck with this project, it is a very worth while one and will yield quite well in a year or two. Redhawk

Thanks for this, Bryant. I have a teeny weenie fig tree ... my first ever ... in a protected spot in the garden area, but I didn't know much about growing them. I was just about to do a web search when I found your helpful post.

hau Ferne, If you have any questions on fig trees (or other trees, etc.) Please feel free to ask. You can post up and usually get many different people here to offer up their hard earned knowledge. Or you can Pm me if you should prefer that method.

thank you very much Bryant

you and this forum is so very helpful!

Pilamayaye (thank you) Laurence, glad to have been of some help kola (friend)

Luta ceta
(Redhawk)

Anyone with an established fig tree that wouldn't mind sending me a cutting to root? I'm not looking for a lot. ...just a few 4 or 5 inch pieces. I would like to try rooting my own fig tree and having trouble finding cuttings. I can paypal a few bucks to you to cover shipping.

If you can help, please send me a message to my inbox. Thank you!