Q. This is the first year my seven year old Black Mission
Fig is “behaving” strangely. The fruit came on, some even started to ripen,
and now they are shriveling on the tree. The tree looks perfect and so do the
leaves. I did read your article on figs but ours always seems to be treated the
same, year in and out.
A. All of the cases that I have seen of fig fruits drying
out on the tree have been from a lack of water getting to the fruits. This can
be from a lack of applied water, plugging drip emitters, damage to the tree trunk
restricting water to the fruits, or an increase in tree size without the
application of more water.
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| Exactly what you don’t want to do is to mix and match high water use plants (fig) with low water use plants (cactus). Note the poor canopy development due to a lack of water. Watering for the fig will damage the cactus. Watering for the cactus resulted in this drought in the fig tree. |
The first
response a fig tree has to inadequate amounts of water is for the fruits to
shrivel. This typically leaves the rest of the tree unaffected. The leaves look
the same; growth appears to be normal but usually with a smaller or open
canopy.
response a fig tree has to inadequate amounts of water is for the fruits to
shrivel. This typically leaves the rest of the tree unaffected. The leaves look
the same; growth appears to be normal but usually with a smaller or open
canopy.
A fig tree
receiving enough water will have a dense canopy. Oftentimes the canopy is so
full you are unable to see through it.
receiving enough water will have a dense canopy. Oftentimes the canopy is so
full you are unable to see through it.
.JPG) |
| Fig fruits are full of water. The tree must receive adequate amounts of water and at the right time to produce fruit like this. |
Not enough
water to a fig tree results in a more open canopy. It is common for fig trees
receiving enough water to grow 6 or 7 feet in one season.
water to a fig tree results in a more open canopy. It is common for fig trees
receiving enough water to grow 6 or 7 feet in one season.
My
suspicion is inadequate water. Trees get bigger each year. You either have to
add more emitters, increase the size of the emitters or add more minutes to the
run time. I would focus on this rather than to water more frequently.
suspicion is inadequate water. Trees get bigger each year. You either have to
add more emitters, increase the size of the emitters or add more minutes to the
run time. I would focus on this rather than to water more frequently.
As a test,
try supplementing the water the tree gets by adding water with a hose once a
week. Create a basin under the canopy, level, about five feet across and
several inches deep. Fill this basin once a week.
try supplementing the water the tree gets by adding water with a hose once a
week. Create a basin under the canopy, level, about five feet across and
several inches deep. Fill this basin once a week.
Also figs
do much better if four inches of wood mulch is applied under the canopy in a
circle around the trunk with a diameter of at least six feet.
do much better if four inches of wood mulch is applied under the canopy in a
circle around the trunk with a diameter of at least six feet.