@@dentatusdentatus1592 this fig tree was already here prior to my arrival. I believe it is called “Pingo de Mel” or “honey drop”. It’s a medium-large size fig with a beautiful yellow skin, and sooooo tasty. It has a tear drop shape and has a light red/amber pulp with a honey flavor. This variety is native to Portugal, commonly grown in the south west coast, and here on the island of Madeira. It is famous for the delicious drop of honey that can be found in the eye. It’s hardy, surviving both very hot and extremely cold temperatures.

@@cansarratt3407 Thank you. I have two strategies. We have three outside cats. Generally, the local birds population know that they hang about the property, so they are wary about “making themselves comfortable” among the berries and fruit trees. But the cats aren’t always around, so I have hung up four silver CDs, each on a string. These CD swing gently about in the breeze and reflect sunlight (like a mirror does) into all corners of the garden. The birds really don’t like the unpredictable movement of the reflected light. It startled them and they prefer to go somewhere else. I will be doing an update on my small orchard in a few days, and I’ll make a point of showing how I use the CDs to keep the birds away. They’re more effective than the cats.

@@ricorodi - Thank you. I will try that next season for my fuyu persimmon. Would you think that will work with the squirrels too?

@@cansarratt3407 hahahahaha. No. Nothing scares those little blighters.

@@ricorodi I found that hanging old CDs from strings worked great, along with netting. The CDs kept the birds from sneaking under the netting.

@@AndysKitchenGarden Hi Andy. Thank you. Goodness that hot. My daughter also mentioned it - she lives in England. I got the seeds from Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich. You can reach them at 0844 573 1818. Um abraço.

@@ricorodi I had a search earlier , f1 hybrid

@@ricorodi curious to find out which portuguese tomato your growing this year is your favorite. I've got the seeds for the REI one but not grown it yet. Was hoping to move this year so have not hardly grown anything this year .

@@AndysKitchenGarden That’s the one. 👍

@@markwilkinson6563 Yep. It is a problem. Am looking at another solution. Thanks.

@@Tygydyk17 Thank you for your subscription and the positive feedback. It’s much appreciated. It’s important to me that the videos are useful to others. Regarding the pruning, go ahead and do it. It will not only make your tree stronger but also provides the opportunity to start thinking about the shape of tree you want. And lastly, wait until the tree is dormant, before pruning it.

@@CraftEccentricity let me know how it goes.

@@bosquebear1 thank you for the positive feedback 🙏🙂

@@evanborge494 they should do well in pots. I hope your weather warms up. 👍

@@AndysKitchenGarden they’re easy to grow. Pop a cutting into a container with water, put it in a light place, and within two weeks you’ll have new root shootings. It will be ready to plant in about a month. 👍👍

@@FC2ESWS Prolific, huh? Every year, it’s like that. But 50% of the fruit is wasted, rotted away because they can’t reach it.

@@ricorodi That is amazing and such a shame. Do you happen to know what variety it is?

@@FC2ESWS Unfortunately, I don’t. And I can’t find anyone who does. I suspect this variety has been around for a long time, as it grows all over the place. Here on the island, everyone shares their plants - taking shoots and clippings - with everyone else. There’s at least three different varieties that I’ve seen, but I can’t name them.

@@FC2ESWS Good idea. I’ll put together a video on my small fruit trees next week. 👍

Yes you can. I let them dry in the sun for about one week, then indoors for three to four weeks. The fan should speed up the process. Keep the necks bent. When all the leaves have turned brown, I cut the leaves off (above the neck bend), cut off the roots, and peel off the dirty skins only. Then you can stack them in net-bags and store in a cool, dry, and dark place. They should last for months. I hope that helps.

@@ricorodi Appreciate it

Yes. South Africa was my home for twenty years. I can’t shake the accent (nor do I want to). I live in Madeira now. A little Portuguese island in the Atlantic off the coast of Morocco. I’m very happy to be in this paradise.

Glad it was helpful!

Apologies for late reply. I prepare the soil (before planting) with a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) or I use compost as an alternative. Then, give them a nitrogen boost about 4-6 weeks after planting, when the plants are about 6 inches tall - side-dress with a high-nitrogen fertilizer (e.g., 34-0-0). Try to apply it about 3 inches away from the plants (work it lightly into the soil). Don’t over-fertilize. That’s it.

Thank you for watching 🙂

If you’re in Belfast, shouldn’t you plant them in late March to April, after your last frost day? You could possibly also plant in late July or early August for a late crop. Try it.

True. But they can be rewarding too. I spent 9 months working in Ireland and I love what they do with stage potato - never knew one could cook it so many ways. 😋

Yes, but I still get 8 to 9 kilos of figs every season. You’re right though. However, this tree was already established when I got here. It is much shorter now, but I should make it even shorter - and I will, with time.

Thank you. I appreciate the positive feedback 🙂

Maybe that’s what I need to do too. Use larger containers for the sweet potatoes. Thanks for the feedback. 👍

Oh, I like that idea!

Thank you 🙏. I’m feeling good - back to normal. 💪

Thank you. This time, I removed last year’s growth completely to last years cut, except for two branches on the side of the tree that I want to grow longer. Those, I cut back to a couple of nodes. What you’re thinking would work just fine, I think. 👍

Yes. If you apply those same pruning rules to roses, they should do well. You need to add this 7th step: cut back up to 1/3 of the remaining branches (cut above an outward facing bud).

Not for roses. It's like servicing a vehicle and a bicycle.

Thank you 🙏

Thank you 🙏

Hi Ronald. Thank you. I’m at 280m altitude, on the South side - in Caniço - between the airport and Funchal. The plant hardiness zone is 11b. It sounds like you know this little paradise ☺️

Nice! I've got a piece of land in Canhas at 220m. I don't live there yet, but in a couple of years I'm planning to be walking around with my machete chopping bananas!@@ricorodi

@@ronaldsteur9129 hahaha. I can just see it. Contact me when you do. I’ll show you around our little garden here. Are you from SA by any chance?

The Netherlands. I'll be around in summer again and hopefully can admire your garden !@@ricorodi

You are probably right. The more wood you have on your fig tree, the more new wood will grow on it next season - therefore you’d get more fruit, certainly. My fig tree tends to fruit on new wood, so I prune it back every season (as per the video) and it gives me back between 8 to 10Kg of figs. And that’s enough for us, to eat and to make jam for the entire year. It also keeps it as a smaller tree with good air-flow in it - in the hot months. I have a lot of humidity here and it grows fungus if the foliage of it is too thick. If could leave more wood on it, yes. It would grow bigger and give me more fruit. It seems to me that the best way is to get to know your tree, learn how it performs, and maintain it to suit your needs. When does your tree fruit, and for how long?

PS. I understand that some fig tree varieties do give some fruit on old wood. If an older branch has a leaf bud on it, it will probably fruit there too.

in england the only figs which grows are only on the tips of the last year's growth. once cut off. the new growth for the following year will not bear fruit. we do not have the fig wasp in UK because it is cold and they cant survive to pollunate the newly developed figs..@@ricorodi

🙏☺️

Thank you. Yes she is. 🙏

😊🙏

what is your growing location's Plant Hardiness Zone?

@@n4murr 11b (lucky, I am 🙂)

@kaittemurry4740 the cabbages or the leeks?

@kaittemurry4740 since they’re in same bed… I prepared the bed with a layer of my own compost, and covered that with wood chip mulch. The bed has a drip system for watering. I also fertilize with a 12-4-6 liquid fertilizer every 3 weeks.

Thank you!

Good. I hope it helps. Let me know how it turns out. What’s your plant hardiness zone?

@@ricorodi Will do. I am in zone 6.

Thanks for the visit

You’re welcome. 🙏

Muito obrigado. E um excelente Ano Novo para si também. Um abraço.

Thank you 😊. Feliz Natal

I hope you’re right about the mulch. Thanks for the feedback.