More Main Crop Figs and Observations

[@AveryOCason]

I always really like how you discribe all your figs for us you definitely got niche for it😎

[@charlessingletaryiii331]

Christmas in July😅😅. Feels like we waited forever for figs to ripen this year.

[@slvrttzx]

Beautiful garden! I want to plant a fig tree but I am unsure of the best tasting one.

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Thanks! Taste is totally subjective so while I can't help you with that, I don't think you can go wrong with any variety as long as you enjoy figs. I've grafted many of my trees so you can always trial fig varieties by grafting onto what you plant later on. In general figs come in three major taste profiles: berry, sugar, and honey. If you have a preference amongst those, that should help narrow your choice.

[@LG-gw6xw]

I planted my Black Mission Fig in the Fall of 2021. I had hoped I’d have figs this year but it doesn’t appear I will. 😢.

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

That's odd that you don't see any figs forming yet. Was it from tissue culture or from a cutting?

[@TV-yj9mh]

My TC fruit little over year

[@LG-gw6xw]

@@EnlightenmentGarden i ended up getting some figs it was just a little later in the year. Harvested about 3 weeks ago.

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

@@LG-gw6xw Yay! Glad you have a self-fertile tree that is finally producing! Everything was late this year. You'll get more production as time goes on

[@razvaniancu5123]

I Love Your Channel ! You are very Knowledegable ! I have the same Taste like You Berry Figs 🎉 What Flavor has Tight Skin ? I dont like them saggy

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Thanks! Figs all tend to wrinkle up somewhat when left to fully ripen. If you pick them before that state, the skin will be tighter. Thin-skinned figs seem to wrinkle/sag more than thick-skinned figs--sort of like people. For example, Black Madeira has thick skin and does not wrinkle up as much as Chicago Hardy or thinner-skinned figs. Hope that helps.

[@razvaniancu5123]

I was asking what varieties are more firm and tight? More of a plum burst ?? Also i would like to buy some from You cuttings or airlayer

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

@@razvaniancu5123 Thanks! Figs I grow with a thick, dense pulp would include Hâtive d'Argenteuil, Bass' Favorite, Galicia Negra, Martinenca Rimada, Socorro Black, and Genovese Nero AF. CdD types are also considered to have a dense thick pulp. I plan to sell cuttings in January to destinations in the US as usual but won't have any rooted plants.

[@razvaniancu5123]

Thanks for the Info. Please put me on the 1st Top of Your List . I would like to buy all Ur Best 20 Varietties You Recomend. Top 20 for 2023 😃👍👏

[@gorditogordito8729]

Today's 7/28/23. I have five varieties on two trees in the Scottsdale area(9b). Boreaux, Black Maderia, Black mission, Brown Turkey and Negroni. All varieties are weighing in around 20-25 grams when mature. Is it the high heat at night that is interfering with the photosynthesis and stunting growth?

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

High heat can easily shrink up the fig size. You may want to try more frequent irrigation if the fig fruit is on the dry side. It's been a very bad summer this year with relentless high heat after a mild spring. Hopefully, we get some rain soon; the fruit will improve with some moisture and temps staying below 110.

[@muhammedyaameensuliman2843]

Beautiful trees ad fruit. I noticed that you have multigrafted fig trees. Would this be preferred to the 'three trees in one hole' method?

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Thanks! I have never put more than one tree in a hole but yes absolutely feel grafting is superior (in climates where the lows don't go below 20 degrees Fahrenheit) as you can graft many varieties on one tree easily. I have one tree holding 16 varieties of figs! I feel when planting trees in such close proximity as one hole, they will eventually crowd each other, compete for water and food and make pruning challenging. If you live in a cold climate, then grafting would not be a good choice since there is a chance the graft can die whereas trees in the ground can be frozen to the ground but still survive and sprout back out.

[@muhammedyaameensuliman2843]

@@EnlightenmentGarden thank you! That makes perfect sense. Dieback isn't a problem in my location, so grafting is good to go.

[@maxtenke3738]

Thank you for sharing your video.. ü.. are stem borers an issue in a minor or major way in your fig plants?

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

I've never seen evidence of fig borers on my fig trees in the 6 years I've grown them but I have had issues with carpenter ants going inside cavities in the branches. I physically blocked them by applying pruning sealant to all the cut ends this past winter. It's so hot in my area that there are few pests but sap beetles and ants do cause issues if not managed in summer

[@samb2463]

Hi Natasha, I purchased a Black Madiera from you last year. I planted it last year, and it's doing great and has put on lots of growth. The figs on the tree are splitting at the eye before the figs rippen. What do you think is happening.

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Thanks again for the purchase and that's great to hear about the growth. Black Madeira will split on you if it gets uneven water. Most people shy away from this variety in rainy or humid climates because of the splitting that inevitably happens there. We generally don't see much rain so it's unusual for us to see splitting but it can happen at this time of the year. I've had some split on me also. For irrigation, I feel frequent and light is best. It helps prevent uneven watering but you can't control rain. We just got a good amount of rain and that's probably what caused the splitting.

[@k.l.klhohoaaa9456]

I live in Saudi Arabia and in my city the climate is hot/dry from the end from march until the end of October the it became mild until the mid of December, From may to July is 118-122F. Do you have any recommendations of good fig varieties. I want to take figo preto or black madira, or I-258.

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Hi. I have a top 10 video on my best-performing fig varieties for a hot climate. Please see that video for the list of varieties as those are all tested and are well suited. My favorite for production and taste is Red Lebanese Bekka Valley.

[@k.l.klhohoaaa9456]

@@EnlightenmentGarden Thank you for your response. I will check the video 👍.

[@epigeneticnerd4244]

When you say you culled a tree, do you dig them up with a shovel or just saw them down ground level?

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Usually, I just dig them up with a shovel.

[@fifewaterservices3415]

I live in Phoenix area and have a Black Mission fig. 2nd or 3rd year in ground with much growth but no figlets forming. I heavily pruned this past winter and I have read that this can be an issue. Do you have any thoughts on why no figs this season?

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Some trees favor vegetative growth over forming fruit. Have you ever practiced pinching the apical or top bud? I do that on all my fig trees in spring to shift energy away from branching and towards fruit. I continue to do it during the growing season whenever I see a branch growing too tall. It forces energy into making fruit. Give it a try on a few branches and you should see some fruit form in a few weeks. I have a video on my channel about pinching as do other garden channels related to figs.

[@fifewaterservices3415]

@@EnlightenmentGarden Thanks for suggestion. I did try pinching buds last year to speed up fruit ripening. Never realized it would push plant towards fruiting. On a different topic, I did start pinching buds on my mangos and am getting much more branching. On the mangos, this seems to work better than tipping or pruning above joints. Thank You

[@epigeneticnerd4244]

Some of my fig trees leaves are losing their green, turning yellow and falling off. Is this normal for some varieties this time of year?

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Yes; my panache tiger is cycling leaves right now. Figs, starfruit, and guavas often do this throughout the growing season. As long as you see new leaves emerging and the majority are green it's not a concern and just normal cycling.

[@epigeneticnerd4244]

@@EnlightenmentGarden yup! It’s my panache and Turkey fig. Guavas are doing it too. Thanks for the feedback 👍🏼

[@horserepairs]

how are you dealing with the ANTS????

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

A video will be coming up on it. I may catch some heat from others for my product choice but it's effective. I use a product called "Maxforce Quantum 0.03% Imidacloprid Ant Control Liquid Bait with 10 stations" After putting down 5 stations at a time, the ants disappear for about a month within a few days. I only treat a couple times a year in summer. The borax sugar method did not work out for me and while that's organic, natural products are toxic too so I don't know that it's better or safer

[@sweetfigs1]

hi do you plant your tree with the pot opened in the bottom?

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Hi. No; I do not. The black plastic you see around each tree trunk is 5" high Suncast plastic edger looped at the ends with wire. It's in place to keep wood chips away from the trunk/root ball

[@sweetfigs1]

@@EnlightenmentGarden perfect thank you im asking because some people might use that technique for clay soil.

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

@@sweetfigs1 One technique I use for better drainage is planting on a slight mound and incorporating sand and pumice into the clay. I've also used the edging material to help support the mounded-up soil so it does not collapse

[@sweetfigs1]

@@EnlightenmentGarden sounds good i will try that