How to Plant Fig Saplings: Detailed Planting Methods and Precautions

Figs are mostly planted using saplings, a method that is simple and has a high survival rate, making it a common planting method among growers. So how should fig saplings be planted?

How to plant fig saplings?

1. The fig tree prefers a warm and humid climate, tolerates poor soil, is drought-resistant, and is not tolerant of cold or waterlogging. It is best cultivated in sunny, deep, loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam or clay loam. It can be planted from mid-March to early April.

2. Figs can be grown in pots or on barren slopes, in fields, or in courtyards. The density should be determined according to actual conditions, and thinning can be done appropriately after the tree grows larger. Use a mixed fertilizer containing phosphorus and potassium as base fertilizer. Transplant and set out the plants after leaf fall in autumn, avoiding the flowering and fruiting period.

3. If the base fertilizer is insufficient during the growth period of young fig trees, fertilizer should be applied. Apply about 5 kg of decomposed mixed manure per tree at a distance of 40 cm from the main root. For mature trees, apply 15 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per tree. Topdressing is best done during the peak growth period of new shoots and the rapid fruit swelling stage.

4. Figs are relatively drought-tolerant but not waterlogging-tolerant. The water demand is relatively high during new shoot growth and fruit swelling, but long-term waterlogging or heavily waterlogged environments can easily cause flower drop, fruit drop, leaf drop, and even death, so attention should also be paid to drainage and water removal.

5. The pruning and shaping requirements for figs are not high. Generally, the multi-main-branch natural open-center shaping method is used, but 3 to 5 main branches should be retained on the whole plant, with no side branches, and the main branch groups should grow directly on the main branches.

6. Figs have relatively few pests and diseases. During the fruit growth period, they are prone to damage by mulberry longhorn beetles, and when the fruit ripens, they are susceptible to bird damage. In addition to manually catching mulberry longhorn beetles and driving away birds, pest eggs can be eliminated manually or with chemicals, and scarecrows can also be used to drive away birds.

When purchasing and selecting fig saplings, be sure to buy from merchants with complete qualifications and certificates. The saplings must be strong so they can grow better.