Choose the Right Fig Variety for Container Growing and Master the Key Points to Easily Get Sweet Fruit
The fig, also known as the milk fig, honey fig, and Wenxian fig, is a fruit with anti-cancer properties. It is very well suited to growing in courtyards and on balconies, and once it flowers, the branches will be laden with fruit. So which varieties are good for growing figs in containers? How do you grow them so they bear fruit?
1. What varieties of figs are good for container growing?
For container-grown figs, you should choose varieties with brightly colored fruit and moderate growth vigor. Varieties bred specifically for containers, such as Hong Aisheng and A42, are best, along with Japanese Purple Fig, Ziguang, and Shengguo No. 1 A42.
2. How do you care for container-grown figs?
1. Choosing a pot: Figs have a very developed root system. They generally take root about a week after planting, and as the plant keeps growing, the roots become more and more developed and can fill the entire pot. Therefore, when choosing a pot, it is best to choose a large one, as this favors root growth.
2. Soil: Figs like to grow in fertile soil with good aeration, so when choosing soil, sandy soil or fertile clay will do. When adding soil, you can appropriately add a small amount of organic fertilizer such as chicken manure or cake fertilizer to help the roots absorb nutrients and promote flowering and fruiting.
3. Watering: Figs do not have high water requirements; generally you just need to keep the soil moist. The specific watering method is as follows:
(1) In spring, you only need to maintain a certain degree of moisture.
(2) In summer, water frequently to prevent the potting soil from drying out and the roots being unable to absorb water, which would cause the branches and leaves to wither and affect fruiting. When watering, however, be sure not to soak the soil all at once; instead, water once in the morning and once in the evening, and it is best to water near the edge of the pot.
(3) In autumn, you can appropriately reduce water to prevent the fruit from cracking and affecting fruiting.
(4) In winter, figs enter dormancy, so you can water flexibly according to the indoor temperature.
(5) If the rainy season arrives, you should control water to prevent excess water from overflowing the pot and causing waterlogging damage.
4. Shaping and pruning: Figs grow quickly, and the new shoots around the edges grow fastest in particular, so to promote even nutrients among the branches and a good appearance, it is best to prune them in a timely manner. When pruning, it is best to cut off all the surrounding remnant branches, dense branches, and diseased branches.
The specific pruning method is to wait until the fig seedling grows to about 20cm, then cut off the main branch to facilitate better care later and promote branching of the side branches. In addition, you can prune different shapes according to your own preferences, but be sure to keep the main branch and side branches balanced.
5. Keeping warm: Figs are sensitive to cold, so in late autumn or winter, move them to a warm environment and let them absorb sunlight in a timely manner so the plant can overwinter safely. In addition, in winter, figs enter dormancy and have a lower demand for nutrients, with growth at a standstill, but in order for them to flower and fruit the following year, it is best to water them flexibly according to the indoor temperature.
6. Pest and disease control
During the fig growing period, pest and disease damage is relatively minor. The main problems that can occur are fruit anthracnose, root-knot nematodes, and the mulberry longhorn beetle.
(1) Mulberry longhorn beetle: This pest is relatively common. The types of fruit trees it generally damages include the branches and trunks of apple, peach, and apricot trees. Its damage rate generally reaches 50%, and in severe cases can be as high as 90%. So to prevent this pest, you need to take preventive measures in advance. For plants already affected, you can plug the holes with medicated sticks, or use agents such as dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate or chlorpyrifos to eliminate them.
(2) Root-knot nematodes: Root-knot nematodes mainly damage the plant's root system, and this type of disease is also relatively common, so when planting, avoid continuous cropping and quarantine and disinfect the seedlings in a timely manner. If conditions permit, it is best to disinfect the soil.
(3) Fruit anthracnose: Anthracnose mainly damages the leaves and causes the fruit to gradually rot, affecting yield. Therefore, when growing figs, try to spray 200 times lime double-strength Bordeaux mixture or 75% chlorothalonil 600-800 times solution as early as possible in summer and autumn before the fruit becomes diseased. For the latter, the safe interval between applications (the number of days from the last application to harvest) is 7-14 days.
3. Key points to note when planting container-grown figs:
1. Fertilizing: Figs do not have high fertilizer requirements. Generally, you can fertilize from late March to late August, but when fertilizing, it is best to choose organic fertilizer, as the fruit produced this way tastes better and has higher sugar content. Chemical fertilizer can also be used, but be careful not to use too much; light, frequent applications are preferable.
2. Watering: The water requirement for container-grown figs is not to water until the surface is dry, and when you do water, soak it thoroughly. So you only need to keep the potting soil moist, but in summer or winter, you should water flexibly according to actual conditions.
3. Temperature: Figs are neither cold-tolerant nor heat-tolerant, so when the winter temperature drops below -5°C, you need to keep them warm by placing them in a greenhouse and watering them in a timely manner. In summer, when the temperature is above 38°C, you need to move them to a cool, ventilated environment to prevent high temperatures from causing the leaves to wilt and affecting growth.