Grow figs at home: remember these few points for big, sweet fruit on every branch

The fig is a deciduous shrub that actually does flower. It is also called the "sugar bun on the tree," which shows just how sweet and delicious its fruit is. It is fairly nutritious, and both the elderly and children can eat it. But ripe figs do not keep well, so we can grow one ourselves on a balcony or terrace, and when we want to eat some, we just reach out and pick them.

It is a fruit very well suited to container growing. The two potted figs I grow on my terrace grow especially fast; their leaves are now bigger than my hand and they look like little trees, and they have just set lots of small fruits.

For growing figs at home, if you want lots of fruit and a high yield, here are the methods:

Figs can be propagated by cuttings. If you have grown one fig, you can cut a few branches from the mother plant, about 10 cm long, and insert two-thirds of each into sandy soil, shading and keeping them moist; you can cover them with a layer of plastic film to keep the air humid, and after a month they begin to grow roots. After they sprout, pot them up. Take more cuttings and you can get more fruit; grow three and the whole family will have enough to eat.

If you grow figs in flower pots, and want them to bear lots of fruit and big fruit, the bigger the pot the better, at least 30 cm in diameter, because its branches and trunk grow fast and the roots need enough space and nutrients; in short, you need to change to a correspondingly larger pot every two years. That way the fig grows bigger and bigger.

The soil for growing figs is very flexible, because it is not picky about soil; any soil will do as long as it is not especially poor and compacted, and even soil dug straight from outside can be used, but you must add some base fertilizer, such as decomposed chicken manure, cow manure, soybean cake fertilizer, and so on, all of which are fine. That way the fig will bear more fruit later.

When it rains, for figs kept on a terrace or in a small yard, do not let water collect in the pot soil, otherwise the fruit will drop. Also note that if there are snails, remove them promptly.

Keep it in plenty of light as usual. Figs can take full sun, and can also be grown in diffused light, but there must be sunlight. Do not put them in a place that is too dim.

If you want figs to bear especially many, you must usually apply more topdressing, or add some fertilized soil. I make organic fertilizer from kitchen waste such as fruit peels, vegetable leaves, shrimp shells and soybean residue, and every so often I water on some fertilizer liquid, or work some into the pot.

The fig tree grows before your eyes, its leaves getting bigger and bigger, thick green and beautiful, and lots of fruits grow out on every branch. You can put some bags over them to prevent birds from stealing a bite.

Wait until the fruits have all turned purplish red and are fairly soft, and then they can be picked. Nutritious, full of sweetness, so delicious!