What are the environmental requirements of figs?
The fig is a flowering plant in the mulberry family (Moraceae), mainly distributed in some tropical regions, and it is grown on a considerable area in some tropical provinces in southern China. Moreover, the market demand for figs in China is now growing, so the area planted naturally keeps expanding. However, growing figs is not that simple, because figs have certain environmental requirements. So what are the environmental conditions for growing figs? Let's take a look together below!
1. Soil
Figs are not strict about soil and can grow normally in almost any soil. However, yield and fruit quality will still be affected to some extent. Deep soil layers, sufficient fertility, no pests or diseases, and slightly alkaline soil are most suitable for fig growth. Figs are also extremely salt-tolerant, and their salt and alkaline tolerance ranks among the best of all fruits. However, fig growth requires a large amount of calcium, and the demand for calcium is very high, so when choosing soil we should also check the soil's calcium content. If calcium is lacking, an appropriate amount of lime can be sprinkled into the soil to adjust it.
2. Temperature
The fig tree is a tropical deciduous fruit tree and is suitable for growing in environments with relatively high temperatures. Figs have very strong tolerance to high temperatures, and most varieties are not suitable for growing in low-temperature environments. Therefore, before planting we should pay attention to the temperature changes around the planting site and to the variety being planted. Varieties that are not tolerant to low temperatures are not suitable for planting in areas outside the tropics. So if planting in a place with large temperature fluctuations, the variety must be chosen well, such as Brunswick, otherwise planting will fail.
3. Water
The fig's root absorption capacity is very strong, and its demand for water is not great; it can still achieve relatively high yields when grown in drier places. In addition, figs also have relatively strong waterlogging tolerance, but if humidity is too high and waterlogging damage is too severe, it may cause phenomena such as fruit cracking and fruit drop. During fig growth, water should not be too little either; if there is too little, fruit quality will decline seriously. Therefore, during planting we must control water well, ensure the orchard can both drain and irrigate, create a good environment for fig tree growth, increase yield, and enhance quality.
4. Light
As just mentioned, figs are a tropical fruit, so their demand for light is also very great. When planting, we must ensure there is sufficient light. If light is insufficient, the leaves of the fig tree will be dull and lack luster, photosynthesis will decline, causing a serious shortage of nutrient accumulation in the fruit and lowering fruit quality. The growth of the fruit tree will also be greatly affected, and in severe cases flower bud differentiation will fail, making fruit set impossible. Therefore, light is also an indispensable basic condition for growing figs.
The above is a brief introduction to the environmental conditions for fig growth. Due to light and temperature, many places cannot grow figs, but relying on current cultivation techniques, greenhouse technology can still allow planting in some non-tropical provinces. It merely requires greater manpower and material resources, so everyone should still consider carefully before planting. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting.