How to water figs? They need a lot of water in summer and little in winter

During plant cultivation, water is an essential nutrient, and figs are no exception. Watering too much or too little will seriously affect their growth, so controlling the amount of water is especially important. So how do you water figs? Below, the editor will walk you through it.

How to water figs

As for the question of how to water figs, every season is different, because with different climates, figs' water requirements also differ. In summer the demand for water is higher, so you can water more; in winter you need to reduce watering. As for the detailed breakdown, we can read on.

1. Watering in spring

Spring temperatures are fairly suitable for figs. For watering, generally once every 3-4 days is enough. Just keep the soil moist when watering; there is no need to water too much, otherwise waterlogging can easily cause figs to develop root rot, so everyone should pay attention to this point.

2. Watering in summer

Summer is the hottest season of the year. At this time figs' water requirements are relatively high, because the temperature is higher, so water evaporates fairly quickly, so at this time figs need watering almost every day. The best time to water is in the morning or evening; watering at noon is not advisable.

3. Watering in autumn

As for how to water figs in autumn, it is actually not much different from spring; it is just that the air in autumn is a bit drier than in spring, so the frequency is a bit higher than in spring, generally watering once every 2-3 days.

4. Watering in winter

The fig plant is relatively not cold-tolerant, so in winter you must not water too much, otherwise it is very easy to freeze and damage the plant. Generally, choosing to water once every 7-10 days is most suitable, and it is best to use a spray bottle for watering, as this allows better control of the amount of water.

5. Watering tools

When watering figs, it is best to use a tool such as a spray bottle, because this allows better control of the amount of water and prevents watering too much or too little. Of course, if you feel you can manage it well without a spray bottle, you do not have to use one.

How to grow figs: Fig cultivation methods

The fig is a relatively common tree species for us, mostly planted in courtyards. It bears fruit and is a plant grown for both its leaves and its fruit. How do you grow figs? Below, let us tell you about fig cultivation methods.

Introduction to figs:

The fig (scientific name: Ficuscarica), also called Yingsi fruit, milk fig, honey fruit, tree sweet potato, Wenxian fruit, eye-brightening fruit, bodhi holy fruit, etc., is a flowering plant belonging to the Moraceae family, genus Ficus. It mainly grows in some tropical and temperate places and is a subtropical deciduous small tree. The fig tree has luxuriant branches and leaves and an elegant form, with fairly good ornamental value, and is a good ornamental tree for landscaping gardens and courtyards. It bears fruit the same year it is planted, and is one of the best fruit trees for potted cultivation.

Fig cultivation methods:

1. Soil: Figs tolerate poor soil and have very strong soil adaptability, especially strong salt tolerance, but cultivation in fertile sandy loam is most suitable.

2. Watering: Figs are relatively drought-tolerant, and potted cultivation requires less water, so after potting or repotting, water thoroughly 2 times in a row, and afterward watering once a day is enough. In dry seasons and summer, spray water on the branches and leaves 2-3 times a day. After the fruit ripens, the amount of watering should gradually be reduced.

3. Sunlight: Figs like a sunny, well-lit environment, so choose a spot with the best light possible for planting and cultivation.

4. Temperature: Figs are not cold-tolerant and prefer warmth. At a low temperature of -12°C, new shoots are prone to freeze damage, and at -20°C the aboveground parts may die, so winter cold protection is extremely important.

5. Fertilizing: During the peak growing season, figs need 2 topdressings of liquid fertilizer, and during the young fruit swelling stage, apply 1 more liquid fertilizer mainly of phosphorus and potassium.

6. Pests: Common diseases and pests of figs include anthracnose, crown gall, and pests such as longhorn beetles and scale insects. Liquid medicine spraying can be used for prevention and control.

7. Pruning: For potted figs, the plant should not be too tall; 30 cm is suitable, which requires careful pruning. Pruning should be done in March in spring. When the seedling grows to 40-50 cm, cut off the top at 30 cm. When the axillary buds below grow to 3 cm, keep only the top 3-5 buds as the main branches and cut off the rest.

How to cultivate figs in a greenhouse

The fig (FicuscaricaL) is a deciduous small tree or shrub of the Moraceae family, native to the southern Arabian Peninsula in the subtropical region. It was introduced to our country via the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty. Its fruit is also called the "holy fruit." It is rich in nutrients, has a unique taste and a novel flavor, and can not only be eaten fresh or processed into products such as dried fruit and preserved fruit, but also has high medicinal value and broad development prospects. By using greenhouse cultivation, we avoided the unfavorable factor of Beijing's low winter temperatures, enabling figs to be cultivated in the Beijing area, and the fruit ripening period can be advanced by 1-2 months.

1 Overview of greenhouse cultivation

The trial site is located at the Zizhuang Demonstration Park of the High-quality Agricultural Product Development Service Center of the Ministry of Agriculture in Chaoyang District, Beijing. Beijing's average annual temperature is 11.9°C, the average January temperature is -4.7°C, the extreme low temperature is -18°C, the frost-free period is 180-200d, and precipitation is 600-700mm. The trial greenhouse is 75m long, with a span of 7.5m, a ridge height of 3.3m, a rear wall height of 2m, and a wall thickness of 0.6m. It has a brick-concrete structure with steel bar arches, and a planting area of 442 sq m. The soil is light clay, with deep soil layers, a pH value of 8.2, and organic matter content of 2.2%.

The fig variety is Masui Dauphine, native to California, USA. This variety has moderate tree vigor, soft branches, is easy to spread open, has a small crown, many branches, and is parthenocarpic, so no pollinator trees need to be arranged. The chilling requirement during dormancy is 80-200h. It was planted on December 1, 2002, with a total of 82 plants planted and 78 surviving. In 2003 the yield was 156kg (235.3kg/666.7 sq m), achieving the cultivation goal of bearing fruit in the same year as planting. The fruit is obconical, relatively large, with a single fruit weight of 80-100g and a maximum of 150g. It is mainly autumn fruit, with a fruit development period of 70-90d. The ripe fruit is purplish brown, and the flesh is peach red. The fruit's sugar content is 11%-14%, with relatively good quality, and the selling price is 15-20 yuan/kg.

2 Main techniques

2.1 Planting

In the greenhouse, plant in north-south rows, with a row spacing of 1.8m, for a total of 41 rows; 2 plants per row, with a plant spacing of 3m. Along the row direction, dig planting trenches 50cm wide, 60cm deep, and 5m long. Apply 4000kg of decomposed organic fertilizer, 150kg of superphosphate, and 10kg of potassium sulfate per 666.7 sq m, mix evenly with the soil, then backfill to 4/5 of the trench depth, tread firm, water, and cover with a layer of topsoil.

Choose a sunny day for planting. Select 1-year-old seedlings, dip the roots in rooting powder, and plant at the predetermined points. First cover with soil, then lift the seedlings so the root system spreads out, tread firm, then cover with soil to close the opening, and make a channel for irrigation. Water again after an interval of 1d. After the soil dries on the surface, loosen the soil, level it, and cover with plastic film.

After planting, promptly determine the trunk height, with the south lower and the north higher: south plants with trunk height set at 10cm, north plants at 15cm. When setting the trunk height, the cut should be flat, seal the cut well with paint, then cover the trunk with a special fruit tree bag to prevent the sapling from drying out and dying.

Increasing the survival rate

2.2 Temperature management

Fig seedlings planted in winter have already passed dormancy and can be directly warmed up. The daytime temperature is controlled at 20-25°C, and the nighttime temperature is not lower than 8°C. The relative air humidity is controlled at 80%-90%. When the temperature rises during the day, the humidity will relatively decrease, so manual spraying is needed. When the temperature of the 15cm soil layer is above 10°C, the fig root system begins activity, and in early January (one month after planting) budding begins. Remove the special bags and water heavily once.

Within 50-70d after budding, when the effective accumulated temperature ≥10°C reaches 1400°C, fruiting begins. To lower the fruiting position and prevent excessive vegetative growth, the temperature at this time should be relatively lower, with the daytime temperature controlled at 25°C and the nighttime temperature controlled at 13°C. In May, the straw mats can be removed. To prevent summer rain from damaging the figs, keep the greenhouse film and open the top and front skirts for ventilation and temperature control. When summer is relatively hot, carry out manual spraying to cool down.

2.3 Water and fertilizer management

The fig root system is relatively well developed and has strong drought resistance. But the leaves are relatively large and evaporate a lot of water. If the water supply is insufficient, it will inhibit new shoot growth and affect fruit yield and quality. Figs are generally watered heavily once after fertilizing in autumn, watered lightly 2 times during the bud-forcing stage, and from July to September during flower bud differentiation and fruit ripening they need more water, watering once every 7-10d, but irrigation should not be excessive, with the aim of soaking through the root layer. After each watering, shallow plowing and soil loosening should be done. In the rainy season, water once, but it should not be excessive, otherwise it will not only reduce the sugar content but also cause fruit cracking.

Figs have luxuriant branches and leaves, a large growth amount, and bear much fruit, and they need a lot of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and other fertilizers. Fertilize according to Table 1 in mid-March when new shoots grow, in May during flower bud differentiation, and in mid-July when the fruit ripens. In mid-November, dig trenches 50cm deep and 30cm wide, and apply 4000kg of decomposed farmyard manure per 666.7 sq m, while adding 150kg of superphosphate and 10kg of potassium nitrate.