The fig (Ficus carica Linn.) is a flowering plant belonging to the mulberry family, genus Ficus. It mainly grows in some tropical and temperate regions and is a subtropical deciduous small tree. There are currently about eight hundred known fig varieties, the vast majority of which are evergreen varieties; only those growing in temperate regions are deciduous varieties. The fruit is bulb-shaped with a small opening at the end, and pollen is spread by wasps.
How to propagate figs by cuttings
Fig cuttings are generally taken in spring, and can be done when the temperature rises to around 20 degrees. Cut about 1 m of un-sprouted fig branches from a mature fig tree, and cut them into sections of about 30 cm each. Insert the cut fig branches diagonally into the soil and keep the soil moist. New roots usually grow after about one month, and in the second spring they can be planted in the desired location.
To improve the survival rate of fig cuttings. Before cutting, they can also be soaked in clean water for 12-24 hours. The length of soaking time is judged by how dehydrated the cuttings are: if the branches are cut and planted immediately, the soaking time should be shorter; if a long time passes between cutting and planting the branches, the soaking time should be longer. You can also add an appropriate amount of rooting agent to the clean water to increase the rooting rate of the branches.
Besides propagation by cuttings, fig trees can also be propagated by division and layering. For division, generally in spring or autumn, dig out the sucker shoots around the mother plant and plant them in a suitable place. Layering is relatively simple: choose a section of branch, place a layering tool at the middle position, and pay attention to watering and fertilizing. Once the new layered branch has grown new roots, it can be transplanted.
Training and Pruning
The training and pruning of figs is relatively simple, and the technical requirements for pruning and training are not high. A multi-main-branch natural open-center form is generally used, but 3-5 main branches should be retained for the whole plant, with no side branches, and branch groups growing directly on the main branches. During the young tree stage, focus on training the main branches and pay attention to raising the angle of the main branches to promote more branch growth, so as to rapidly expand the canopy. After entering the initial fruiting stage, focus on cultivating more branch groups in order to promote the formation of a certain yield. During the full fruiting stage, pay attention to cultivating the scaffold branches and renewing large and medium branch groups by cutting back weak branch groups. For trees that are aging or severely affected by pests and diseases, the sprouting shoots or latent buds emerging from the base or branches can be used to re-train the main branches and branch groups.
Figs begin in mid-July and ripen successively until November. Fig harvesting is generally best done on sunny mornings or evenings. When a small opening at the top of a ripe fruit is slightly open and the skin shows the color of its inherent variety (mostly divided into red and yellow varieties), it is ready to pick. Overripe fruit does not store or transport well after picking.
Field Management
After the plants survive, loosen the soil and remove weeds. In June and July, apply one topdressing each of human manure or ammonium sulfate. After planting, the canopy should be trained into a non-layered tree form, or a multi-main-branch natural open-center tree form. Generally, the trunk can be headed at a height of 50 cm, retaining 5-7 main branches, and side branches can be appropriately selected to fill gaps. After the trunk form is set, prune every year to remove dense branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, and dead branches. Thinning should mainly be light pruning. For those mainly harvesting autumn fruit, the fruiting branches can be spur-pruned to retain 2-3 buds; if mainly harvesting summer fruit, spur pruning is not suitable.
During the growth period of young fig trees, fertilizer should be applied if the base fertilizer is insufficient. The method is to apply about 5 kg of decomposed mixed manure per tree at about 40 cm from the main root; for potted plants, apply at least 1 kg. For mature trees, apply about 15 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per tree as base fertilizer before and after leaf fall, and topdressing is best applied during the peak new shoot growth period and the rapid fruit swelling period. Figs are a fruit tree that tolerates fertilizer relatively well, but emphasis should be placed on applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. The general ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is 0.5:1:1. Because it is relatively drought-tolerant and not waterlogging-tolerant, the water demand is greater 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. Potted plants should also be watched for drainage, especially during continuous rainy seasons after heavy rain or torrential rain; pay attention to rain sheltering or tipping the pot to control water.
Figs suffer relatively few pests and diseases. During the fruit growth period, the special odor released around them easily attracts damage from mulberry longhorn beetles; when the fruit ripens, it is easily damaged by birds. In addition to manually catching mulberry longhorn beetles and driving away birds, pest eggs can be eliminated manually or with chemicals. Scarecrows with plastic colored strips tied to them can also be inserted in the field to drive away birds.