How to Grow Figs? Which Varieties Are Better to Plant? With an Analysis of the Farming Prospects

Figs can be processed into dried figs, preserved figs, jam, juice, fig tea, fig wine, beverages, canned goods, etc., and they can also be eaten fresh and used medicinally, so the economic profit from growing them is very good. So how do you grow figs? Which varieties are better to plant?

1. How do you grow figs?

1. Planting: Usually 1-year-old truncated seedlings are used, and either autumn planting or spring planting is fine. The planting density is 2-3 m between rows and 1-2 m between plants, with 100-300 plants planted per mu. When cultivating with the Y-shaped pruning method, the row spacing is usually 2 m and the hole spacing is 4 m, with 2 plants per hole and 170 plants planted per mu. Before planting figs, apply 20 kg of farmyard manure and 2 kg of phosphate fertilizer in the hole. After planting, cover the above-ground part of the seedling with soil and seal it firmly to protect against cold and preserve soil moisture. Before sprouting in spring, remove the soil again to encourage sprouting.

2. Inter-row management: Adopt soil management that combines inter-row grass growing or intercrops with straw mulching, to suppress salt return, reduce soil salt content, improve soil structure, and build soil fertility. Adopting a soil management system that combines straw mulching and grass growing can improve soil moisture conditions, maintain water, and prevent soil and water loss during the rainy season. For young trees and in the early fruiting stage, leguminous crops and vegetable crops can be intercropped between the rows.

3. Fertilization: Apply topdressing 5-6 times each year, mainly nitrogen fertilizer, at 200-300 kg per mu; during the fruit ripening period from August to October, apply compound fertilizer as the main topdressing 2-3 times, at 250-300 kg per mu. Spraying 0.3%-0.5% potassium dihydrogen phosphate or a compound fertilizer mainly of nitrogen and potassium can enlarge the fruit and reduce fruit cracking.

4. Watering: The main water-demand periods for figs are before overwintering, during the sprouting stage, and during the fruit growth and development period from July to September; in the high-temperature summer season, evaporation is high, so the amount of watering can be increased. Irrigation methods: traditional furrow irrigation and hole irrigation can be used, and sprinkler irrigation and drip irrigation can also be used. In the rainy season or in low-lying areas, drain standing water promptly or make raised ridges.

2. Which varieties are better to plant?

Figs can be divided into fresh-eating varieties, processing varieties, landscaping varieties, and dual-purpose varieties. If you want to grow fresh-eating varieties, you can choose Kawasaki, Japanese Purple Fig, Ziguang, and others. Kawasaki has high quality and high yield; the Branrick variety has the strongest resistance and can be used both for fresh eating and processing. Although Masui Dauphine has large fruit, its flavor is ordinary and it cracks easily, so it is not suitable for cultivation in rainy areas.

3. Analysis of fig farming prospects

At present, the annual output worldwide is about 2.4-2.6 million tons, while China's output is less than 10,000 tons. At present, China's fig planting area is still relatively small, but market demand for figs is still rising continuously, so the planting area will certainly continue to expand, and the prospects for growing figs are still very promising.

In 2019, the market price of fresh figs was about 15-20 yuan per jin, and the price also depended on different varieties. Some varieties are relatively more expensive, such as South African figs and Weihai figs, which cost about 35 yuan/jin, and the price of dried figs may be even higher. Therefore, the prospects for growing them are very good.