2020 Fig Planting Prospects, Variety Selection and Key Technical Points

The fig is a fruit that can be used both as medicine and as food, and can be processed into dried figs, preserved figs, jam, juice, fruit tea, fruit wine, beverages, canned goods, and more. So what are the prospects for planting figs in 2020? Which varieties are good to plant? What are the planting techniques?

1. What are the prospects for planting figs in 2020?

At present, global annual production is around 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 also still rising, and the planting area is certain to keep expanding, so the prospects for fig cultivation are still very promising.

In 2019, the market price of fresh figs was about 15-20 yuan per jin, and the price also depends on the variety; the price of some varieties is relatively more expensive, such as South African figs and Weihai figs, which cost about 35 yuan/jin, while the price of dried figs may be even higher. Therefore, the prospects for planting are very good.

2. Which fig varieties are good 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 excellent quality and high yield; the Branrick variety has the strongest resistance and can be used for both fresh eating and processing. Although Masui Dauphine has large fruit, its flavor is ordinary and it tends to split, so it is not suitable for cultivation in rainy areas.

3. Fig planting techniques

1. Planting: Usually 1-year-old truncated seedlings are used, and either autumn planting or spring planting is acceptable. 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, 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 holes. After planting, cover the aboveground part of the seedlings with soil and seal it firmly to protect against cold and preserve soil moisture. Before sprouting in spring, uncover it again to promote sprouting.

2. Inter-row management: Adopt soil management that combines inter-row grass growing or intercropping 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 avoid soil erosion during the rainy season. In young trees and the early fruiting stage, leguminous crops and vegetable crops can be intercropped between rows.

3. Fertilization: Topdressing should be applied 5-6 times each year, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer, at 200-300 kg per mu; during the fruit ripening period from August to October, apply compound fertilizer as topdressing 2-3 times, at 250-300 kg per mu. Spraying 0.3%-0.5% potassium dihydrogen phosphate or a compound fertilizer based mainly on 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; watering methods: traditional furrow irrigation and hole irrigation can be used, and sprinkler irrigation and drip irrigation can also be used. In rainy seasons or low-lying areas, drain standing water in time or make raised ridges.