Figs,remove or leave????

[Little Bee]

Hiya All :)

I have a fig tree which i have had a few years now.
I usually leave it to tend for itself by not removing any small figs in late Autumn.
The question is that i have noticed today that the fig plant has about 20 small figs on which are approx the size of a quails egg.
These figs are in great condition and seems a great shame to take them off.
What would you do?????

[Little Bee]

[ruud]

Hi little bee,i have two 10 year old figtrees in the garden.They are covered with small figs.I always leave them on the tre,that will be the first crop next spring,and wenn you are lucky you get a second crop.

[saddad]

Depends where you are Little Bee, Ruud has the warmer summer and can try for two crops. Naturally in the Eastern Med they make three. In Derby I tend to only get one... by removing the ones that form at the end of the summer in about Nov., haven't done it this year as I want to do some structural pruning out of several branches..  :-\

[nilly71]

I read somewhere and watched on gardeners world the other day, that if there are any small green figs left after the main crop or in winter, that you should remove them so that all the growing power goes into the plant not wasted on unripe figs.

Neil

[tonybloke]

I read somewhere,
(Hessayon. Dr D. G. 1990 The Fruit Expert   p48.  London. Transworld Publishers)
The embryo figs which should be retained are close to the end of the shoots and are about pea-sized. These will develop into fruit for picking next year.

hope this helps, rgds, tony  ;)

[artichoke]

Totally agree. All figs should be removed over the winter so that the tree doesn't waste energy on keeping them going, as they never ripen.

The small pea sized ones are impossible to remove, and they are the ones that DO ripen in the following summer.

Thus speaks someone who has grown delicious figs in several gardens for 40 years, but has NOT yet removed this winter's figs. Must do it.

[GrannieAnnie]

Totally agree. All figs should be removed over the winter so that the tree doesn't waste energy on keeping them going, as they never ripen.

The small pea sized ones are impossible to remove, and they are the ones that DO ripen in the following summer.

Thus speaks someone who has grown delicious figs in several gardens for 40 years, but has NOT yet removed this winter's figs. Must do it.

Last Jan I bought a Brown Turkey fig tree that had some large figs when purchased. They were completely tasteless unlike the second crop. So off they come this year.

[Little Bee]

Thanks all for you interesting replies:)
Will have another look tomorrow in the daylight and see what's to be done.

P.S i am just down the road from Tonybloke ;)
(Hopton On Sea)

[Little Bee]

Oh,another wee question....when do you think is the best time to add a top dressing of sulphate of potash?
Also the same question for other fruiting trees? :)

[tonybloke]

Ain't seen you on the 'locations and sites ' board? ;D

[Little Bee]

Hi Tonybloke,i am new to this site so i will have to look up the 'locations and site board' :-\

Any feedback on the potash would be very gratefully appreciated........thanks in advance ;)

[tonybloke]

Figs don't respond well to 'a good feed'.  They do appreciate an organic mulch in the late spring (well rotted manure / compost) and give them a liquid high potash (comfrey is ideal) when the fruits start to swell, hope that helps! ;)

[cornykev]

Hi Little Bee I've spent many a sun holiday at the Hopton holiday camp.  ;D ;D ;D