fig tree

[Borlotti]

At the allotment today had two conflicting advice about my fig tree. Was told to take all the figs off, or wouldnt get any figs next year, started removing them and there were loads, then told if i carried on removing them i wouldnt get any next year. Not sure who to believe, well one side done. Help anyone please.

[Borlotti]

[ed dibbles]

As I understand it any fruit left on the fig tree from this season are unlikely to ripen over winter as they get frosted (I know what frost!) and there is insufficient light, So yes you can remove them without affecting next years crop.

Next years figs are tiny pea sized buds usually located at the tips of shoots. Come spring after bud break they will start swelling and ripen in the summer.

I have a fig in a big pot in a large greenhouse that often gives a small crop in early summer and a heavier crop in late summer. Outdoor figs usually only give the late summer crop.

Hope this helps.

[Borlotti]

Yes, thanks, that seems logical.  They certainly won't ripen now, and if we ever have a frost, cold spell, expect they will drop off.  Nature will do its work, but the warm weather is confusing the fig tree, and me.

[jimc]

Yes any fruit left on any tree after the end of the season is only asking for trouble by harbouring pests and disease. These partly formed fruit are already packed with some minerals and nutrients so should be recycled right under the tree under a layer of mulch or compost or put through the worm farm or compost bin, unless you suspect they could be infected with fungus or pest which can carry over therefore destroy these.
There shouldn't be any impact on next years crop what ever you do.
ed dibbles, your early summer crop of figs is called a breba crop and form on last years wood while the second crop in late summer and autumn is formed on new season growth. It is a variety thing and not all varieties have a breba crop. I missed out on a breba crop this year because a late frost killed all that crop (some 150-200 fruit on 4 trees) and some of the new stems and crop. Hope now my season is starting to catch up again.
Figs are natures power house of nutrients.

[Borlotti]

So my greek friend knows his figs, so generous always giving me produce, jerusalem artichokes yesterday. Never cooked these before, can i add them to my shepherds pie and cook them with the pots and mash. Good idea or maybe not?

[Vinlander]

So my greek friend knows his figs, so generous always giving me produce, jerusalem artichokes yesterday. Never cooked these before, can i add them to my shepherds pie and cook them with the pots and mash. Good idea or maybe not?

Jerusalem Artichokes are the only crop I know that is regarded as both pig-food and gourmet food (even by the majority of people who don't think they are both at the same end of the spectrum).

The reason is flatulence - which isn't so bad for us microholding gardeners because we are used to plenty of fibre (though even our experienced lower gut fauna will still go a bit nuts when they get the wrong-handed [diabetic safe] sugar that has evaded the normal 'vores higher up the process).

For the burger and chips brigade they can be an express ticket to a low earth orbit! (this would make a great emoticon).

I haven't tried the trick of using winter savory yet - I just try and avoid undercooking generally and particularly boiling (too much and they will turn to slush before they are done enough to be 'safe'). Steaming or pressure-cooking may be OK - I haven't tried - because whenever possible I roast them well until they are bags of delicious mush - this means giving them the same sort of time used for roast potatoes with golden crunchy outsides and floury insides.

Cheers.

[saddad]

I always remove my "baby" figs at this time of year and get a good crop in August. (Brown Turkey) I want to do some pruning but it hasn't gone dormant enough yet as it is still so warm.
You can make a great ragout with JA's and Aesfodeta (?) is supposed to help with the funny sugars (Pentose?)

[Obelixx]

I like fartichokes as a soup (Palestine soup), roast and used instead of potatoes in a gratin dauphinoise which is what we're having tonight with roast guinea fowl.

As for my fig tree, yes, I remove all the unripened fruit by mid autumn and again after leaf drop when I can see better and make sure I get them all.

[martinburo]

saddad, the funny sugar is inulin

[pumkinlover]

I am not disputing that you should remove the remaining figlets from your tree.
However for the last 5 or so years i have never got round to doing it.
Got three large bags of figs in the freezer from last years crop so it doesn't encourage me to do the recommended treatment!

[johhnyco15]

i planted a lost label fig tree this year its around 2ft6 high and it had 2 little figs on it which i removed fingers crossed for bigger things to come

[Vinlander]

You can make a great ragout with JA's and Aesfodeta (?) is supposed to help with the funny sugars (Pentose?)

Asafoetida (also known as Devils Dung) with JAs! that's an amazing combination of two much maligned and quite controversial ingredients - I love asafoetida's "bass notes" but my wife won't let me use it in the house! (It's true it's one of the most persistent smells known to mankind - it can perfume your wallpaper for decades).

I would have thought it would be like mixing TNT and thermite, but on looking it up it does seem they might work to moderate each other.

Next time SWMBO is out for a few days I might try it. Much more fun than Winter Savory! 

(That's the emoticon I wanted)
Cheers.

[saddad]

MAYBE I will finally be able to prune my fig, if we get the frosts we have been promised! 

[saddad]

Still haven't had the frost but tried one branch yesterday and it didn't bleed so did some pruning today. Left the higher bits as they are above the level of the south facing wall and likely to get killed by a hard frost and then I cut out the dead in late March.