7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

1/23

Growing Figs in the Lowcountry

Presented by Darren Sheriff

Master Gardener Class of 2007

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

2/23

Fig Fruit

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

3/23

History

Believed to be indigenous to Western Asia Have been found in excavations of

Neolithic sites traced to at least 5,000 B.C. The first figs in the New World were

planted in Mexico in 1560.

Introduced into California when the SanDiego Mission was established in 1769

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

4/23

The fruits come in numerous sizes,

colors and shapes!

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

5/23

There may be as manyas 1000 differentkinds of Figtrees in the world!!

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

6/23

Fig Leaves are numerous in

shapes also

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

7/23

Fig Leaves

Occasionally leaf shape isused to classify andidentify fig varieties

Fig leaves are extremelyvariable even from thesame tree

Generally they can beused most effectively torule out varieties, ratherthan to make a definitiveidentification.

Many varieties exhibita wide variety of

leaves on a given tree

though one style

usually predominates.

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

8/23

Fig leaves

Raspberry Latte Two different types of

leaves: one kind on

some branches, and a

different kind on

others.

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

9/23

General Growing

One major thing to remember about Figs:

The size, shape, and color of a fig can bedramatically different depending on soil,climate, fertilization, watering and any other

factor.

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

10/23

General Growing

Need at least 8 hoursof sun

Though drought

tolerant, need ample

amounts of water

Require littlefertilization, if

showing less than one

inch of growth per

year, use a 10-10-10

application in the

Spring

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

11/23

General Growing

Size Matters:

Can grow 15-30 feettall

Can be kept pruned tomanageable height

Will tend to growwider than tall

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

12/23

Propagation

Take 8- to 10-inchlong cuttings of one-

year-old wood in late

Winter or early

Spring.

Size should be pencilto finger thick

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

13/23

Propagation

Use Sand, perlite or agood-quality potting

mix

Place in warm, humid,BRIGHT light, not

direct sun

Don't water the

cuttings again until

they are very dry.

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

14/23

Propagation

For propagation in the mid-Summer months, airlayer new growth in July and August

Another method is bending over a taller branch,scratching the bark to reveal the green inner bark,

then pinning the scratched area tightly to the

ground. Roots will develop in a few weeks, clip

from the mother plant and transplant.

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

15/23

Fig Grown in Container

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

16/23

Fig in Container

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

17/23

Varieties to try (Not all inclusive)

Hunt Kadota

Green Ischia (seedsare objectionable to

some)

Magnolia LSU Gold

Alma Celeste

Brown Turkey LSU Purple Excel Verdal Longue Violette de Bordeaux

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

18/23

Fruit Ripeness

Many signs indicate that afig is ripening

Getting to know yourvariety is critical Flavor and sugars are

developed in the last dayor two of ripening

Figs exhibit a significantsize increase when theybegin to ripen

As a fig ripens andincreases in size andweight, it will usuallysoften, which will cause itto droop or sag.

Skin of some figs willsplit as they increase insize

Some varieties when ripewill exude a drop ofhoney-like nectar from theeye

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

19/23

Fruit Ripeness

Each year there are two crops of figs The first orBreva Crop develops in the Spring on last year'sshoot growth.

The main fig crop develops on the current year'sshoot growth and ripens in the late Summer orFall.

Usually the main crop is superior in both quantityand quality. Though, some cultivars produce goodbreva crops ('Black Mission', 'Croisic', and'Ventura').

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

20/23

Problems

Root-knot nematodes are the primary pestof fig trees. Infected fig trees cannot be

cured with chemical treatment. Attentivewatering and fertilization may prolong the

life of a root-knot infected fig tree. Usually,

however, they will die sooner or later.

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

21/23

Problems

Fig Rust: This fungusattacks the leaves, usuallyin late summer. Severelyinfected leaves turn

yellow-brown and drop.The underside of the fallenleaves will have numeroussmall, somewhat raised,reddish brown spots.

These spots are oftencovered with a dustygolden-yellow mass ofrust spores.

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

22/23

Problems

Fig rust is usually notfatal, but repeated

epidemics will weaken the

plant. In any given year,heavy leaf drop from rust

will reduce size and

quality of the fruit. Unless

fig rust is an annual

problem, spraying is notwarranted.

7/27/2019 Growing Figs in the Lowcountry Presentation 2013-01-20

23/23

QUESTIONS?

E-Mail:TheCitrusGuy@netzero.com