Sunlight: Very Important for PRODUCTIVE Fig Trees

I think Pons has the answers to our woes with finicky or stubborn trees. Perhaps something that we haven't thought of is that our trees may not be getting enough light penetration into their canopy. This would explain why Japanese espaliers or low cordons have so much success. They allow for the perfect light penetration. Some varieties are clearly not as affected even with poor light penetration into the canopy, so beware of blanket statements, but nonetheless I think this is great advice.

Zone 7A - Greater Philadelphia

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[RobertClayRivers]

Planning on implementing this in my fig pruning at the start of next season. Extremely useful information and I think the light is the key!

[denniskatinas]

Hmm, I have to be critical. My mother has a 20 year old fig tree. A big huge tree. Thick and dark centre. Last year, only ripe fruit came from the dark centre. Another example, I have a huge tree, same story somewhat. Its 2 years old and not yet fruiting. Today I did inspection to look for double nodes, the first sign for fruit. Only sign I found was 1 single fig sitting in the dark centre of the tree. So I believe its mostly about light hitting the outside of the plant and top leafs, and the plant decides what to donand where to focus its resources.

[elikho]

Although I know the concept of thinning to let the light in for fruit trees, but thanks for emphasing and explaining the concept of light this morning, also mentioning the Japanese way with fruit tree, I have read about them, but you explained the rational behind it.
Thank you for your tireless efforts in educating the fig grower.

[tarekharb]

Hi Ross, very informative and nicely put. Keep up the great work buddy.

[brownbraids]

Very interesting, Ross. Thank you, love to see what the result is .

[babichevi]

Ross, what you are saying is rather profound.
First - yes, once we realize something we look back and say, oh, of course! But obviously it wasn’t obvious.
The other is that you have hit on something important: how we think about what we’re doing affects how we do it. The pruning was there thinking it was achieving a particular purpose. Then later, it’s realized that maybe that pruning wasn’t doing X, it was actually doing Y. The action was more or less correct but the thinking behind it may not have been. Once our thinking shifts, we may continue to do the same thing but the thinking behind it has changed. That can slightly shift how we go about doing it.

Our improved thinking may not even be completely correct but it may be “less wrong.”

I’m thinking about how with some fruit trees it’s thought that if the branches are more horizontal, they are more productive and it seems the thinking is that there’s something about that horizontal position that does something (hormonal?) to the tree but maybe it’s the exposure to light? I don’t know.

I’m so glad I’m discovering your videos at the beginning of my fig journey. Yes, I kind of botched this first year but it’s okay, I did not kill my tree! And I’ve got another little tree and several cuttings (and now a second older tree) on the way. I’ll be well armed going forward.

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge, insight, and experience. And if anyone comes along and thinks oh, right, I already knew that, fine. More likely, though, is that they are suffering from the Dunning-Kruger effect & think they know more than they do and that’s a great barrier to learning.

Sorry to be so wordy but you aren’t just someone who demonstrates oh, here, put this tree in this pot, use this soil, water this way, etc. You are a deep thinker, you are delving into why we are doing what we are doing. Not everyone operates, or wants to operate, at that level but we need people like you because that knowledge is going to help people grow better trees.

Eating fresh figs is one of life’s great pleasures and most North Americans don’t get to have that experience. Those who have had it don’t want to have to travel to Europe or the Middle East to have that experience again. Eating good figs is a moment of bliss. You may think you’re teaching people to grow figs but you’re doing more than that. You are making the world a better place by stimulating people’s curiosity and making them happy.

I’ll shut up now. I probably say too much but I have to share the joy and insight I am getting from your videos. Thank you.

P.S. I know that LSU does fig breeding but are there researchers looking into these things? And doing fig genetics? Just curious.

[h.roycappel]

Ross, this was one of the most important videos I've heard on the subject. I live in Maryland. I've noticed in recent years that my figs get about 8 hours of light. In years pass it was more like 10 hours. For last couple of years my tree (8-10') has produced almost no figs. In the Spring I wrote you about the late frost that killed a good portion of the tree. You recommended cutting back the stems to 4 stems (I had about 15). Wish I could send you a picture. The remaining stems have grown to 10' (with leaves on top, and few in the middle). Hardly a fig to be seened. I was encouraged to hear that you cut your figs back to 6". Should tell you my Chicago fig tree is over 10 years old. My last point is that it seems like all the stems I cut off are bushing up again.

[Iloveorganicgardening]

Thanks Ross. That's a lot to think about. LOL the last tree on my recent fig tour video I pruned down heavily last fall to a single stem open center. It looks like it's going to be my most productive tree this year. That is in line with what you are talking about.. I think it is a Celeste fig. I am also zone 7B

[anthonyg]

Hi Ross. Thanks, this was one of your best and most informative videos. I have a quick question. I took cuttings from my father’s fig tree last summer. The tree was originally brought over from Italy and I put the cuttings in containers. They are now about 3 feet tall and I want to put them in ground. QUESTION: It’s now late August so should I do it soon or should I do it later in the year? PS: I’m in zone 7B and I have no where to store them indoors over the winter. Thank you.

[frankliao]

Nice video Ross. Common sense? A great reminder of why we plant these trees. It's to get the prize in the end.

[Videomagicshow]

Excellent information. I think I might start training one of my fig trees into low cordons against a wooden fence. I might have to figure out a different system to winterize it.

[minfeng]

Thank you for sharing the information, It helps a lot!

[ednasidun]

I noticed you have figs planted very near your home. I would like to do the same thing but all the literature I find say 20 ft away as the roots are invasive and can crack cement...driveways or foundation. Do you find this is not true if you keep your figs under 8ft.?

[sampk]

Hi Ross, Could you please give me the details about that book? Than you so much.

[theporchorchard]

This got me thinking about the "screen of green" or SCROG method being used on figs. It uses horizontal netting to maximize shoot spacing and to keep the canopy at the same height to maximize light coverage. Don't ask me where I learned about it ;)

[HVACRTECH-]

It's not common sense but it does make sense for sure. You just dont think about it. I always would want my trees to grow nice and full but maybe that's not the best idea. Thinning is key to a certain extent. Thanks ross

[nmeans]

Hey Ross, is there any way you could provide a list of the books you consider "must have" for fig cultivation? You always seem to mention a few you keep going back to for advice and I would love to be able to buy some to read for myself

[snowhero]

logic and my experience is too many strains will keep us from taking optimum care of them all... that doesn't stop me though. lol. thinning is also better for air flow and makes it easier to spot disease and pests. good video

[abalogh]

Hi Ross! Great information. We started growing Celeste figs here in South Texas. First year has been tough with the heat and humidity. Fig rust has been an issue and the tree gets 9-10 hours of sun and leaves look burned. Any advice for fig growing in South Texas? Thanks

[uyhgar]

They sell 4x8 sheets of insulation at home de'pot. That have aluminum siding you can use as a reflector to add light to your plants from a differant angle, also you could coat it in mylar. You can also cut it into pieces. Maybe creating a disk with a hole in the middle. Put it on the ground with fig poking threw the hole. Allow it to reflect light back up. Also you could put some reflectors on the side that can add more light to the disk on the ground from the side.