If you have a garden or if you like bonsai, you have surely already bought a fig tree. Maybe you even planted it hoping it would bear fruit. But, what to do so that the fig tree bears figs? Just plant it and that’s it?
If you have a fig tree and it does not give you figs, or it gives you figs but in the end they fall and never ripen to eat them, here we give you the main reasons why this happens and some tips to improve it.
Contents
Why the fig tree does not bear figs
We will start first by knowing what happens to your fig tree so that it does not bear fruit. Usually, Fig trees are very easy to care for and will almost always bear figs. The problem is that if we don’t follow the right conditions, as much as we want, we won’t get results.
These conditions can be:
age
Have you ever wondered how old the fig tree is? Trees have an active period and a non-active period. In other words, it will depend on your age whether you can produce figs or not.
When a fig tree is not old enough, it does not produce fruit., as it will not produce seeds either. In general, all fig trees up to 2 years old will not do anything. But that doesn’t mean that if after two years it doesn’t matter, it’s useless. Some can take up to 6 years to do.
On the other hand, if the fig tree is already very old, no matter how much you love it, its time has passed, and that means it does not bear figs.
Nitrogen
Another reason why the fig tree does not bear figs is too much nitrogen. This It may be because there is too much excess in the soil, although this usually happens due to the fertilizer you are using.
Check that you are using it correctly; try adding less quantity than the manufacturer suggests and even do without. These are some of the actions you can see to solve the fruit problem. Increasing phosphorus can also help.
Note that Nitrogen is mainly used for plant growthhave many leaves and branches… but do not affect the fruits.
poor irrigation
This is where almost all of us make mistakes. And sometimes we do it unconsciously. Fig trees have a greater ailment, called “water stress”. But what is it?
It is a situation to which the plant is subjected when there is an excess or a deficit of water. Which causes the fig tree stops producing figs, or if it does, it throws them away. Often in nurseries, more or less water is recommended (some will say that it needs a lot of water, and others that we don’t water it). Well, everything will depend on where you have it, weather, sunshine…
According to experts, to guarantee a production of figs it is necessary that, during the months of April and May, it is watered abundantly. And in the summer, don’t water it just because if you do, you might overflow it and throw it away.
bad ground
As a general rule, the earth in most cases has nothing to do with the problems for which the fig tree does not give figs. But when all of the above is excluded, you must analyze the soil the plant is in to find out if there is an excess or lack of nutrients who is responsible for the non-production of the fig tree.
What to do to make the fig tree bear figs
Now yes, we are going to see some common cases and what to do to make the fig tree bear figs. It’s not something magical, that is, you apply it and it works. Each plant is different and, whether because of its adaptation, the climate, or for any other reason, it may or may not react positively (it should not get worse).
Control the temperature
The first thing you will do is check the temperature and know if it is suitable for a fig tree. These need mild temperatures, yes, but also lots of sun. The more sun it gets the better as it will help in the production of figs.
If you live in an area with mild summers and cold winters, if the latter are very cold, you must protect the fig tree as it can be damaging due to the temperature.
good watering
The next important point to consider is irrigation. It is important to know how much your fig tree needs, and also, according to experts, and as we have already mentioned, it is important to help it produce figs. And that involves:
- that during the months of March, April and May it is advisable to water abundantlyalthough without falling into excess, so that it accumulates water and, with it, ensures the production of figs.
- What will discard the figs if it is under water stress. In other words, if you do not provide it with enough water to protect itself, it will prefer to sacrifice the fruit rather than damage the plant. And if he misses you more, he will do the same.
For this reason, it is recommended to irrigate abundantly before production and sparingly afterwards to avoid this problem.
Subscriber
Almost everyone will tell you that fig trees need to be fertilized to provide them with the nutrients they need. But is it really so? The truth is that unless have gaps in the ground (lack of phosphorus, nitrogen, etc.) the normal thing in a fig tree is not to pay for it.
To know whether you should do it or not, our recommendation is that buy a soil test kit (which is usually not very expensive) and check what your fig tree needs. This way you will be on the safe side and you can provide suitable fertilizer.
But, as we told you, the fig trees themselves do not need it.
a good size
Another of the actions you can perform for the fig tree to give figs is pruning. Often we think that if we cut branches, the only thing that will do is that there will be less production of figs. But when it gives you a hard time, it comes in handy. Even without giving them to you.
The pruning practiced may be for the purpose of obtaining a good harvest. To do this, you must cut off all dead, broken or diseased branches. It is best to clear the central area well so that air and sun can reach all parts of the plant.
Then, cut the branches that stick out vertically, because these are not suitable for you. It is better to leave the horizontal ones.
Now that you know what to do to make the fig tree bear figs, all you have to do is put it into practice and see if some of these tips are enough for your plant to have a positive result.