<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 10: Fig Tree Diseases <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Fig trees are susceptible to plant diseases like viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Check on your plants every week for signs of illness. Here are the primary pathogens affecting fig trees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fig rust \u2013 If you notice the leaves on the tree starting to turn orange in color, it\u2019s a sign of this disease. If left unmanaged, the leaves may begin to droop and curl. Treat the tree with copper-based fungicides to remove the rust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anthracnose \u2013 This fungal disease causes brown and black spotting on the leaves, resulting in the yellowing and wilting of the foliage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fig mosaic virus \u2013 This pathogen causes the development of spots on foliage, and its typically spread by mites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aspergillosis \u2013 If this fungus enters your tree, it rots your figs from the inside out, and the tree begins to shed all its leaves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Endosepsis \u2013 Spread by a pollinating wasp. The pest enters the fig and lays eggs, and then dies. A fungus grows on the wasp\u2019s body, infecting the tree, the fruit, and the ground. Dig up the tree and discard, and don\u2019t plant in the soil for the next 12-months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 11: Fig Tree Pests <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Diseases are not the only problem growers must deal with during the fruiting season. Fig trees also attract a variety of pests that can ruin your tree and prevent it from fruiting. Here are the top pests found in fig tree plantations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most severe pest threating your fig tree is the borer beetle. This insect lays eggs near the base of the branch on the tree. The eggs hatch after two weeks and the bugs feed on the tree bark before growing to a big enough size to start boring into the tree trunk or branches. Once the beetles tunnel into the tree, it’s challenging to remove them, and you may have to squirt insecticide down the tunnel to kill the insects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prevent the boring beetles from laying their eggs on the tree, by encircling the lower half of branches with shade cloth. Make sure the shade cloth does not touch the branches, as the beetle will still lay the eggs on the bark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 12: Fig Companion Plants <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Figs are short but bushy trees, and you can increase the attractiveness of your garden by planting companions around your fig to liven up the landscape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marigolds \u2013 Planting these pretty flowers around the base of the fig helps you to protect the tree against insect invaders like boring beetles and nematodes found in the soil around the bottom of the tree. Marigolds attract beneficial insects and pollinators to your fig while protecting it from nasty bugs that could kill your tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rhododendron \u2013 The shallow root system of these plants do not compete with the fig tree for space. This plant produces bright, colorful flowers in the spring and summer that contrast beautifully with your fig. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rue \u2013 The bright yellow flowers of this plant attract pollinators to the garden while repelling flies and Japanese beetles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strawberries \u2013 Grow a batch of these berries underneath your fig tree. The mulch for your strawberries helps to retain moisture in the ground around the fig, and the perennial nature of the plant means that you don\u2019t have to disturb the soil around the base of the tree after the fruiting season finishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 13: Why Does My Fig Tree Not Produce Fruit? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Fig trees require maturity to produce fruit. If you are expecting your tree to bear figs in its first two years after germinating, then you are better off buying a mature tree that is already over 5-years old. In some cases, it may take up to 6-years for fig trees to reach a state where they consistently produce fruit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first one or two crops produced by your tree may yield small or bitter fruit. However, if you persist with maintaining and caring for your tree, it will eventually produce sweet, ripe figs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another common reason for figs failing to produce any fruit is an over-presence of nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen keeps the fig tree in the growth phase, preventing it from flowering. Take a soil sample to your local nursery for analysis, and make adjustments to your growing medium depending on the results of the test. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your tree does not receive sufficient water, then it may also fail to produce any fruit. Make sure your water once or twice a week to ensure your fig remains happy and hydrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 14: Growing Figs in Containers <\/h3>\n\n\n\n As we mentioned previously, it\u2019s possible to grow figs in containers or pots. The roots system for the fig tree requires a reasonably large container when it starts to mature, However, growing in small containers, around 50-gallons or so, will allow you to produce a dwarf fig tree that still manages to yield fruit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This growth strategy makes it possible to grow figs in colder climates where they may perish in the first year of life. Growing your plants indoors for the first year helps to harden the tree against environmental stress when you transplant it outdoors during the following season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After planting the tree using the same fertilizer and mulch you would with outdoor planting, place the pot in a sunny area of the yard that receives full sunlight throughout the day. Move the pot indoors to a protected area of the garden during the evening, and then take it back into the sun the following morning. If you want to grow in containers, we suggest you use a pot with wheels, as the tree can get heavy, especially after watering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 15: Pruning Your Fig Tree <\/h3>\n\n\n\n After your fig takes root and starts to grow, you don\u2019t have to worry about pruning for the first year of life. However, after the plant successfully yields fruit, you can start the pruning process to increase harvest yield the following season. Figs don\u2019t require any training, and a good pair of pruning scissors is all you need to get the job done right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the plant begins to bear fruit in the spring, trim back all of the non-producing heads. You can also use a shovel to chop off all of the suckers that sprout from roots on the surface. It\u2019s a straightforward process to propagate your fig tree, and you don\u2019t even need to go to the hassle of making cuttings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bend one of the lower branches of the tree to the ground and tie it down into position. Cover the tip with soil and wait for a few weeks for it to root, then chop it off and plant in a container. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n