The Greek
Active member
I have a number of older trees (3-4 years old) that have had some excellent branch/leaf growth this season. All of them produced figlets around August 1, a bit later than I would like, and then on 9/1 they entered Stage 2 and just froze (no more swelling/growth). They should be entering Stage 3 any day now, but my fear is that most will not fully ripen before our first frost here in Georgia (end of October)
Some background info:
So my question is 2 parts:
1. First, am I doing something wrong? Should I change the nutrients/plant food?
Possible causes for a slowdown in the ripening process:
Nutrient Imbalance, such as excessive nitrogen
Water Stress: Both overwatering and underwatering can hinder fruit development. Consistent watering is crucial, especially during dry spells.
Sunlight: Insufficient sunlight can prevent fruit development. Ensure the tree receives adequate light.
Pests and Diseases: Issues like root-knot nematodes or Fig Mosaic
Or... maybe it's just normal because it's in Stage 2 for a bit
2. Second, are there any methods I can use to accelerate ripening, without hurting my trees?
I have seen the methods below online, but wanted to get advice from the community here as to what actually works and doesn't work well.
Summary of Common Tips I have seen:
1. Provide extra heat. Figs need an average daytime temperature of at least 60°F to ripen, so maintaining warmth is crucial for accelerating the process.
Place potted fig trees in warm locations like dark-colored driveways or next to brick walls, especially south-facing. Use temporary greenhouses or shelters to increase heat around the trees, especially in spring and fall.
2. Other methods:
- Pinch off the tips of branches in mid-September to redirect energy to ripening existing fruit.
- Remove the smallest, greenest figs furthest from the trunk to focus the tree's energy on ripening the remaining fruit.
- Reduce watering. Some arborists recommend reducing watering to encourage ripening, as overwatering can delay the process.
- Removing some leaves in late fall can hasten ripening by allowing more sunlight to reach the fruits.
I would love to hear your experiences on what has worked (or not worked). Any advice is greatly appreciated, thank you!
Some background info:
- All my trees got slow-release stuff in May: Osmocote, lime pellets, oyster shell
- I have always watered daily
- From May until Aug 1 - fertilized once a week with 1/2 dosage of MG AP soluble + Alaska fish + Liquid silica blast
- On 8/1 switched to once a week with MG Tomato (less N, more P and K) + Liquid Silica Blast
So my question is 2 parts:
1. First, am I doing something wrong? Should I change the nutrients/plant food?
Possible causes for a slowdown in the ripening process:
Nutrient Imbalance, such as excessive nitrogen
Water Stress: Both overwatering and underwatering can hinder fruit development. Consistent watering is crucial, especially during dry spells.
Sunlight: Insufficient sunlight can prevent fruit development. Ensure the tree receives adequate light.
Pests and Diseases: Issues like root-knot nematodes or Fig Mosaic
Or... maybe it's just normal because it's in Stage 2 for a bit
2. Second, are there any methods I can use to accelerate ripening, without hurting my trees?
I have seen the methods below online, but wanted to get advice from the community here as to what actually works and doesn't work well.
Summary of Common Tips I have seen:
1. Provide extra heat. Figs need an average daytime temperature of at least 60°F to ripen, so maintaining warmth is crucial for accelerating the process.
Place potted fig trees in warm locations like dark-colored driveways or next to brick walls, especially south-facing. Use temporary greenhouses or shelters to increase heat around the trees, especially in spring and fall.
2. Other methods:
- Pinch off the tips of branches in mid-September to redirect energy to ripening existing fruit.
- Remove the smallest, greenest figs furthest from the trunk to focus the tree's energy on ripening the remaining fruit.
- Reduce watering. Some arborists recommend reducing watering to encourage ripening, as overwatering can delay the process.
- Removing some leaves in late fall can hasten ripening by allowing more sunlight to reach the fruits.
I would love to hear your experiences on what has worked (or not worked). Any advice is greatly appreciated, thank you!
