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Little fig-lets!

Janie BJanie B Posts: 963
in Plants
We have a potted brown turkey fig tree, from which we harvested several delicious figs this summer. The leaves are now starting to fall, and there are several little figs still on the branches. Should these be left in situ or removed? Does it matter either way? 

Many thanks.
Lincolnshire

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited October 2019
    If they are any bigger than a pea they are best removed otherwise the plant will waste energy trying to ripen them (it will fail to do that in the UK unless you keep the pot in the greenhouse all year.)  They only have one successful crop outdoors but can have two in a GH.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Janie BJanie B Posts: 963
    Cheers, Bob! 
    Lincolnshire
  • pwheatley2790040pwheatley2790040 Posts: 2
    Hi Bob, I have a potted brown turkey fig tree and I have discovered the roots have grown through the drainage hole into the ground! I have managed to cut the thick central route away and repotted with new compost. I'm hoping the tree survives and it is now on a flagstone. But that's not the problem. The roots have travelled for several feet under ground. I have cut away what I could but they are growing through building rubble and some go too deep for me to pull out. I'm just worried that they'll keep growing and new trees will develop. Could that happen? Many thanks.
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    Hi and welcome to the forum.
    I have had this happen a few times and have never known a fig tree regrow from some root left in the ground.
    With so much root removed from your plant it may be wise to cut it back during the dormant season (winter) as it will no longer have enough roots to support the top growth. Pruning during the growing season can cause the tree to "bleed ".
    They are tough plants and can seemingly take any amount of abuse.
  • pwheatley2790040pwheatley2790040 Posts: 2
    Thank you. I managed to dig more root out yesterday so hopefully that is the end of it underground. I had pruned it back quite hard about a month ago - now I understand why it was growing so much!! There are a couple of figlets that I'll remove and fingers crossed it will be ok.
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    As your fig is now on a hard surface, it would be wise to raise the pot up on pot feet (if you haven't already done so) to aid drainage. You don't have to use fancy ones; bricks will do or the black rubber ones that are available online. The latter sit just out of sight which is a bonus.
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