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Poorly fig tree

Loz46Loz46 Posts: 103
in Fruit & veg
My mum has recently acquired a fig tree that looks like it could do with some improvement to say the least. She has never had a fig tree before and wondered if someone might be able to advise what she should do with this in order to give it a fighting chance!
Many thanks

Posts

  • Loz46Loz46 Posts: 103
    It is a Napolitana variety by the way.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    How big is the pot?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Loz46Loz46 Posts: 103
    Very small, 2 or 3 litres max!
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Bigger pot and plenty of water would be a good start😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Loz46Loz46 Posts: 103
    Sorry I was referring more to pruning, is it too late to do a hard prune?
  • Loz46Loz46 Posts: 103
    Also any idea of best soil would be appreciated 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Definitely a bigger pot - 15 or 20 litres for now then move it into a 40l or bigger in a couple of years.  Cut the dead shoot tips off now (to prevent any diseases spreading), back to a healthy part of the stem, just above a bud.  Hopefully, it will then produce enough new leaves to get back to a healthy state this year.  Next Feb, follow the normal pruning routine:

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Loz46Loz46 Posts: 103
    Thank you very much for your response Bob, very kind of you 😊
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Loz46 said:
    Also any idea of best soil would be appreciated 

    I use a John Innes #3 with about 20% well-rotted manure (the bagged stuff from a GC) and about 20% grit added.  They need something loam (soil) based, so don't use MPC.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • UpNorthUpNorth Posts: 376
    i would just add if you 'pot on' from small to huge, then careful not to over water.  particularly right now with so few leaf, it doesn't have much need for water.
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