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Apricots and Figs
OH has just bought me an apricot tree and a fig tree. We have never had either before and would be grateful for any advice on caring for them. They are both under cover at the moment but will both be in pots on a south-facing patio. Thanks for any help you can give me.
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Two plants which require very different planting treatment. Peaches and Apricots need feeding and covering with fleece or fine gauze to keep the rain off the leaves to prevent the dreaded leaf curl. (Bright red blisters on the surface of the leaves, carried in the air and rain) Figs need to have their roots confined and a poor soil, also regular pruning to keep them under control as when happy they grow into very large multi stemmed trees.
They will both enjoy the S. facing wall but the apricot will need plenty of water to keep it going, the fig will not.
I can only speak for my apricot, as i havent got a fig yet, pretty much the same advice as Joyce has said, but i think it depends on what variety of apricot you have as mine hasnt suffered with leaf curl, the peaches i grow have. The best advice i could give is to get as big a pot possible for your apricot as i spent most of last summer watering it, its now in one of those humungus flexi trugs with holes punched in the bottom. Some people also advocate hand pollenation as there arent many things about early in the year
I have my Brown Turkey fig in a large (20"x20"x20") square terracotta pot in a south-facing corner of the terrace. It's in John Innes loam-based potting mix with added horticultural grit as it needs a very free-draining mix - however I find that despite this it needs plenty of water in dry spells as otherwise the leaves turn yellow and drop off.
My mother in law has an apricot she planted a few years ago against a south-facing wall in an 8" channel between her patio and the wall - she virtually ignores it, hacks it back occasionally, never feeds it or pollinates it or protects it in any way and each year it's covered in delicious fruit. It must be something to do with being in Lincolnshire
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
A belated thanks to you all for this much needed advice. Like Dove, my fig is Brown Turkey. The apricot is Moorpark. I'm hoping it's a good variety for our British climate. I'm in Suffolk, so not that far from Lincolnshire. Fingers crossed!
I'm from Suffolk - whereabouts (roughly) are you? If you don't mind my asking
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'm in Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft, Dove. Where are you?
I'm between Norwich and the A47, not far from the UEA
You'll have to join in some of our East Anglian outings to visit gardens in the summer
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I work at the UEA and drive the A47 every day, so know your neck of the woods well. I'm really keen to join the garden visits. I visited East Ruston last year. It was quite late in the season but still plenty to see.
What a small world!!!
Waitrose is our corner shop 
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Really? A small world, indeed. You mean the Eaton Waitrose? I often call in there, and it's handy having the Laura Ashley. Are you actually in Suffolk? You must be very near the border.