So, having pruned my fig hard, I can now expect no figs this year! At least I shall know why, thank you Dove!
Incidentally, a couple of years ago, I planted my pot-grown fig sapling into the ground, in a special root control bag which I bought from the catalogue of a prominent fruit grower beginning with P (I don't know if I can mention their name here). The bag restricts the growth, which is just as well, as the fig's planted against a sheltered south-west facing fence,so would romp away given half the chance. Much easier to dig a hole for a bag, rather than manhandling slabs of concrete, etc. Generally, the fig fruits well, but possibly not this year!
Morning all from erein Norfolk Im watching Kate putting Pampas grass int a big varse which up till yesterday looked great in the garden till the winds arrived and flattened half of them, Right im following this chat as iv got a three foot Turkey to fig pit this year, as advised by Dove she,s asleep in a pot in the greenhouse (fig) all wrapped up snug with lots of very tiny not even pea size fruit which as they grow later i have decided to remove so it consentrates on just settleing for the first year in the pit then let it go after that. also got 5 good cuttings for pots and an older bigish tree that im told never fruits so a one third and 3 year plan on that one with loads of cuttings as i do it,i see 8 inch fig plants around in the shops costing far too much,when im back in action ill put up how many new turkeys i have and anyone passing us erein Mundesley will be welcome to a coffee and a fig, a pressy
Thank you Dove, I know have a plan of action - when the rain stops, if it ever does, I will go out and pick all the fruit off and hopefully will have a good supply of new fruits later. I am now worried that I have planted it without restricting root growth, there is the house on one side, patio on another and fence on the other. Do I need to restrict it any more?
Denise - mine is in a square terracotta pot 16" x 16" x 16" - as my fig tree is a small one I've filled the bottom third of the pot with chunks of polystyrene packaging. As it gets bigger and needs repotting in a few years' time, I'll remove the polystyrene. It will stay in that pot for ever, no matter how big the top gets - the roots will be pruned if need be.
If you think you've given yours too much root room I'd dig down around it and place some concrete type paving slabs around the sides so that it feels as if it's in a pot.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I forgot to say - the reason I wanted the fig in a bag in the ground, rather than in a pot above ground, was because I'm not very good at remembering to water my plants. At least in the ground it has a better chance of not drying out.
Fig trees and whether to remove overwintering figs were discussed on Gardeners Question Time this afternoon. Bob Flowerdew was of the opinion that if your fig has escaped being frosted this winter, it might be worthwhile to leave the middle-sized figs on and they will then grow and ripen early this coming summer. But that is only because we've had such a mild winter. In normal winters it would've been better for them to be removed.
If you didn't hear it you can 'Listen Again'.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Good job its been wet and windy all afternoon (didn't think I would ever say that) I might try leaving them on the tree then and hope for a early crop.
Morning all,im wondering if its worth chancing leaving the figs on, as a late frost would set you back to hoping for a second crop after youv cleared the frost damage ones,have i got this right as this is all very new to me, the time and tested way of removing over pea size to me seems safer
Posts
So, having pruned my fig hard, I can now expect no figs this year! At least I shall know why, thank you Dove!
Incidentally, a couple of years ago, I planted my pot-grown fig sapling into the ground, in a special root control bag which I bought from the catalogue of a prominent fruit grower beginning with P (I don't know if I can mention their name here). The bag restricts the growth, which is just as well, as the fig's planted against a sheltered south-west facing fence,so would romp away given half the chance. Much easier to dig a hole for a bag, rather than manhandling slabs of concrete, etc. Generally, the fig fruits well, but possibly not this year!
Morning all from erein Norfolk Im watching Kate putting Pampas grass int a big varse which up till yesterday looked great in the garden till the winds arrived and flattened half of them, Right im following this chat as iv got a three foot Turkey to fig pit this year, as advised by Dove she,s asleep in a pot in the greenhouse (fig) all wrapped up snug with lots of very tiny not even pea size fruit which as they grow later i have decided to remove so it consentrates on just settleing for the first year in the pit then let it go after that. also got 5 good cuttings for pots and an older bigish tree that im told never fruits so a one third and 3 year plan on that one with loads of cuttings as i do it,i see 8 inch fig plants around in the shops costing far too much,when im back in action ill put up how many new turkeys i have and anyone passing us erein Mundesley will be welcome to a coffee and a fig, a pressy
good luck all
Good morning Alan
and Kate 
Just as well you're laid up or I'd be suspecting you of artistic endeavours on your beach walks http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/do_you_know_who_created_overstrand_s_shore_horse_1_3319261
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
wow thats good and we need things like this to cheer us up well done shore horse
Thank you Dove, I know have a plan of action - when the rain stops, if it ever does, I will go out and pick all the fruit off and hopefully will have a good supply of new fruits later. I am now worried that I have planted it without restricting root growth, there is the house on one side, patio on another and fence on the other. Do I need to restrict it any more?
Denise - mine is in a square terracotta pot 16" x 16" x 16" - as my fig tree is a small one I've filled the bottom third of the pot with chunks of polystyrene packaging. As it gets bigger and needs repotting in a few years' time, I'll remove the polystyrene. It will stay in that pot for ever, no matter how big the top gets - the roots will be pruned if need be.
If you think you've given yours too much root room I'd dig down around it and place some concrete type paving slabs around the sides so that it feels as if it's in a pot.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I forgot to say - the reason I wanted the fig in a bag in the ground, rather than in a pot above ground, was because I'm not very good at remembering to water my plants. At least in the ground it has a better chance of not drying out.
Fig trees and whether to remove overwintering figs were discussed on Gardeners Question Time this afternoon. Bob Flowerdew was of the opinion that if your fig has escaped being frosted this winter, it might be worthwhile to leave the middle-sized figs on and they will then grow and ripen early this coming summer. But that is only because we've had such a mild winter. In normal winters it would've been better for them to be removed.
If you didn't hear it you can 'Listen Again'.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Good job its been wet and windy all afternoon (didn't think I would ever say that) I might try leaving them on the tree then and hope for a early crop.
Morning all,im wondering if its worth chancing leaving the figs on, as a late frost would set you back to hoping for a second crop after youv cleared the frost damage ones,have i got this right as this is all very new to me, the time and tested way of removing over pea size to me seems safer