Fig tree: care, calendar, diseases
Everything to care for a home fig tree: when to prune, graft, spot diseases, and ensure pollination.
fig tree care calendar
| Period | Task |
|---|---|
| March | Check for frost damage and dead wood |
| June | Check soil moisture during heatwaves |
| September | Check ripeness and organise the harvest |
fig tree pollination
The fig tree is generally self-fertile: a single tree is enough to bear fruit. Learn more about pollination.
Pruning and grafting the fig tree
Prune
- Prune lightly in late winter, away from frost: figs fruit mainly on the previous year's wood.
- Remove dead wood, crossing shoots and frost-damaged parts.
- In summer, pinch young shoots back to 4-5 leaves to encourage figs to form.
Graft
- Figs are usually propagated by cuttings or layering rather than grafting.
- If grafting, use healthy wood and a variety suited to the local climate.
- Protect the young plant from cold in its first years.
Figs are sensitive to hard frost; the milky sap (latex) irritates skin and eyes.
fig tree diseases and pests
Aphids likelySmall insects, curled leaves and sticky honeydew point to an aphid attack.…Chlorosis (deficiency, often iron)Leaves yellow between veins that stay green, mainly on young shoots: not a contagious dise…Scale insectsSmall fixed bumps on the bark or stems, sticky honeydew and a black deposit (sooty mould):…Collar rot (Phytophthora)A dark ooze at the base of the trunk and general decline: a soil fungus attacks the collar…Water stress (lack of water)Dry leaf edges, soft foliage in the heat and early leaf drop: the tree is short of water, …
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