Tag: ficus carica fig tree

Ficus carica edible fig tree could be the next ‘most valuable’ addition to your yard. These trees are easy to grow, very decorative, have a rich history (mentioned numerous times in the Bible), and provide one of the most prized delicacies – fresh figs. If you have never thought about planting figs in your garden, read on for all the good reasons you should do so.

Figs are a little different from most fruit trees. First of all, they don’t grow very tall, although venerable ones might have many branches and provide dense shade. However, most figs are little trees (some say shrubs) that don’t shade out their neighbors, will grow in partial shade (but bear less fruit), and can tolerate a variety of soils. Pruning is rarely necessary.

The fruit itself is not even actually a fruit but part of the stem. (Try telling that to those who consider a ripe fig a true treasure, though.) What most people consider the fruit has a very short shelf life, so figs are seldom sold in produce departments of grocery stores. That is why it is so wonderful to have them growing right outside your door.

If you have deep, rich soil, lots of sun, and live in a temperate zone (neither exceptionally hot or cold), you have the ideal place for figs. If your region has hot summers and sandy soil – as in the sand hills of North Carolina, for instance – figs will love it there. If you have poor, rocky soil and warm summers, you can probably find a variety of common fig that will thrive.

Figs love stream beds but do OK on dry slopes and are notoriously drought resistant. Figs are deep-rooted, which enables them to find water underground in areas of little rainfall. They love sun and need it to produce abundant fruit, but will grow in shadier areas. They are known for distinctive, deeply-lobed leaves and graceful branches. They are easy to propagate; cuttings set in moist sand seem to want to grow. You can also bury a low-hanging branch in soil and separate it from the parent tree after it has rooted.

One thing that makes figs perhaps unique among fruiting trees is that deer will not eat them. Maybe in the most severe drought conditions when deer are desperate, you might find that your fig leaves are nibbled, but most gardeners have never experienced damage to their figs. This makes them truly valuable for those who are desperate for deer-resistant landscaping.

There are some varieties of common figs, Brown Turkey for one, which do not need pollination. Since the plant has an unusual structure with an internal flower, this is a plus. This variety is hardy in many areas as far north as Washington, DC in the US. Figs should be given as much shelter as possible; near a house or garden wall that faces south is a good location.

Ficus carica edible fig tree is fun to grow, seldom disappoints, and makes a beautiful addition to any yard or garden. Look for it in catalogs, garden centers, and nurseries.

Home gardeners – whether preferring landscaping and flowers or vegetables and fruit – should be aware of the many attractions of Ficus carica edible fig tree. Easy to grow, very decorative, suited to many different kinds of soil, and hardy to most temperate zones, figs are winners that you should not ignore when planning your garden.

Many people do not want to fool with fruit trees in their yard, because they don’t want to prune or to deal with too much fruit that attracts critters and insects when it falls and rots on the ground. Figs do not grow very tall, so there is no need to worry about having to prune them to reach the fruit – at least for many years. They also bear only a little fruit – two crops a year – and figs are so delicious that there is little chance of them being left to fall to the ground.

They do not cast a dense shade unless they are truly venerable trees growing in ideal conditions. There is little fear of them overwhelming neighboring plants, and they mature at about nineteen feet in height. Both the leaves and the bark are very decorative, and the plants are distinctive and graceful.

Figs grow best in full sun, but will thrive in partial or light shade – although fruit may not be abundant unless the tree gets enough sun. They like deep, rich soil and moist areas but grow also in dry, sandy areas and in poor, rocky soils. They are hardy in many zones, especially if planted where walls can shelter them from harsh winter winds.

One of the best features of fig trees is that deer do not eat them, even when the plants are young and tender. Figs growing along deer trails or in meadows where deer roam every evening never seem to be nibbled on. This feature alone should make them world-famous. Add in delicious (and extremely perishable) fresh figs and you have an outstanding plant for the home garden.

Propagation is easy, too, so you can start with one fig and end up with several. Cuttings root well in sand and transplant with remarkable success, as long as they are kept moist for the first two or three years. You can also root lower branches by securing them to the soil or burying a section of a branch. When roots are well established, separate the branch and move it to its new location.

Several varieties of common figs do not need to be pollinated, so you can start with one plant and see how long it takes you to want to have a lot more. Brown Turkey is one such variety, and it is also among the hardier and most productive trees. This variety is easy to find at garden centers, nurseries, and in catalogs.

The Ficus carica edible fig tree is a very rewarding plant as well as a beautiful one. One or more should really be in every garden both for delicious fruit and distinctive beauty.

If you are looking for a small, decorative tree for your garden, you might consider the Ficus carica edible fig tree. It has an exotic appearance, a graceful shape, bears delicious fruit, and will not overwhelm its space or its neighbors. It is mentioned in the Bible and other ancient texts and thrives in many different zones and soils.

Figs do not grow very tall, with about nineteen feet being the average. They take a few decades to reach this sort of height, and young trees bear long before they get very large or cast a dense shade. Their branches and deeply-lobed leaves are very decorative and distinctive, so they are attractive even during the first year you plant them. Large fig trees are beautiful because of the pale, smooth bark of their branches, so pruning is seldom either necessary or desirable. The natural shape of the tree is extremely graceful.

The trees will grow in light or partial shade, but full sun is best if you want abundant fruit. The figs, green or brownish purple, are delicious and come twice during the summer season. Actually what is called the fruit is really part of the stem, but whatever it is, it is memorable. Since fresh figs do not last very long after being picked, the best way to get this delicacy is to grow it in your own garden.

People who live in temperate zones can grow figs successfully outdoors. These trees – some say shrubs – like deep, rich soil but grow and bear happily in dry, sandy soils and in rocky, poor soils. They send roots deep into the ground and can find water underground, which makes them remarkably drought tolerant. From the mountains of Virginia to the sand hills of North Carolina and on south, figs have become favorite additions to family orchards and gardens.

Another fabulous thing about figs is that deer, those voracious marauders that eat almost anything (especially what you most want them to leave alone) do not like figs. People say that in times of severe drought deer will eat anything, but you can be sure that your figs will be among the last plants to go. This feature alone makes them truly valuable.

Propagation is easy if you want to turn one tree into many. Cuttings thrive when started in sand and kept moist over the first two years of life. Low-hanging branches can be pegged to the soil and rooted. Just separate the rooted branch off the parent plant, replant it and keep it well-watered, and you’ll have a new, fairly mature plant almost instantly.

Many varieties of the common fig do not even need to be pollinated – only one kind of wasp does this task – and many are hardy to areas with occasional drastic dips in temperature. The Brown Turkey variety has both of these traits and produces an abundance of delicious fruit as well.

Look for Ficus carica in nurseries, garden centers, and catalogs. They are not even very expensive. Fun to grow, very attractive, and very hardy, this immigrant from the Near East is worth having in your yard.