What are the advantages and disadvantages of having one in the garden?
Advantages
- Resists drought without problemsI can tell you that we have one in the garden, and it takes care of itself (it falls 350 mm annually). However, during the first year, it's important to water it occasionally to strengthen its roots. To find out how much and how to properly water your fig tree, we recommend consulting How much should I water my fig tree?.
- Can be reproduced by cuttings: this means that from a single copy we can obtain several. When? Late winter.
- Produces two types of fruits: the fig, which ripens at the end of summer, and the fig, which is a fig that finishes ripening in spring.
- Can be pottedIn fact, some people even dare to grow it as a bonsai. It recovers well from pruning, making it a very attractive plant to decorate a patio or terrace. To learn more about growing it in a pot, visit How to plant a fig tree in a pot.
Disadvantages
- It is a tree that can be quite dirty: during the autumn and winter the leaves and the fruits that have not been collected fall. For this reason, it should not be planted near the pool or the terrace or patio.
- You have to prune it: At the end of winter, it's time to prune it to control its growth. Otherwise, its branches will spread too far, giving it a straggly appearance. To do this, you'll want to know how to prune a fig tree.
- The roots are invasive: They can easily break concrete floors and pipes. Therefore, they should be placed as far away as possible (at least 10 meters) from any buildings. To prevent root problems, consult a doctor. The roots of the fig tree and its dangers.
In fact, yes and it is less than a meter from the sidewalk and it is more than 20 years old, nothing ever happened with the roots. I guess I was lucky.
The type of soil must be alkaline (basic) or acidic?
Hello Victor.
The FIG tree (ficus carica) grows in alkaline soil.
Regards!
That of the roots is not true, I have 5 fig trees less than 5 meters from my house and without any problem.
Good afternoon,
They gave me a fig tree years ago and it does not grow well, in fact very little.
It is in the garden, in the sun and for a few years it has had leaves but no fruits.
Last summer he had a couple of figs, but when they were like a chickpea they fell off.
In summer we water it when we see that the leaves get sad, but it ends up losing them, then it sprouts again, the poor thing tries.
Can the soil lack calcium? from what I read here it is easy to take care of but I can't.
I have an old pear tree and a 7 year old cherry that go well.
Ah, I forgot to tell you that we are near the Montseny in Barcelona
Thank you
Hi Joaquin.
The fig tree (Ficus carica) grows in alkaline and clay soil. But living in the Mediterranean region, you should do fine as you say.
My advice is that you fertilize it, in spring and summer, with chicken manure (but be careful, it must be dry). You put some around the trunk and mix it with the soil. Once a month.
If you do not notice improvement, you tell us.
Greetings.