Fig, he is a fig tree, he is a fig tree - this is a southern plant that prefers to grow where it is warm. However, Russian gardeners are not afraid of the upcoming difficulties, and they began to try to plant it not only on the windowsill, but also on the plots. It should be noted that this is an extremely interesting experience, so read, gain theoretical knowledge and try it - it is extremely interesting.
Plant features
Before growing a seedling for planting, it’s nice to ask what figs are. Growing this wonderful berry at home requires careful attention and great patience. An adult plant suffers patiently enough to lower the temperature in winter to -20 degrees, but it will not yield more than one crop per year, while in the tropics the fruits are taken three times a year. Of course, for our conditions this is an unrealistic figure, however, in order for the tree to grow and the fruits to ripen, it is necessary to pay maximum attention to ensure that the plant receives enough heat. Only in this way can you get delicious figs by autumn. Growing a large number of tropical fruits at home is a very exciting process.
Gardeners tricks
It is clear that the usual planting method is not suitable here, the plant will endure one winter, and then freeze, as it will become too high. So you will not get fresh and amazingly healthy figs. Growing at home is usually limited to rooting the cuttings, after which the plant goes to the open ground. In order for the plant not only survived, but also brought a crop, it is necessary to choose not only the right place, but also use a special, trench planting method. Plus, you need to form a bush in a special way so that its branches do not freeze in winter cold. Let's start sorting everything in order. First of all, you will need to prepare a seedling that can be transferred to the garden.
Growing figs at home from seeds
The task is very difficult, which requires a lot of time and patience. Not every gardener agrees to wait 7-8 years before the first fruits ripen on the branches. However, if your interest in the plant is more creative, that is, you are interested in the process itself, then why not look at it, starting with small, tender shoots.
In order to get seed, you need to buy fresh or dried figs. Ripe fruits harvested on plantations have good germination seeds. Now you need to wait for spring and sow the seeds in the ground. Seeds are well washed, removing mucus from them, and laid out to dry. They plant seeds to a depth of 2 cm, water well and cover with a plastic bag. After about three weeks, provided that high humidity and air temperature are maintained, small figs will appear. Now your task is to gradually accustom plants to room temperature, and then harden, exposing them to the balcony first for several minutes and then hours. When the seedlings reach 10 cm in length, you can make a pick.
Growing figs with cuttings
This is a much faster way that figs reproduce well. Growing at home (the photo more clearly demonstrates this process) involves rooting cuttings and subsequent transplantation into a large pot or planting in open ground. Which is very convenient, because the branches for cuttings can be cut at any time of the year, so if your friends gathered in warm places, ask them to bring shoots with them, wrapping them in a damp cloth.
The resulting cuttings need to be prepared for planting by making an oblique cut. On the bark, you need to make several longitudinal incisions, it is from here that the roots will grow. Now dip the stalk in water for several hours so that milky juice comes out. In parallel, it is necessary to disinfect the soil with a strong solution of potassium permanganate, after which the cuttings are planted to a depth of 5 cm. 1 cm of sand is poured on top, and the container is covered with a jar or polyethylene. After about a month, you will see the first young leaves, and after another month, the figs will be ready for transplantation. About a year later, it will be possible to enjoy the first fruits.
Potted figs
A young plant can spend about 12 months in a pot, during which time its root system will grow significantly, and it will be necessary to transplant it. It should be noted that transplanting immediately into a large pot inhibits its development, therefore, it is necessary to shake the plant out of the pot annually, examine its roots and select a new one. The pot should interfere with the root system and leave some more room for its growth and development. An adult plant (usually six-year-old planting) stops in its development, now you can transplant them every 5-6 years.
If other subtleties that allow you to grow good figs. Home care and cultivation must exactly meet the requirements of a tropical plant. When planting, the root neck does not penetrate, and the plant itself is located in the brightest place, it needs to be provided with good watering.
Another surprise: this is a deciduous plant, which means that with the onset of autumn, it will be necessary to provide it with a rest period. It is best to reduce the temperature to +5 degrees, if this is not possible, then until spring, put it in a dark place and reduce watering. Watering is done with cool water and only slightly so that the soil does not dry out.
Spring awakening
We keep talking about figs. Growing at home (reviews say it is not as difficult as it seems) becomes much more interesting with the advent of spring. With the advent of the first buds, the plant is transferred to a bright place and watering is increased. At the same time, it is necessary to feed it with nitrogen fertilizer. In the future, this procedure must be repeated twice a month. The second and third can be carried out using nitrogen fertilizers, and then you need to use complex.
Pruning
Figs are still a tree, so if you do not care about the formation of the crown, it extends to the very ceiling. Every spring, preferably before the buds appear, you need to cut the shoots directed inward, as well as pinch the tops. However, remember that you cannot touch the horizontal branches, it is on them that the fruits are formed. Most often they form a crown in the form of a fan, it is very simple. The fruits of the first harvest are formed on last year's shoots around the beginning of summer.
Proper landing in the open ground
In fact, growing the southern fig tree in the northern regions is not an easy task. That is why many do not undertake to grow figs. Growing at home, diseases and various difficulties, the risk of losing the plant in the cold winter - all this is a weighty argument in order to plant a plant adapted to our conditions. However, there are among gardeners and those who are not afraid of difficulties. So that the plant grows well, it is planted in deep trenches. In this case, the place should be the sunniest and warmest on the entire site. It is very good if from the south this place will be open, and all other sides will be covered with brick walls or trees. This will create a unique microclimate.
Digging a trench
Now you have to work, growing figs at home depends on it. In open ground, you need to dig a strip one and a half meters deep. At the same time, remove the top layer, it is the most fertile, and discard in one direction, we will use it to create a substrate. We dump the lower layer, which is poor in nutrients, to the north side, forming an earthen rampart. Width is approximately one meter. In this case, the southern wall must be made smooth downhill. Now fill up the drainage layer, and on top - the nutrient substrate mixed with humus and vermicompost, while the depth of the pit is reduced by about 100 cm.
Additional heating
We have already emphasized that figs are extremely thermophilic. Therefore, it will not be superfluous not only to preserve, but also to increase summer heat. For this, the southern slope is covered with trench black film, and the northern slope is strengthened with painted white boards or metal. During the day, the wall accumulates heat, and at night gives it away. In winter, with proper shelter, the figs will be completely protected from frost, as the soil freezes by no more than one meter. Thus, figs winter well and produce crops. Such planting allows you to create almost tropical conditions, which means to grow not only figs, but also pomegranates, laurels and tangerines.