I get a weekly newspaper that includes a section with various reports from growers around the state.  Last week's paper (June 18, 2014) included a report from a commercial fig grower in Merced County (I'd guess farm location to be about 50 miles north of Fresno, perhaps in Chowchilla area).

I find it interesting on how this grower reports the absence of water as "bringing on" the crop.  

no surprise there... in Mediterranean, they never water them.

Aaron, many things are done around the world out of convenience and tradition, even if it is not optimal.  Grapes are often dryland farmed but the vast majority of vineyards in California are irrigated and produce larger crops of high quality fruit, though of less intense flavor than dryland farmed grapes.  The complete absence of soil moisture would likely lead to very small figs so I'm sure there is a balance as to the appropriate soil moisture level.

Interesting a bit counterintuitive. Nice read, Harvey.

Harvey... one thing we all see in Mediterranean Fig Tree pictures is that they all have some typical semi-deserd (mosaic-like) moss growing on their barks... these moss are very flat in nature and varies in coloration according to the age... green/light green/yellow/orange/rust and dark brown...looks like mosaic of colors on the bark.
Ever guessed why they are on the tree barks?

because in Mediterranean, the moisture touches any surface and runs down, example: if you had some plastic patio furniture on the veranda at summer time, the sweat like water will run down and create pool of water on the floor.  Same thing with trees, the moisture will run down and go to the roots through the trunk. So, it's not that the trees don't get water at all, they don't get water from farmers. Mother nature find different ways to take care of it's babies.

Edit: here's a type of moss that grows on trees and rocks of Mediterranean.

 

This is a topic that has been and will be argued for decades.  Many growers say the best wine, the best coffee beans, and the best figs are dry farmed.  It does stand to reason because when a plant thinks it might die, it does it's best to throw all the best into it's fruit (fruit is the natural mode of reproduction).  I doubt a fig tree knows that it's cuttings will grow, or the same with grapevines.  Many growers withhold water during non-drought times to fool the plant into thinking it better put all it's energy into making fruit.

Also commercial growers have a different slant on things than hobby growers.  There is one winery in Australia that withholds water till the vines droop, then they water until the vines perk up, and then withhold again.  This makes some very sweet grapes, and the sweeter the grape the better the wine.  With figs, because they dry them, they probably want the figs rich, not watery. 

I realized that it needs to be said that commercial growers grow IN GROUND trees and plants.  When a tree is stuck in a pot, you can't expect it to live without water for sure. 

Suzi

Aaron said:  "Edit: here's a type of moss that grows on trees and rocks of Mediterranean."

Those are not mosses, those are lichens. They are not related at all.

As for  "the sweat like water will run down and create pool of water on the floor.  Same thing with trees, the moisture will run down and go to the roots through the trunk. So, it's not that the trees don't get water at all, they don't get water from farmers. Mother nature find different ways to take care of it's babies."

Guess you better tell everyone in the California drought they need not worry about their gardens.

Most fruits that are dry-farmed have more intense flavors because the fruits are smaller and sugars and other compounds are more concentrated.  That is not the same thing as the absence of water triggering fruit production.  In our dry Central Valley climate most fruit trees would drop their crop before maturity if they were not irrigated.  Most figs in the Central Valley are irrigated but I don't really know how much.  I know that some figs in the Middle East are also irrigated (some in Israel that I know of for sure).

Gina, I do believe withholding water can improve flavor.  I believe watching plant growth is a good signal for when water may be needed.  In our long growing season, I don't believe completely withholding water after spring would be a good idea because the crop season would be shortened since new figs continue to be produced on new growth.  In my own situation with a high water table, I don't think I'll be irrigating my new fig orchard once the trees are established (i.e, after the second year or so).

When this grower says that the lack of rain this past winter brought on the breba crop earlier perhaps it's an indication that the breba quit increasing in size and ripen earlier than if they continued with an ample supply of soil moisture.

I helped appraise a fig orchard for a real estate loan about 35 years ago but my memory of the cultural practices being used by that grower aren't very good.  I just recall a co-workers disgusting comment about figs that probably resulted in my shying away from them for a while.

Gina, I was referring to moisture conditions in Mediterranean and not here. Maybe you should wear your other glasses while reading.

Just because your climate is called Mediterranean doesn't mean you are in Greek Islands or France or Spain, there is a lot of humidity after 8PM in Mediterranean, I mean when you walk outside your skin will be sticky...your hair will curl up.
Sorry if I ticked your pain down there!

and... i'm not sure but maybe I chose the wrong picture for the fig moss... who knows. But they look like that except they are all over the old trunks of the Fig trees.

Although Moss and Lichen do not directly harm the tree,
their appearance on a tree is indicative of a tree with problems.

What you ASSume as some kind of positive indication,
is actually the opposite.

Same with water running down a tree trunk,
that is NOT how a tree captures water to nourish itself either.

Just because you dream it up in your mind,
does not make it reality or fact.

OMG, the IDIOT is back from jail.

I use water deficit to increase flavor and sweetness of stone fruit and grapes in my greenhouse. Since my growing season is about 300 days some irrigation is necessary. I'd call it deficit irrigation. Total water use is about 24-28 inches per year, less than 0.1 inch per day. I wet the soil profile in late fall and don't irrigate again until the trees show signs of water deficit. The first sign is "firing" of tips of vegetative shoots. This happens in late April or May after apricot harvest has started. From then until fall water application is one inch every 10-14 days.

Using this method results in fruit with mostly 20-34 brix. Lately I've been harvesting 24-34 brix Flavor Supreme pluot, Arctic Star nectarine, and Honey Blaze nectarine. It's some of the best fruit I've ever grown and I think about as good as fruit gets.

Okay, let's keep comments constructive here, please.

Aaron, you have a problem with Gina's comparison of our California climate to the Mediterranean yet you used the Mediterranean's practice of not irrigating in your comment in post #2.  Sorry, but that doesn't really seem consistent.

In a video posted last year it showed that Pons planted a fig tree in a very deep hole, perhaps 5' deep and in diameter.  He watered it to help it become established and then gradually filled in the hole, resulting in a tree with a very deep root system that did not require irrigation.  With such a large reservoir from which to draw upon during the growing season I am not surprised that a mature tree established in this manner does not require irrigation.

Don't be so hard on yourself.


The "information" you post,
which is nothing more than your opinion,
is 100% wrong, that is fact.

You really got no clue what you are talking about.
You make up facts consistently.
And when shown to be wrong, you act like an immature child.

What you call moss, is actually Lichens, as Gina correctly pointed out.
Then you attack her and make crude comments to her as well.

You claim the different colored mosses are because of age,
the mosses are lichen and they are different colored because of varieties,
not age.

You assume  moss/lichen on a tress in a positive indicator,
False again, means the tree is very slow growing and has a problem.

Many orchards in the Med are not watered and left to nature,
because they lack irrigation altogether, no pipes in the ground to transport the water.

You assume a fig tree's trunk is its water collecting method, wrong,
study a bit, learn, educate yourself,  you won't seem as foolish to others.

You ramble about islands and geography with no logic or reasoning to your comments.

Basically,  you talk out your @ss quite often.

What are you getting 34 brix from ?

it's true that they are well established old trees and they probably have vary deep roots.
I was merely describing humidity levels and the positive effects ...perhaps that was/is the reason that increases survival levels in Mediterranean.
That's all Harvey... :)

Now what was her last comment in #15?  I have no idea!

Think of girdling certain fruit trees as another example of this effect.

Although the crop is early and more flavorful,
the poundage is going to be lower than in a normal year.
Rarely get extra $ for flavor, but you do for early  :-)

LOL...I think you should cut down on the weed. Seriously JackASS