Starting in early Spring, as buds begin to swell, I usually start fertilizing my fig trees with very diluted solutions of either Foliage-Pro 9 -3 - 6...or, with Miracle-Gro 24 -8 - 16  (1 tsp/5 gallons).  I continue this until the middle of July.  NOTE:  This is the first year that they have been re-potted into a quick-draining, soiless mix, which has no nutrients.

I want the new green, wood to start to lignify, and harden-off,  so that it will not be damaged by the cold, Winter temps. 

1.     What fertilizer(s) should I use...brand name, and/or N-P-K proportions should I now use, and when should I stop?

In the past, since 2007, my trees have suffered no die-back from cold weather storage in my unheated shed.

2.     Should I sponge brush on a coat of Wilt-Pruf, anti-desiccant/transpirant?  I would coat each branch, all the buds, and exposed bark?

I am open to suggestions.  I have never taken these precautions in the past, but now my fig trees, after many years of training, are starting to fill out into the tree-form standards, that I have planned.  Losing branches at this stage, will ruin the design.  All my trees are in very large containers, and trained into single-stem, tree form, standards.  Perfect height, perfect size for storage.  I'd like to keep them that way.  Would you/should I, mess with success?

Thanks for any help.

Frank

Frank, I use Osmocote indoor/outdoor  19-6-12.Its a slow release pellet that I apply in spring like you do. I re-apply once more toward the end of june. Most of my plants are in Pro- Mix. I understand your concern about protecting against winter damage, but remember that as the plant ages ,the wood hardens more. The older your tree gets the hardier they become.I used to use Miracle Grow with good results. I switched to osmocote because it was less work. As per wilt-pruf ,i have no experience with it.  Good Luck and hope for mild winters like the last one.I store my trees in an unheated detached garage.      Angelo Zone 7A NY

Frank,

Why repot in nutrient less soil? Seems counter-intuitive. 

Be careful with Wiltproof!!
It's been known to harm and/or smother some types of trees when used on them,  Or if applied incorrectly!.

That stuff is best left to the pros!
But, at the very least, contact your local tree extension/forestry service for their advice before you use it! "Better safe than sorry!"

Neem oil would be about all I'd dare use on this type of tree for pest, and disease control and only if needed during the winter months.
And only after careful testing in the fall for sensitivity to Neem oil applications.
Good luck, let us know what your find out?

slingha...

My trees are containerized and I use a quick-draining, gritty mix as a growing medium.  Soiless, because I want fresh oxygen in the root-zone, and not stagnant, water that soils retain.  Nutrition is handled through fertilizers, and solutions containing macro and micro trace elements.  I use these solutions in diluted concentrations at each watering.  All my trees are thriving, and have set heavy main-crops.  Sometimes I have to thin out the figs, and leaves on my "Golden Atreano"-Belleclare trees.

If I had the room, I would be growing in large containers sunk halfway into the ground, then heavily mulched.  I store my trees in an unheated storage shed. 

I have had very good luck with growing this way, in containers, since 2007, although this is the first year they were grown in the gritty, soiless mix.

Frank

I'm actually very interested in this question also because I just re-potted my RdB into a soiless 5-1-1 mix.  I purchased some Foliage Pro 9-3-6 but am not sure how much to dilute for this purpose.  The manufacturer recommends to water with a solution containing 1/4 teaspoon per gallon for "mainentance".  For "production" they recommend 1 teaspoon per gallon put on once per week.  I'm not sure how this translates to what we are trying to achieve with containerized figs.  It would be great to hear how others use foliage pro for figs.

Steve

Hi Steve...

Regardless of what fertilizers that you are using, in soiless mixes, I would use the diluted ratio, and adjust if needed.  I would also amend, or top-dress the mix with granular limestone.  I read that figs hate acidic mixes/soils, and will suffer as a result of too acidic conditions.  Many fertilizers, over time will turn a mix/soil acidic.  Fig production and ripening time also suffers.

I'm still looking for a very low nitrogen, "end-of-season" type of fertilizer that will properly prepare the trees for the winter storage period.

Frank

OK, so I'll try using the "maintenance" dilution rather than the "production" dilution and see how it goes.  If the trees stay healthy then I'll stick with that approach.  By the way, what time of year do you wind down the fertilizer in soiless mixes?  Where I live, there is a 50% chance of frost by Oct. 21.  Thanks.

Is anyone using gypsum and kalkwasser in addition to the regular fertilizer? 

Rewton....

I stop all ferts. by end of July.  New growth must lignify and harden-off by the time trees start to go dormant, or the new green growth pushed out by late fertilizing will die off if hit by freezing temps.  Most of your gains will wind up between the blades of a pruning shears.

I've been using diluted fertilizers for many years, and occasionally, a few times per season, flush out the medium by just using plain water.  I also top dress with granular limestone in early Spring, again in July, again in Sept.  Nothing is written in stone.

Frank

Frank - my case is a little unusual though since I just re-potted relatively young trees to soiless media.  Wouldn't I want for fertilize for a couple weeks just to get them started growing a bit in their new environment before going dormant?  Plus one of them I will re-pot this morning has some yellowing of the leaves suggesting a lack of nutrients, lack of oxygen to the roots, or some other issue with the non-ideal soil it is in now.

Rewton, post a pic of the leaf and we can say what the problem could be.

Frank, why mess with success?  You've got them exactly as you want them so keep doing what you're doing!  Hats off to you and enjoy your figs!

I like what Bob said basically.
If it ain't broke dont fix it.