Hi.
Not certain how many people on this forum know, but I am attempting to grow Fig Trees in extreme conditions.
Not of choice, but due to necessity .
I have 16 Fig trees on my roof, baking in the full sun unobstructed by trees or other
buildings. it's a southern exposure getting full sun all day compounded by it being
lined by silver metallic reflective roof paint.
The figs seem to love it!
They are growing like weeds. All the trees have figs, even the baby (well no longer ) first year ones. Large main crop figs are starting to ripen.
All good.
On the other hand... I have 9 Fig trees growing in Shade for 80 percent of the day.
They are on a Patio, with a unretractible cover.
This covers sole propose is to block the sun.
At that, it does a very good job.
My mom has the silly notion that keeping the hot sun off of her or her guests is more important that the plants well being.
The sun barely touches the edge of the patio area for 1 hour the entire day weaker morning sun ), the rest of the day, they are literally in full shade.
But I am growing grapes, a dwarf apple tree, a peach tree, tomatoes and the above mentioned 9 Fig trees.
All of the above have fruit on them, there is new growth and all seem to be thriving.
I am growing fruit and veggies without the 6 to 8 hours that they supposedly need
I think an important reason why is I have been using two products.
One is called SuperThrive and the other is called Spray-N-Grow.
Not certain what's in the SuperThrive other than "Vitamins arid Hormones" the contents are secret.
The Spray-N-Grow has Micro organic-based micro nutrient complexes in it.
They both say they are non toxic and can be used up to the day of harvest.
I add one cap full of SuperThrive to fertilizer once a week.
And with the Spray-N-Grow I mix 2 cap fulls in a quart spray bottle ( the stuff needs to be mixed in warm water and used within 6 hours ) and spritz all my trees/plants ( leaves and Fruit ) two to three times a week a light spray with the mister setting, takes all of ten minutes.
I read on different Hydroponic sites about the two, and I swear they both work.
They increase the size of the fruit and keep the leaves a nice healthy green.
I have personally seen the difference in areas I sprayed the S&G and areas I missed (mainly Tomato and pepper areas where the plant was very dense or wall facing limiting my spray)
In those areas I missed the fruit were smaller and the leaves not as lush/vibrant
A real noticeable difference.
The Spray-N-Grow company even states tests have been done studies that showed an increase in the sugar content of Figs that have been sprayed with their product. To make a long story a little short, my point is, if this stuff can help me grow all sorts of fruit in shade, I believe it can help speed up the ripening of Figs for members in colder climates, late ripening figs or early frost.
I don't want to sound like an infomercial, and I have done no real control testing but the stuff is relatively cheap, easy to use and in my case really seems to work.
Nick.
( sorry for the long post )