I have some of the Osmocote Indoor outdoor plant fertilizer I also have regular Miracle Grow. I was thinking I should fertilize my trees and I poked around in the archives and see some names being mentioned, but there are two different kinds of Osmocote. The indoor outdoor and the vegetable kind. Which one would I use if I went with Osmocote or is there something else out there I should get or is regular Miracle grow OK on 5 and 2 year old trees?




                                                         Thanks,

                                                                Marcus

Thanks, i will see what out there it would be nice to use what i have it seems like a lot of people use different things. I just want a better idea

I think a fertilizer designed to for flowers would work well too,
after all figs are the flower of the plant

I am trying the Osmocote outdoor/indoor-19-6-12 ( among other methods).

I have seen many experts use this formula and then switch to the other triple 14 slow release once a tree is about 5 yrs old.

Is there an osmocote triple 14? What brands would be good for that?

Yeah the other one for vegetable and gardening.

Check the NPK.

I use Joe Morle method from figtrees.net. It is working well for me.

When you look at such fruit as apple and cherries, they recommend alot of nitrogen in the early months ( march, april, may, june).

But with figs I have seen some recommend high nitrogen and low phosphorus.

Most say though that phosphorus is key to fruit development. Morle's formula shows a high individual application of superphosphate. Both are workiong at this point for me.

Though I am in the early stages of using the oscomote on 1st year starters.

Marcus,

Hi 71GTO
You write
Thanks, i will see what out there it would be nice to use what i have it seems like a lot of people use different things. I just want a better idea


Very true.

I use  Miracle Grow 24.8.16 and its always worked for me growing in containers as you may have seen in pictures i have posted.
Never used anything else.
Along with that a handful here and there of dolomitic limestone which also contains CaMg and once in a while superthrive when i have some in shed.

I never suggest fertilizer one way or another just tell folks what i use .

martin,

how often do you fertilized your trees?

pete

Every week at half strength and sometimes twice a week depending on the weather and rainfall.
I stop little bit before the figs would start to swell though each year can be different because of climate here.
I grow only in containers at least for the time being as i may put 1 inground again.

martin,

when you say figs start to swell, what do you mean?

does it mean it's almost ripe, and getting big? i heard this before in the forum, but not sure what it means.

also, why do you stop fertilizing at that point?

pete

Not to mention there is a limited supply of P fert in the world and it is being washed into the ocean. And it suppresses mycorhizzal fungi in soils at high levels. It stays put better than N and K so there is no reason to use a balance fertilizer unless you are growing in pots.

The osmocote i have is 19 6 12.

That's a winning ratio in my book.  Close to 3-1-2.

Bullet when a fig starts to swell it is starting ripening stage.
I grow dark figs for example and they will eventually swell later in season as they do this they change colors to darker and darker.

You will see some size difference from one in swelling process in same picture one not doing it yet.

I stop fertilizing before i think they will swell as its getting late in season here and they need to get ready after figs are spent for whats to eventually come
the season of the weather i do not enjoy anymore.

2 four letter words
cold
snow

The above pictures in my last post are 2 different types of trees .
You can hold mouse over picture and it will state its type and click to enlarge if you wish.

http://www.scotts.com/smg/catalog/productTemplate.jsp?proId=prod70362&itemId=cat50116

This is what I have. I orginally bought it for some house plants. It doesn't mention that it can or can't be used for fruiting plants.

martin,

thanks for the information. i can see that the fig is actually "swollen". and now understand that cutting off the fertilizer is to help the tree go dormant for the winter.

been using different fertilizers for my trees in pots this year. all seems to help. started with 20-20-20, when i was out of that, i went to 7-7-7. now i have miracle grow that i was going to try since i'm out of 7-7-7. it's good to know someone else is using that without an issue :)

pete

71GTO,

I really like using the fish fertilizer, I think the plants respond well, I will have to see how well it works for fruit next year but so far it hasn't been bad at all.

Chivas, how often do you fertilize your fig trees with F. fertilizer? Do you also use other fertilizers along with f.f. ?

Thanks,

Navid.

I'm strictly organic with all my vegetables and fruits.  In early spring and again in mid summer, I give the trees a shot of nitrogen with blood meal, and water with molasses tea.  Once, or twice a week I water with either compost tea, or weed tea.  Once in spring I water with 2 Tblspoon/gal of water epsom salt.   Plus I add compost to the top of each pot when I take the trees out of dormancy in spring.

At this time of the season, I only water with compost or weed tea to help ripen the figs, and slow down plant growth.

There's no danger of over fertilizing or burning the roots. 

Hi Udaman,
i just goota ask this what is weed tea.
Thanks

Richard, thanks for explaining what you use to fertilize your trees with. Do you add/broadcast any limestone for your trees that are in pot or in ground?

I only fertilize my lemon trees with Epsom salt. Since it's primary components are Mg and Sulfur it will provide the needed Mg for the figs but on the other hand, Sulfur will decrease the pH of the soil.

Most likely the other organic components that you fertilize your trees with, will balance out the soil's pH and provides essential nutrients for them.

Also, I second Martin's question. Heard the compost tea before but not the weed tea.



Navid.

Weed tea is very simple.  I use comfrey, stinging nettle, and bedstraw, all of which I have growing in abundance here.  I pick handfuls of them, and put it in a five gallon pail filled with water.  Cover and leave it in the sun for 3-4-5 days.  Put a clothes pin on your nose, for the smell, and use the tea to water your figs.  I take out the stems after the tea is made and add it to my compost bin.  You can use almost any weed for the tea, as long as it isn't toxic to the figs.  Grass clippings, and goldenrod are also good to use.  I tend to make the tea strong, and thin with more water when i use it.

I add limestone to my soil mix when I make a batch, so that helps keep the acidity level near neutral.  I mix my own potting soil from my garden soil, compost and pearlite.  I always add limestone, azomite, and phosphate rock to each batch I make.  My soil tests slightly acid, as most New England soil does, so I always use limestone even in my garden.