I came across some more interesting links on the Japanese culture of figs.    There have been some recent threads on the "step over" Japanese espalier training and other aspects of fig production.    I am not sure if all of these links are new here, but think they are fun to look at and potentially instructive.
 
1)   http://www.kannonyama.com/shopdetail/045000000001/  This may have been posted before, but think it is a very good representation of an outdoor Japanese orchard, intensively cultivated.  

2)  http://www.kannousuiken-osaka.or.jp/_files/00023160/h24-31ichijiku.pdf    This document shows the familiar pruning steps, etc.   Take note of the third photograph.   That fig has quite a trunk on it.   In a previous thread on this topic there was a question, asking if this type of trained fig can get a thick trunk.    It can and from what I have read and seen, most don't make it to this size because of the nature of the intensive growing conditions - they succumb to soil mineralization issues, RKN (sick soil it is called in Japan) or other circumstances that cause decline and are replaced.

3)  http://shigaquo.jp/special/ichijiku/   There are some good photographs of this guy's greenhouse operation.   Note how sterile this greenhouse appears.  A very intensive and well manicured crop.

4)  http://figsakai.blogspot.com/     There is a very good series of (small) photographs that show many aspects of the cultivation of figs.   This operation is a bit more "organic" with exposure to the elements, other vegetation growing with the figs and an opportunity for the mulch to degrade into compost - at least that is the appearance.

5)   http://d.hatena.ne.jp/Julen/20100725    Lastly, another fig operation including the packaging process.   Note the guy dressed in the pesticide application outfit.  
       I would sure like to find information about folks that are growing the figs using this general method, but more organically, sacrificing some productivity.    I have not really come across any examples showing extensive use of compost and examples of IPM (integrated pest management) practices.   It probably exists but has not presented itself to me.  It is likely that the more openly grown figs (outside of a greenhouse cover) could more easily be grown that way.   Still researching...

6)   http://nippongene-analysis.com/fmv/NE0091_Catalog.pdf  Okay, here is a bonus document.  This is the Japanese Fig Mosaic Virus detection kit manual.   I haven't looked into this at all, but was amused and thought it was interesting.

7)  Another item that may or may not have been discussed in regards to this method of pruning is that it will eliminate the breba crop.   By removing the overwintering production branches, there will not be a breba crop.    I am sure that I have some information about this buried in some documents but can't lay my hands on it right now.    Anyway, something to think about.   In a greenhouse though, they could still get an earlier crop if they are able to warm it up earlier in the season and get the fig plants growing.   Also, there is a document (I think in Japanese) that talks about "double cropping" techniques - managing a very productive crop via pruning at specific times.  I am finding that there is a lot to learn about the processes that have been figured out over the decades! 

8) http://jpkc.scau.edu.cn/soilless/papers/upload/201211911212653337.pdf  Document on soil-less culture of figs.  Hydroponic stuff, not sure if this has been posted before.   Thinking of double cropping reminded me of this document.   Extreme production methods...


Anyway, enjoy the links.  I think that all can be run through the Google Translator to get a rough translation.    I'll post more in the future when I have the opportunity.

Byron (Ingevald)

Some great links Byron, I only read the hydroponic greenhouse article, but wow, that was interesting.increases of yields up 18 times regular methods. No dormancy, three months to first figs, perlite grown using a variety called super fig #1. I'd prefer it adapted to organic methods though.

Mike in Hanover, VA

Those are refreshing pictures ( on the Japanese links)   without knowing how to read it, the pictures tell a lot.

I wonder if hydro figs were as tasty as the others, and if splitting would occur.. how can  one regulate how much water, when the medium is water ?

mazing links... The last one just shocked me.

I have not studied in-depth the hydroponic methods that have been devised for fig culture.    I came across this approach many years ago when I first started researching Japanese fig production.  (here is the only link still working from an old posting of mine that shows a photo of one particular arrangement) 

I am aware of operations in Japan and also in Korea that are using these techniques to boost productivity and yes, the production numbers are fantastic.    However, when considering the inputs, energy costs and other costs of such an arrangement, it may not be a very sustainable long-term method.   I am nonetheless quite fascinated by the processes that have been devised.

Interestingly, I came across an abstract that describes a process for adding supplemental electric lighting to make up for the lack of seasonal solar sun hours.   Again, I find the science and process interesting but the excessive use of energy absurd.

There was a question about the taste of the figs produced hydroponically.   I do not have an answer but can only make assumptions.   If conditions were right (plenty of heat and light), the taste might be just fine.

I still think it is possible for a small production orchard to be successful in a modified intensive arrangement, using a more "organic" approach.   a) Employ state of the art pruning practices  b) Utilize best & safe pest management/prevention practices   c)  Work out an organic nutrient supply - mulch, compost, possibly incorporating biochar in the mix.  d)  Experiment with other parameters, including a shelter/greenhouse but allowing for rain to hit the soil part of the year.

This document has been posted on the forum before - it is the patent by Moshe Flaishman (Israel) titled "Culture of Edible Figs."    Aside from our concerns about whether or not this process can be patented, I think that the document brilliantly outlines what it takes to squeeze the most production out of a fig tree.  I was highly impressed by the outlined methods when I saw it for the first time a few years ago, and am still impressed.  The process is open to a variety of modifications.      Using the basic principles and some experimentation should lead to workable models that are more organic in nature.

One last item - I just found another interesting link - the New Zealand Tree Crops Association has a section on their website about fig culture.    Scroll down and you will find some very good discussion, diagrams on pruning/training following the Japanese methods.   Enjoy!

Byron (Ingevald)

I am curious about the NZ link, it requires name and password, it  did not allow me to even see the main page.  What is the name of the page?

Grasa - I don't have that problem here.    Here is the link spelled out  http://www.treecrops.org.nz/crops/fruit/fig/ and the title of page is "Tree Crops"  "New Zealand Tree Crops Association" and then "Fig" "ficus carica"    A Google search got me to the page.   Let me know if you are still having trouble getting to the page.

Byron

Thanks Byron!  I love how they shape their trees.  Bookmarked!

At the bottom of the first link they show a box of 9 figs for 3,190 yen (?)  If yen, that is nearly $30!  Over $3 per fig!

Very nice!
The photo in the second link showing the green growth caught my eye. It looked like it was demonstrating how to renew a cordon. It turns out that is what the paper is about, a pruning method (patented?) to regularly replace the cordons (horizontalis) to maintain production and vigor. It sounds like this does indeed answer some of the questions posed about production dropping off with older trees, and what can be done about it. Now to get to the point where that is even close to being an issue...
Attached is the quick and dirty translation I got from google docs. Hopefully I'll be able to match up the translated text to the annotations on the photos.

In the attached doc you have the original page followed by the translated text. A bit of a mess, but a useful first pass.

Andy - thanks for the translation - I had actually not completed the rough translation on that document.   The patent(?) issue is interesting and will do some research on that aspect.   Very interesting!
Byron

They are treating fig trees as grape vines. it is indeed very interesting. 

as to the NZ page... this is what I get
asks for the name and password in a box..


The server http://www.treecrops.org.nz at Please Enter Your Password requires a username and password.

Warning: This server is requesting that your username and password be sent in an insecure manner (basic authentication without a secure connection).

Andy - thanks again for the translation efforts.   It led to something new and surprising - another patent of the step-over method in Japan.  

So, after some diligent searching I found this nifty document イチジク果実の生産方法 - "Production Methods of Fig Fruit."   That patent application number led me to this document and diagrams -  http://astamuse.com/ja/published/JP/No/2012125213    Here is a link to the Google translation.  
 
This patent arrived two years after the Flaishman patent "Culture of Edible Figs" in 2010.  It just seems odd to me that such things could be patented.   I was under the impression that a variation of the technique has been used in Japan for many decades.  

I've not had time to study it but it is certainly going to be interesting, just like these other interesting documents, photos and other resources that get discovered along the way.

Lastly, here is the person in Japan who applied for that patent, Hosomi Akihiro  http://researchmap.jp/read0001847/   There are several papers that you can download from his site about figs, etc.

Byron  (Ingevald)

This is a great topic. I have heard of these ideas here and there, but this is the first time that I have seen it laid out as a complete system. My gears are spinning. Thank you for sharing this.

Byron,
Thanks for posting this info and for doing the research.

The Japanese patent,  http://astamuse.com/ja/published/JP/No/2012125213 seems to also cover the standard tree form pruning.

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Hydroponic cultivation looks interesting, but IMO, the amount of total energy (light, heat and pumps) used to produce figs would put it out of reach of most hobbyists, but it could be used for cuttings and young trees.