Limited root space, more fruits

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Feigenbaum

Registered:1377643723
Posts: 382

Posted 1380720496	Reply with quote #1

Today I uppotted one of my figtrees. Although I uppotted it about 3 month ago, the container was full of strong and healthy roots. The tree seemed to do very well and put on a lot of new groth. As I was doing that uppotting it came in my mind that I often read a fig eventually will produce more figs and less groth if the root space is limited... What is your opinion/experience on that? __________________ Hi from Germany! (Zone 7b) Christian

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1380722939	Reply with quote #2

Christian, IMO, it's partially true. Limiting (restricting) the root mass will cause stunted growth (closer internodal spacing) and will put the plant in "preservation" mode, where it will try to produce figs (seeds) to perpetuate itself. The "more fruit" will be due to the decreased nodal spacing and possible production of figs at those nodes. You would be creating Fig Bonsai trees. It may be possible to get good fig production in conjunction with proper limb pruning. Since figs are produced at leaf nodes, "less growth" would produce less figs in a healthy growing plant. By restricting root growth and maintaining lower levels of fertilization you will be growing stunted plants that will produce figs, but not at the quality or quantity that the tree is capable of producing. A better procedure would be to limit vegetative growth by pruning. Just my observations.

Tam

Registered:1365478628
Posts: 1,084

Posted 1380724170	Reply with quote #3

Christian: In the spring, a fig tree used its storage energies in the roots to make leaves. Also, the healthy and vigorous roots provide and supply energies to the development of the figs. So, much of the tree energy is spent growing leaves and figs in the spring and summer. Therefore, the more roots the tree has the better flavor and taste in the figs. If you damage the root systems during these time, the tree will divert its energy to the roots to repair and make more roots. Therefore, the figs will have less flavor and they do not taste as good. So, I recommend you to plant your fig tree in a bigger pot. Thanks for sharing. Best, Tam

Feigenbaum

Registered:1377643723
Posts: 382

Posted 1380752556	Reply with quote #4

Thank you Tam and Pete for your opinion that both makes absolutely sense to me. I am glad that my uppotting was the right way to go. I hope my fig tree will respond with groth AND a lot of figs next season! :-D __________________ Hi from Germany! (Zone 7b) Christian

pitangadiego

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Posts: 5,447

Posted 1380754360	Reply with quote #5

In general, restricted roots means restricted growth, and at some point that has to limit nutrition and water intake and thus fruit production, IMO. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

Feigenbaum

Registered:1377643723
Posts: 382

Posted 1380755530	Reply with quote #6

Quote: Originally Posted by pitangadiego In general, restricted roots means restricted growth, and at some point that has to limit nutrition and water intake and thus fruit production, IMO. Thank you Jon. That makes me feel save! (I hope this makes sense in english) It is kind of difficult to say what you mean if your vocabulary is limited... __________________ Hi from Germany! (Zone 7b) Christian

loquat1

Registered:1312036896
Posts: 585

Posted 1380757221	Reply with quote #7

The above advice seems to tie in with my experience. The following exchange I had with Luke might be apropos: Originally Posted by Luke Didn't want to derail your topic. Another one you always seem to read is when planting in ground to restrict the plant with paving slabs, am not sure I agree with this also, although I asked Herman his opinion and he believed it would help, he thought it was a good practice but he didn't do it. Answer Posted by loquat1 Funny you should mention that Luke, coz I also have my doubts about this advice. The only time I ever used this method was about 5-6 years ago when I planted an air layer for our pastor. The tree looked sickly and barely grew for almost 3 yrs after that. I vowed then that I would never use that planting method again. Fortunately, it has since recovered, possibly coz of the rains we had last year. It now looks quite healthy and is very productive, much to the delight of the new owners. If you've no objection, I might post a few pics with a copy of this exchange in a new thread. __________________ Costas

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1380758015	Reply with quote #8

Christian, Your english makes perfect sense to me. All I can say in your language is no, I love you and tons of things I can't put on here. __________________ Tami SE Texas

Feigenbaum

Registered:1377643723
Posts: 382

Posted 1380759086	Reply with quote #9

Quote: Originally Posted by javajunkie Christian, Your english makes perfect sense to me. All I can say in your language is no, I love you and tons of things I can't put on here. Wow, thank you Tami, what a nice thing to say! :-D Maybe you can say: "Ich liebe Feigen!" Which means " I love figs" in german. __________________ Hi from Germany! (Zone 7b) Christian

Feigenbaum

Registered:1377643723
Posts: 382

Posted 1380759328	Reply with quote #10

Quote: Originally Posted by loquat1 The above advice seems to tie in with my experience. The following exchange I had with Luke might be apropos: Originally Posted by Luke Didn't want to derail your topic. Another one you always seem to read is when planting in ground to restrict the plant with paving slabs, am not sure I agree with this also, although I asked Herman his opinion and he believed it would help, he thought it was a good practice but he didn't do it. Answer Posted by loquat1 Funny you should mention that Luke, coz I also have my doubts about this advice. The only time I ever used this method was about 5-6 years ago when I planted an air layer for our pastor. The tree looked sickly and barely grew for almost 3 yrs after that. I vowed then that I would never use that planting method again. Fortunately, it has since recovered, possibly coz of the rains we had last year. It now looks quite healthy and is very productive, much to the delight of the new owners. If you've no objection, I might post a few pics with a copy of this exchange in a new thread. Thank you very much Costas! (is that a greek name?) __________________ Hi from Germany! (Zone 7b) Christian

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1380760809	Reply with quote #11

Thanks Christian, another thing I can say in German in public :) __________________ Tami SE Texas

loquat1

Registered:1312036896
Posts: 585

Posted 1380761265	Reply with quote #12

You're very welcome Christian, and yes, I'm Greek - Gk Cypriot by descent to be a bit more precise. I'm what's known as a BBC - a British Born Cypriot. But I have to tell you my name is nothing special in my mother country, and doesn't raise any eyebrows here either. It's as common as muck in Cyprus - the Cypriot equivalent of a Fritz in Germany, Jose in Spain, etc etc. It's a diminutive of Constantine, and means constant or firm. But thanks for the compliment anyway. You're the first person to 'like' my name. Now, how much did you say I should write out on that cheque? PS Aha, I see that you no longer 'like' it. Changed your mind already have you? Can't say I blame you. Cheque duly cancelled. __________________ Costas

Feigenbaum

Registered:1377643723
Posts: 382

Posted 1380792606	Reply with quote #13

Quote: Originally Posted by loquat1 You're the first person to 'like' my name. Now, how much did you say I should write out on that cheque? PS Aha, I see that you no longer 'like' it. Changed your mind already have you? Can't say I blame you. Cheque duly cancelled. Costas, I didn't change my mind! Very nice name indeed.But I thought it might be a little inappropriate and would go to off topic...please don't blame me for that. Can we talk about the cheque now :-) __________________ Hi from Germany! (Zone 7b) Christian

loquat1

Registered:1312036896
Posts: 585

Posted 1380801268	Reply with quote #14

ok, just to bring it back to topic, can I pay you in figs instead? __________________ Costas

trif1010

Registered:1191193721
Posts: 202

Posted 1380801624	Reply with quote #15

Up until this past winter when I bought tons of different cutting (all from figs4fun members on eBay), most of my fig trees were purchased around 10 years ago from the now closed Paradise Nursery and Belleclare Nursery. The advice I got back then from them was that 1- fig trees like to be root bound (I never asked for an explanation why), and 2- when growing in containers to grow on pavement or similar surface so the roots aren't able to grow through the drain holes and into the soil below (and for added heat). I was told this would put more energy into plant/fruit growth and less into root growth). I grow all off these large trees in 24" x 24" round nursery pots on my driveway with an automatic irrigation hookup. I have always done it like this. This spring was my second root pruning in 10 years, and first heavy top pruning. I think the pruning and cold wet spring has led to the most unripened figs I have ever had. Very slow growth and late fig development this year. Many ways to grow and care for figs...just the method I use here. My new cuttings/trees are in 3-gal pots now. In the spring they will go into 16" x 16" round pots and remain in those pots until up potted to the 24" x 24" in about 4 years. __________________ Scot Saratoga Springs, NY Zone 5

loquat1

Registered:1312036896
Posts: 585

Posted 1380802310	Reply with quote #16

I'm rapidly running out of space in my small suburban garden, so growing in large free-standing pots is one option I can consider. I've never heard of root pruning tho. How does that work? __________________ Costas

Feigenbaum

Registered:1377643723
Posts: 382

Posted 1380802774	Reply with quote #17

@Costas: Of course you can mate! This would be even better :-) @Scot: Thanks for sharing your longtime experience! Now I have to do a little math to convert your size advices from inch into centimetres! ;-) __________________ Hi from Germany! (Zone 7b) Christian

loquat1

Registered:1312036896
Posts: 585

Posted 1380803839	Reply with quote #18

So next time I visit Germany I'll smuggle in some cuttings for you and get arrested by your customs officials - providing you visit me in prison. __________________ Costas

pitangadiego

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Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1380813171	Reply with quote #19

Ich mussen enie spaziergang machen. Through the fig orchard, of course. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1380813232	Reply with quote #20

not sure if that's true. i think age of the tree has lot to do with what's going on. my VdB put on more figs every yr. i did root prune this spring, and it gave more figs then last. __________________ Pete Durham, NC Zone 7b "don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher *** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. * * and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...***

Feigenbaum

Registered:1377643723
Posts: 382

Posted 1380814585	Reply with quote #21

Costas: Of course I would visit you in prison, but I don't think it would come this far. Our customs laws are not that strict! For root pruning you might take a look here: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/root-pruning-5364363?highlight=root+pruning Jon: Very nice german...Viel Spass bei Deinem Spaziergang durch den Feigengarten! Pete: Thanks for sharing your experience with me. __________________ Hi from Germany! (Zone 7b) Christian

loquat1

Registered:1312036896
Posts: 585

Posted 1380820344	Reply with quote #22

Christian - thanks for the link. I'll check it out soonish. PS If you visit me in prison, make sure you know how to play chess. Alan - think I'll stick with the unrestricted root method, except for any trees that I might choose to leave in large pots of course. __________________ Costas

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