Very interesting and helpful article and video....
Meg, I noticed in the article, he mentioned using cover crops to improve the clay soil for growing figs. Around here, there is primarily red clay soil which I've been wondering how to deal with for any in ground fig trees I plant. This seems like a really good solution:
Quote:
The clay-like soil can be especially tough for digging, so Sayer and foreman Carlos Ortega, a ranch employee since 1972, planted a special blend of grasses as a cover crop. The grasses, which include barley, ryegrass and crimson clover, help open the ground for the fig trees' roots, as well as add a level of erosion control on top, and a soft soil beneath the surface for beneficial earthworms to proliferate. (For maximum biodiversity, at times, Sayer has also grown mustards, Sudan grass and beans.)
And that old tree is stunning!
The blue heeler dogs are so cute in the video...one of my dogs, which is half heeler, really loves eating fallen ripe mulberries around the tree in our back yard also!