Topics

what is wrong with my fig tree?

I have rotten harvest for three years in a row. there are lot of fruits on the tree but all are not edible. I wonder if I need to plant a female fig tree (is a such tree existing?) or tons of fig wasp to help me out. I observe that there is not a small hole at the bottom of each fig. Any suggestions? thanks.

fig.jpg


I'm no expert, but to get it going, I would suggest that it looks like a caprifig.

You should add some history and geography to who you are and where it's located.

You can probably graft some good varieties onto this tree when the weather is cool.

I agree with Dan, that it looks like a caprifig.  I see from your profile that you're around San Jose.  If it is a caprifig, then the easiest thing would be for you to get another tree, preferably a common fig.  Look up the four basic categories of Ficus carica, in the reference section on this site.  Here's a link to one of those referenced articles.   http://www.ocfruit.com/files/Figs_Coastal_SC.htm

As an aside:  does the fig wasp thrive that far North in CA?  I'd guess maybe, but maybe some of you guys out on the west coast know about that and can provide that info here.

Mike   central NY state, zone 5a

Thanks to everyone's reply. I want to add a little more descriptions about my fig trees.
I am in San Jose, California. the trees were coming from nowhere. I guess was bird. Originally they were four trunks (maybe four trees) growing up together and I had pretty good harvest. then when trees were tall, I decided to cut two trunks that near the fence. from that time, my two remaining trees produce caprifig. that is the whole story. 
Any ideas? thanks in advance. 

Hello turbo,

Welcome to the forum.
It looks that you have an interesting problem to be sorted out and it is very similar to what happened to Jen, another forum member..

Please read here  what was recently said about it, as it seems to fit exactly to your problem!

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/newbie-id-and-growing-tips-appriciated-6947602?pid=1283236753#post1283236753

It would be interesting to have a couple of pictures of your tree.
If you manage the situation as I expect you to do, a year from now, you would be tasting samples of the best world figs!

Good luck
Francisco

Hi turbo,
Well, lets face it, a figtree can't change from "common fig" to smyrna or to caprifig.
It is born as a "common fig" or a "caprifig" or a "smyrna" or a "San Pedro" and it will always stay like that forever ...

So I would imagine, that the tree was grafted, and that you cut under the graft causing the original root-stock - the caprifig - to surface again .
Perhaps, two stems were grafted and two were not ...
That is a bad problem with grafted trees . If one doesn't know that the tree was grafted and cut under the graft ... The grafted strain is lost ...

Typically half of seedlings will be caprifigs.  Perhaps you cut down the wrong two? :)

Seedlings are interesting to grow but you would most likely be much better off to grow a known variety.  Grafting can work but there are also problems with that in keeping suckers pruned down, etc.  You need to decide how much maintenance you really want to do.  If it's too close to a fence, you might want to just plant a fig tree in a new location.

Reply Cancel
Subscribe Share Cancel