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loquat1

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Well, I thought so, enough even to mentioned it to the missus. My 3 yr old Greek Yellow, which is in a 5 gallon pot, currently has figs on it that are roughly 0.5" across and 3-4" leaves. Yet my unidentified 10-12 yr old 'Tasty but Fussy', which is in the ground, still has nothing to speak of, except maybe a few sub pea-sized fruit.

Well, I knew it was fussy (hence its nickname), but even I didn't realize it was that fussy. Bearing in mind that TbF is a 'native' of this country (as in, purchased from an English nursery), and my GkY hitched a ride on the back of a lorry all the way from Greece (clever those Gk fig trees), I find this disparity between the two all the more surprising.

I even have hopes of getting some ripe fruit from it for the first time this year. Now that would be something. But until it's identified, I don't think I could have picked a more appropriate nickname for my TbF.

Does anybody have a possible explanation? 
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Chivas

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
In ground tend to break dormancy of pots, the pots warm up the roots much quicker than the ground does.
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loquat1

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Ah, so. Why didn't I think of that? But then, that would imply that I should leave my GkY in its pot permanently if I want to improve my chances of getting ripe fruit.

That would be ideal, if only it were practical. Maybe that solar-powered greenhouse idea is the only real long-term solution after all. 
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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Not sure about hot climates but here in ours a potted fig will beat out inground breaking dormancy every time.
loquat1

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
@ Martin - I would hardly call SE London's a hot climate. We get exceptional summers maybe once every 6-7 years. The last few such were 2013, 2006, 2000, 1995, & 1990. But yeah, thanks to Chivas post above, I now get why my GkY seems to have stolen a lead on my TbF.

I'll be layering GkY shortly (also in demand from UK forum members, etc), thus bringing it back down to a much more manageable size in terms of 'volume'. The temptation then will be to leave it in the pot instead of grounding it if that means a better chance of ripe fruit. Is that what you would do?
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drphil69

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
You could keep it in the pot (largest you care to handle) and root prune every few years.
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loquat1

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Thanks for the suggestion Philip, but transferring it to an even larger pot carries its own problems, over-wintering being one of them if the temp. drops below zero. Watering while we're away is another - my son is not totally reliable in that area.

I suspect that there's no real alternative to 'grounding', possibly accompanied by some kinda modified form of cloche to extend the ripening season. If my idea works, I might post it via a bump on this thread. 
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loquat1

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
I forgot to mention 2003 in the above sequence of exceptional summers, mainly coz it falls outside the general pattern. We recorded our highest temp in that year - over 100F on the 10th Aug. What a year that was for figs & loquats. Even tho I can't stand that kinda heat, I hope to see it again just for the fruit that it produces.
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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Quote:
Originally Posted by loquat1
@ Martin - I would hardly call SE London's a hot climate. We get exceptional summers maybe once every 6-7 years. The last few such were 2013, 2006, 2000, 1995, & 1990. But yeah, thanks to Chivas post above, I now get why my GkY seems to have stolen a lead on my TbF.

I'll be layering GkY shortly (also in demand from UK forum members, etc), thus bringing it back down to a much more manageable size in terms of 'volume'. The temptation then will be to leave it in the pot instead of grounding it if that means a better chance of ripe fruit. Is that what you would do?


Was referring to hot climate in the States i know nothing about London's climate.  ; )
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