Was at tractor supply and saw these Brown Turkey plants. The wood does not look like my Brown Turkey wood. This is not the first time that I see these thriving fresh looking fig plants at nurseries.
It made me wonder that perhaps, I'm missing feeding my plants the right diet and how come some of my trees don't look as fresh and robust as those new plants.

Apex?

http://www.simplot.com/turf_horticulture/apex/products/apex_npk#4755

I usually see a slow release of some kind usually yellow colored, in really big healthy looking nursery figs. I think the kind with micronutrients is what they use. 18-6-8 with micronutrients would have really fast growth with large green leaves.

I used 1 cup 180 day nutricote 18-6-8 mixed into each pot one year. I had 4-5 ft tall fig trees in 3 gal pots, with 30-40 figs on each tree in only 4 months time from when the cutting had 3-4 leaves. Also adding extra iron will make the leaves an attractive dark green.

1 cup in 3 gallon pots once a year?

160 days slow release so one cup 2x a year. I think after 160 days, I uppotted them to 5gal pots and added more fertilizer at that time.

Thank You. I noticed that most distributors are mainly on the west coast. Don't know if they ship. I'm still hoping to produce a tree that looks like the one from the Spanish fig festival:)

Hi Sas,

Where are you located in the US? I have a slow release fertilizer that I may be able to send you a sample of.

Hi Craig, I've been using Osmocote Flowers and vegetables on some of my trees, but perhaps I haven't been using enough of it, since I only fertilize once in the spring.
The results are nowhere near what I see with the three gallon plants at the stores. I either have to do it more often or switch for sure.

hi Sas,
I agree with Figgysid1- you want something with micronutrients. What is osmocote derived from and does it hit any of the trace elements like calcium and magnesium?

Not sure if it does. Here's a sample label.
http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/msds/Osmocote_F_V_ProductPage.pdf

I would doubt it. Try to find something with rock phosphate, bonemeal or bat guano. Also kelpmeal, which is expensive but worth it.

Sas, you've touched on a topic that has me struggling. Never mind what fertilizer to use, I can't even grasp how much of what fertilizer to use, and how often...I have to fertilize enough for the plant to be healthy and fruit - Of course if I fertilize too much I'll have too much leafy growth and no fruit.....It's maddening...

Aaron started a good fertilizer discussion a while back. HERE

Thanks for the link Joe. Don't know how I missed this one. It must've been the holiday season and wasn't thinking fertilizer at a time when there was no green.

Fig trees grow out of the sides of castles and stone walls. Not sure what they are eating but they seem to have a knack for survival.

I'd love to find some organics ferts that would last a season or even if I had to add every month I would be ok with that.
Right now I use osmocote and also Maxi gro by general hydroponics. Trees seem to be happy.

I have a small nursery and this is what I do. New young plants need to develop roots more than they need top growth. start out with something with a higher middle number like Jacks 9-45-15 or Miracle Gro Tomato and vegetable 15-30-15. Then after the plant is older, something with a higher 1st number like  Osmocote 19-5-8 with minors. When I up pot I will usually add a slow release fertilizer like Florikan  17-5-11. You can use a liquid fertilizer every few weeks even with the slow release in the mix

This could be wrong but I was informed that the 1ST # N- Nitrogen is for plant growth above ground, also greener plants, 2nd # P- Phosphorous is for starter growth(roots) and flowering and 3rd # K-Potassium is for overall health of plants. Does this sound about right? Slow release refers to N because over use could burn or damage roots and none of these 3 ### contains micronutrients unless they are added?

Waynea,

Correct, NPK values do not include micronutrients.

http://www.thehydrosource.com/nutricote-18-6-8-type-180-50-lb.html

It shows what micronutrients are added.

 I use Dynamite 9 month slow release, and have as much as 5 feet of growth on 1st year rooted cuttings. Most don't grow that well, maybe 3 feet a year.
I also add twice a year some organic, any that I happen to have on hand. Plant-Tone, Tomato-Tone, Garden-Tone etc.

Dynamite is slow release, has all micros, and has an excellent NPK ratio. 15-5-9. You can get it with free shipping here. A 7 pound bag of it. Most slow release actually last half of what they say. When 80 degrees, they release heavy.
http://www.seedranch.com/Dynamite-All-Purpose-Select-Indoor-Outdoor-Plant-F-p/dynamite-organic-7.htm
Here's a typical first year fig for me

I will definitely try something else after I come back from my trip. Thank You all.

I believe Nutricote is a good slow release too.   The orchid folks switched to it after a hot spell destroyed a tremendous number of Cymbidium by fast releasing all the fertilizer and burning the roots.  At the Greenhouse at Salisbury John typically fertilizes almost every watering.  i know because I had to turn it off and flush the lines to water my orchids.  As to what he uses he adjust it all the time by looking at the plants so no schedule there.  LOL  All I know is the figs that he "watered" where 3X bigger than the ones I took care of.  Of course orchid growers tend to be stingy with fertilizer...