to fertilize or not?

Author

Comment

ajv73

Registered:1403132563
Posts: 141

Posted 1404331108	Reply with quote #1

I'm just getting started on figs (though it's becoming a quick obsession). So I've been doing a lot of reading on the forum threads about what others use for potting mixes. I ended up taking a few different ideas and mixed them together. The plants seem to be doing well since I moved them about 3 weeks ago. I didn't disturb the roots just moved to them to bigger pots with new potting mix (5 parts fafard #52 mix, 2 parts peat moss, 1 part seasoned compost, 1 cup plant-tone, 1 cup perlite (with mg) and 1 cup lime. To be honest I'm not sure I really know what I'm doing - but they look great. So here is my real question. Do I fertilize too? Or will that be much of a shock? I bought osmocote. But not sure if I should use it or if it's too late in the season? Any direction would be appreciated. Thanks..Tony __________________ Tony V. - Western PA, Zone 6a

GeneDaniels

Registered:1384021772
Posts: 1,014

Posted 1404331801	Reply with quote #2

I water mine with manure tea every time, and MG once a week. I even laid down some Osmocote back in the early spring. I would do the same no matter what the potting soil. Only cut back if you get tons of vegetative growth but no fruits (next year) __________________ Zone 7b (Central Arkansas) Seven trees in the ground: Hardy Chicago, Celeste(?), LSU gold, Italian Black, Southern Brown Turkey(?), Strawberry Verte, and Unk yellow. Trees in pots: VdB, CdD, and Sicilian?

newnandawg

Registered:1344130335
Posts: 2,535

Posted 1404334675	Reply with quote #3

Here in the Deep South I am fertilizing every week and will do so until the end of August. Not so sure about the Pittsburgh area.

erics11

Registered:1399955853
Posts: 102

Posted 1404336384	Reply with quote #4

I'm not an expert, but I would add the osmocote and water with 1/2 strength liquid fertilizer. Every 3-4 fertilized waterings I will flush it with ample tap water __________________ Hayward, CA 9B Own: Brown Turkey, White Kadota, Mission Black, Celeste, RdB, VdB, Hunt, Dominick, Strawberry Verte, LSU Scott's black, Brown Greek, Spanish Black Wishlist: Chicago Hardy, Desert King, Col de Dame Gris, any other favorites

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1404340030	Reply with quote #5

Osmocote lasts 3-4 months. You want the fertilizer to run out about 4 weeks (or more) before the first frost. If your first frost is in December you could apply it now, otherwise I wouldn't. Miracle grow has a pelletized fertilizer that lasts 2-3 months, closer to 2 in my experience. You could probably get away with using that if your first frost is in late October. Otherwise you're stuck with frequent liquid fertilizer, assuming your plants are in pots. I don't know why you'd want to add peat to F52 (except for cost) and 1 cup of perlite isn't going to do anything unless your "parts" are on the order of a gallon. But there's a wide range of things that will work. It rains too frequently here to use F52 but Rafed gets great results with it. As long as you don't over water it and it's working well everything will be fine. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

drphil69

Registered:1390113240
Posts: 803

Posted 1404362828	Reply with quote #6

I agree with rcantor, unless your zone doesn't get frost until December, don't add osmocotenow. New growth going into winter needs time to harden off. __________________ Phil - Zone 7A - Newark, DE Newbie fig lover just trying to learn.

mgginva

Registered:1320266925
Posts: 1,856

Posted 1404363641	Reply with quote #7

I use fafard #52 and i fertilize with no real plan. feed and they thrive. I use a lot of bunny poop. I have read a lot that says what I'm doing is wrong but my trees are so loaded I'm having to reinforce them. I just operate under the assumption that healthy happy trees will give me figs. Good luck. __________________ Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list: Perretta,

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1404380782	Reply with quote #8

Hiajv73, I use standard fertilizer - small blue bullets 10/10/10 . I would use half a closed hand upon the dirt each month. I want the trees to grow; I'm no bonzaïsta ! Knowing that more nodes often gets you to more fruits with figtrees - but that doesn't work on other crops like apples, cherries ... Now is still early enough to fertilize . By end of July, one should hold back on fertilizer in my Zone7 or the tree will be hit hard on the first frosts. I'm mainly targeting brebas ; maincrop if cold weather does cooperate ... and die-back = no brebas . __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

BronxFigs

Registered:1333154764
Posts: 1,864

Posted 1404386650	Reply with quote #9

ajv73- Your profile states that you hale from Pittsburgh, PA. You are a short-growing season area. I would think the "Plant-Tone" (ESPOMA) that you added to your nutrient rich soil is all you need for this season. Over fertilizing will just give you soft, juicy growth that may not harden-off properly before the onset of colder weather. Plants start to wind down after June 21st, and any unlignified tissue will probably suffer cold damage if it's still too green as trees go into dormancy and freezing weather. I personally would not add anymore fertilizers to your growing mix this late in the season. Definitely protect your potted fig trees after dormancy. Pittsburgh can get really cold. Just my two cents. Good luck with your new trees. You're gonna love eating the figs that you grew! Frank __________________ Bronx, NYC Zone-7

eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,100

Posted 1404391463	Reply with quote #10

Tony - welcome to the forum, from another Pittsburgher. I am a rookie also, growing figs for less than a year. I think that Frank's advice above is spot on, though if you watered weekly with dilute (1/2 strength) Miracle Grow solution until the end of July it would not hurt. Most of my young trees are growing like weeds with a similar diet of Espoma Plant tone in the mix and weekly MG feedings. Given the amount of rain we have had, I worry that a lot of the fertilizer gets washed out of the small pots between feedings. __________________ Ed Zone 6A - Southwest PA --------------------------- Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid), Col Littman's Black Cross. And any cold hardy early fig.

ajv73

Registered:1403132563
Posts: 141

Posted 1404395406	Reply with quote #11

Thanks everyone for your advice. I will list my new trees in a post in a little while. Right now work is interfering with my new obsession. Thanks..Tony __________________ Tony V. - Western PA, Zone 6a

Registered:1352993559
Posts: 412

Posted 1404396216	Reply with quote #12

I use PRO-Mix. It comes in several formulations. I use BX cause that’s the only one my supplier carries. I add extra Perlite (I don’t measure) and crab shell (approx 2% volume of soil), kelp meal (approx 1/2 to 1 tablespoon per gallon of soil) and a general-purpose granulated vegetable fertilizer (this year is was Jobe Tomato and vegetable 2-5-3, approx 2 tablespoon to 5 gallon of soil) I fert my potted trees every 14 days rotating between Miracle Grow (24-8-16), fish fertilizer (5-1-1) and fish with seaweed fertilizer (2-3-1). All my in grounds died to the ground so they are also getting ferts.

Previous Topic | Next Topic