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chrisb9341

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Does anyone use a special feed for the final push of fig growing and ripening? I have a 3 yr old Chicago Hardy in a container that is loaded with figs. I use a top dressing of Plantone by Espoma and an occasional water soluble. A week and a half ago I gave the plant a shot of Beastie Bloomz 0-50-30 as an experiment when nothing was ripe. Probably a coincidence, but now the ripening fruits have gotten very large and plump and almost ready to pick. I am waiting til they are perfect. I am still new to this and really  having fun this year with my figs and trying to get the most out of them in my short growing season.

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Chris  Zone 5A
 
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Chris
Ballston Spa Ny Zone 5a
Mario_1

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
I'm no expert, but I would be careful on too much fertilizer in the last few weeks, you are eating the figs after all
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Wallingford CT, USA zone 6a would be happy to meet and get together with other members near me Wish list; Any fig from any specific place anywhere in Italy
Rewton

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
I agree though I'm still learning too.  Here in zone 7a I stopped fertilizing about 3 weeks ago to prevent lots of new growth (and unlignified wood) from getting damaged when the cool weather comes in a few weeks.
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Steve MD zone 7a
jdsfrance

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Hi Chrisb,
If it works, why not ?

But better, you need a good feeding program during the whole season. You should feed less ,in cold zones, as of the beginning of August.
A little more nutrients at ripening time would help short term but not in the long run. You can't have thin stems holding up the weight of big fruits.
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Climate from -25°C to + 35°C
Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here
Jerry_M

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
My Chicago Hardy, Figo Preto, Brown Turkey and Mission put on some late figs. I normally feed weekly with MG for Tomatoes 1 TBS/Gal. Two ago I switched to Greenlight Super Bloom 12-55-6 with the hopes of bringing along the fig on a fast track before 1st of November. In just two weeks the trees and figs have really taken off. I might add that the temps have started to fall below triple digits which probably contribute to some their growth and general good health.

I like the idea of no nitrogen with your Beastie Bloom since I don't need a lot of green growth this time of year.

I trade with PlanetNatural and they carry Beastie Bloom, so off I go.

Thanks for posting this Chris.
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Jerry
Canyon Lake, TX 8b
Wanted: Cajun Gold, Louisiana Honey, Schar Israel-114 grams
rafaelissimmo

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Its a nice idea but really, nature is the only additive necessary. If your fruit has the required 70-100 days needed to ripen and warm temperatures, you shouldn't need anything else. That said, I also agree with Mario1 and Rewton on their thoughts.
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Zone 7b, Queens, New York
chrisb9341

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Thanks for everyone's thoughts. Lets hope for a long warm fall.

Chris
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Chris
Ballston Spa Ny Zone 5a
Figaro

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
I'm going to add a different perspective...

I personally would not be worried about fertilizing at any time, including the last few weeks, IF I was using organic fertilizers (which I do!).  I personally would not add chemical fertilizers to food crops at any time, as a personal preference, and certainly not late into the bloom phase.

Also, it's worthy to note that you (like me) are growing in a container, and unlike plants in the ground, plants in containers need to have fert's added since they will eventually deplete the fert's in the container.  And, since usually the plant needs to spend some time in the container before it begins to fruit, depending on the size of the container, the nutrients can be depleted just when the plant needs it the most (during fruiting).

The Plantone is supposed to be organic (although, I don't believe it's OMRI approved) so it should be fine to continue with that as a top dressing.  During fruiting, the plants like higher amounts of Phosphorous and Potassium so you could also top dress with some bone meal and potash and add some rock dust or sea minerals for the micro nutrients.

I am a big believer that the plant will only take in the nutrients it wants/needs and, if those amounts are present in the soil, then adding more fert's won't increase the nutrients absorbed by the plant.  I fertilize to make sure that all the nutrients the plant wants are there when it needs them.
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[B]Figaro Zone 10b - South Florida[/I]
Growing: Black Mission, Strawberry Verte, LSU Hollier, LSU Purple, LSU Scotts Black, Cajun Gold, Panachee, Excel, UCR 291-4, UCR 143-36, Violette de Bordeaux, Ronde de Bordeaux, Calvert,  Black Madeira, Col De Dame Blanc
Wish List: CdDN, CdDG, Ischia Black, Galicia Negra
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snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Chris, give them some 5-1-1 liquid Fish Emulsion.  Your climate is pretty similar to mine, 8a.  Only feed it once then no more till Spring.  My Hardy Chicagos have been ripening over the past 2 weeks and should finish up ripening this week.  Your tree must be in a shady spot.

The past 2 years, we've had 25 degree temps in November.  So now is the time to start planning winterization.
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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
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