Fig label
Common name: Fig
Botanical name: Ficus carica
Family: Moraceae (mulberry family)
Aspect & soil: Full sun; well-drained soil
Climate: Cool, Mediterranean, temperate, subtropical
Habit: Deciduous tree
Propagation: Cutting, suckers, grafting, aerial layering, potted plants
Difficulty: Moderate
A promising crop of figs is starting to swell on my huge backyard fig tree. It’s a ‘Brown Turkey’ and it has already had one crop.
Sadly, in my cold Tasmanian climate, this developing crop will come to nothing as the long hot days of summer give way to the cooler days of autumn. Despite knowing that this is the outcome, I look longingly at the figs hoping this season it will be different.
In most climates, figs produce two crops a year. The main crop, which is forming now in summer, ripens in autumn. That long, slow ripening period produces sweet, juicy fruit.
The sweetest figs are those bursting out of their skins — they’re the ones that don’t make into shops and the main reason to grow your own.
Left unpruned, as my tree was, a fig grows into a large, handsome shade tree reaching 6m tall and 4m wide. If this sounds bigger than expected (and it is very large if you intend to net the tree), control its size by pruning it in winter or very early spring when the tree is bare and the crop harvested.
Figs can tolerate a hard winter pruning, which also encourages new growth and ensures lots of fruit.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Glamour girls
EVERYONE LOVES A HARDWORKING ISA BROWN BUT GET A LOAD OF THESE CHIC CHICKENS AND FEATHERED FASHIONISTAS
FRIED VEG
IT’S POSSIBLE TO ENJOY A FRY-UP IN A DELICIOUSLY HEALTHY WAY BY TURNING TO SOME FRY-FRIENDLY PLANTS
BEYOND BIG RED
TOMATOES COME IN ALL SHAPES, SIZES AND COLOURS, SO NOW’S THE TIME TO EXPLORE THEIR INFINITE VARIETY
EVEN MORE TROPPO
ANOTHER SENSATIONAL SIX TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR GARDEN — OR YOUR FRUIT SALAD
LET'S STALK RHUBARB
JUST AS TOMATO IS A FRUIT USED AS A VEGETABLE, RHUBARB IS A VEGETABLE COMMONLY CONSUMED AS A DESSERT
FOOD OF THE GODS
THE FLESHY FRUIT OF THE FICUS WAS MUHAMMAD’S FAVOURITE AND BUDDHA FOUND ENLIGHTENMENT UNDER A FIG TREE
MAKING GOOD BETTER
THE IRREPRESSIBLE TV PRESENTER WRITES ABOUT HOW SHE, WITH HUSBAND ANTON AND DAUGHTER FRIDA, TURNED A STEEP HOBART BLOCK INTO A PRODUCTIVE GARDEN
True lily
MANY PLANTS ARE CALLED LILIES BUT IT’S THE MEMBERS OF THE GENUS LILIUM THAT ARE THE REAL DEAL
SALTY BUDS
THE CAPER BUSH PRODUCES TWO DISTINCT BUT EQUALLY DELICIOUS, TANGY MORSELS: CAPERS AND CAPERBERRIES
Ducks on duty
BUSY, VIGILANT, HARD ON GARDEN PESTS AND GENEROUS LAYERS — YOU’VE GOTTA LOVE A DUCK!