Fig trees grow fast into tall trees with wide branches.
Many consider the luscious fig an exotic fruit, with its sweet smell, dramatic coloring and nutty flavor. However, fig trees require less effort than many American standards such as the peach tree. The hardy fig requires little pruning or fertilization, and you can grow a backyard full of fig trees -- at no cost -- from fig clippings. Does this Spark an idea?
Identification
The common fig (Ficus carica) grows happily in backyards in warm, dry regions of the United States and in containers in cooler climes. Cultured fig trees rarely exceed 25 feet tall, but with their spreading branches cloaked in large, green leaves, they do not pass unnoticed. The luscious fruit appears in two waves. The "breba" crop arrives in spring, followed by the late-summer main crop. The seeds inside true figs produce trees if properly planted, but many gardeners prefer growing fig trees from cuttings.
Methods of Propagation
Common fig trees are not true figs because they fruit without pollination, which renders their seeds sterile. Pollinating fig trees, such as the Smyrna and San Pedro varieties, produce seeds that can germinate into trees. However, according to the California Rare Fruit Growers, most fig trees are grown from cuttings. Growers occasionally propagate rare cultivars on root stocks or rejuvenate older trees by grafting new growth.
Cutting Procedure
Growing fig trees from clippings is a year-long procedure. It starts in late winter, when the "mother" fig tree is dormant. The best cuttings come from year-old growth on branch tips. Horticulturists at Texas A&M University recommend against using suckers -- those new shoots that appear at the base of a fig tree -- because of the risk of transferring root pests and diseases to the new trees. Instead, cut the top 6 to 8 inches off slender fig branches, bundle the cuttings and bury the bundle -- tips down -- in well-drained soil. By spring, the cuttings are ready for planting.
Fig Tree Care
Homeowners who plant their fig cuttings without consideration of the tree's requirements pay a heavy price. Fig trees grow tall and wide amazingly quickly. The deep shade resulting from the leafy summer canopy kills all undergrowth. The fig's horizontal roots extend beyond the branch canopy on several sides. None of these qualities presents problems given an appropriate location. The wise homeowner selects a planting location with ample room and sun for each fig cutting.
Tags: from clippings, from cuttings, trees grow, true figs