Which fig varieties are suitable for the garden or balcony?
Fig trees no longer thrive exclusively in the Mediterranean climate. Self-fertilizing and hardy figs also bear numerous fruits in our latitudes in autumn. When choosing a fig tree for the garden or balcony, pay attention to the following points:
- it must be a real fig tree, not an ornamental fig
- since the fig gall wasp cannot survive in our latitudes, the fig must be self-fertilizing
- Hardy fig trees survive cold spells well
- High-yield and resistant varieties guarantee a good harvest
also read
- Grow fig trees yourself
- Frost-hard fig trees defy harsh winters
- Repot fig trees properly
The optimal location
Figs love warmth and need a sunny spot in the garden. The chosen place should also be protected from the wind. Figs thrive particularly well if you plant them in front of a heat-retaining wall or in a sheltered courtyard.
You should also choose a sunny and sheltered location for the fig on the balcony. Windy balconies with little sun are not suitable for figs.
The right time to plant
The best time to plant a fig in the garden is spring. The ground should no longer be frozen. Wait for the time after the ice saints, because experience shows that night frosts are no longer to be expected. A fig planted in summer or autumn has too little time to develop enough roots and to get used to the surroundings. You should therefore refrain from planting fig trees in the field at this late stage.
Propagate a fig tree
You can propagate figs by cuttings or seeds. The offspring are successful and it is worth trying to grow offshoots from a well-bearing fig tree yourself.
Move fig trees
Pot figs only need to be converted if the fig is too big for the planter. Both repotting and planting a pot fig outdoors should always be done in spring.
Move fig tree in the garden
If you have to move an already rooted fig in your own garden, this should be done in early spring. It is important to prune the tree so that the plant's supply is ensured by the inevitably reduced root mass. If the fig is on a loamy soil, it is easier to move because it forms a smaller root system in this subsoil than in sandy soil.
Which substrate does the fig love?
Fig trees cultivated in pots can be planted in commercial potting soil or balcony potting soil of good quality. In the garden the fig loves well drained and nutrient-rich substrate. A mixture that consists of half topsoil and sand mixed with fine gravel has proven itself.
Tips
First cultivate frost-sensitive young plants in a tub on the balcony and overwinter the figs in a frost-free room. Since they do not freeze back, the plants wear off in the first years.
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