Over the years, I've canned, dehydrated, and given away lots of figs. I've baked with them and we've eaten lots
fresh. Then a couple years ago, one of them died. The next year another died.
And the next year another. Now, our last remaining original fig tree is going
the same way.
The leaves curl, yellow, and drop.
I've done some research into this and it could be any number of things: nutrient deficiencies, disease, pests. Could be too little rain or could be too much.
Nothing I've done has helped, so I'm doubtful the few figs the tree did produce will ripen. That will mean no fig harvest this year; a sad loss, for sure.
Happily, we have a new generation of saplings, growing on their own and looking healthy.
It will be years before they produce much, but at least they're there. Hopefully, they won't succumb to whatever got the others.
Alas, Our Fig Trees © July 2024
18 comments:
Just keep focusing on those saplings! They'll be bearing before you know it!
Daisy, I hope so! Occasionally, we have patches where everything dies mysteriously. But then things start growing again and all is well. Hoping it's the same for those fig trees.
I imagine they have a lifespan like most things. Not long enough for you, but those saplings look hopeful
Darn, that is horrible news Leigh. Your fig preparations have been a staple of my Summer reading for some time now.
Good Saturday morning to you. I don’t know what kind of figs you have, but I planted a black mission fig tree four years ago along with two apple trees ,a cherry and a peach. The only ones standing are the peach and the fig.
The Peach tree didn’t do super well this winter because we had a really funky winter even had snow on the ground into April and it took it’s toll. I think with a little TLC it will come back better next year. It has a few peaches this year.
The black mission is another story. A tree that is thrilled to live in a Mediterranean climate, which is what we have here hit the ground running and hasn’t stopped since.
First year I think maybe one or two figs.
Second year a few more but not many maybe four. Third year a few more going on year four now.
I noticed early on when it was still semi-winter I had a fig growing on it. I thought that’s really weird. Maybe that’s all we’re going to get this year because of the odd weather? Well the fig kept growing and eventually I picked it to eat and I’m thinking well that’s all I get this year then I’ll have learned. Next thing I knew figs started popping out like crazy. I have somewhere in the area of 60 to 70 figs that started in spring and will grow until August September and then they’ll be ready. Oh my goodness I’m thrilled thinking of feasting on beautiful black mission figs.
But the point of my comment is from bare root to production as early as year two and it just increases each year and it’s the happiest little tree in the county.
Aka Goatldi
....And here I am with a fig tree in a pot that I bought this year because I always wanted a fig tree. Hope to over-winter it in the new root cellar, dark and cool but no frost....
My fig tree is going strong 24 years since planting from a pot. Its a brown turkey. Its planted on an old burn pile. I thought that would be a challenge for it and maybe it was at first but boy-howdy, it produces a lot! It depends on the rain cycle as to how many I can pick though, if we get frequent rains and not so much sun the fruits split and never get ripe. This year I got a few qts for the freezer and ate fresh till I was sick of them. Many went to the bugs and goats. Its mostly done now and may have another fruiting but starts losing its leaves slowly around now and so if I get more fruit it'll only be a few...
Here's hoping your cuttings will take hold and do well!
TB, figs really have been a staple here! Of course, some years are better than others. Looks like we'll have quite a few lean years for awhile.
Goatldi, I have no idea what kind of fig our trees are. I'm guessing brown turkey because that's a popular one in our area. Nice to hear yours are doing so well!
Rosalea, I hope yours thrives! I have no idea how they do as container plants. I'm curious how yours will do.
Annie, that's excellent. It's so odd how some things can thrive and some can't. We've been fortunate in that we usually get a good harvest no matter how the season's been. I will likely baby the new sprouts!
As you stated Leigh, you bought the property empty and had for awhile. You may have not known when they were planted or volunteered. I wonder where they might be at the end of their years? Do you have any idea how old they are?
Kevin, that's a good question, and one of the things i researched was how long fig trees can live. The answer was a hundred years. Considering that our house is a hundred years old, it's possible they were planted when it was built! So it's possible they simply died of old age.
I guess my first comment didn’t take but perhaps it is global warming rearing its ugly head.
Ed, I'm more inclined to think environmental pollutants, since we've had more of a cooling trend regionally than warming over the past several years. Manufacturing has always been a concern there, then there are the claims about chemtrails (who knows, except some of the analyses are interesting). Now they're finding microplastics in the air. That can't be good. Possibly my figs were carbon starved, since trees need carbon dioxide to breathe and we're cutting back on that.
After you had posted this, I did some looking up of things. Turns out the oldest living fig tree is in Sri Lanka and was planted in 288 B.C. It is called the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.
https://www.thevintagenews.com/2019/05/07/oldest-human-planted-tree/
TB, that's amazing! I wonder what variety of fig it is, lol. Probably not one available to us here in the US.
So I read recently that tests of ocean water, surface water and rain taken all around the world have detectable traces of glyphosate... Disappointing if its true. I have no reason to doubt it, since it shows up in breast milk at some high percentage rate of those tested.
Annie, I believe it. Especially since anybody can purchase it. I have neighbors who are very liberal with it. I wonder too, about combinations of various substances. This is something that isn't discussed much, but makes sense.
Thank you for your card. It made me smile. Your spot of the internet always makes me smile. Thank you.
www.rsrue.blogspot.com
Regine, you're welcome. :)
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