Re: Fig tree and bougainvillea...
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Re: Fig tree and bougainvillea...
- From: K*@aol.com
- Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2000 11:33:57 EDT
All:
Figs are generally best adapted to areas with long, hot summers. I don't
think any part of England qualifies on that score. The fruit of most
varieties takes a long time to ripen, so even if your friend's tree bore
fruit, it wouldn't necessarily have time to ripen before cold weather set in.
Also, there are types (Caprifigs and Smyrna figs) that require pollination
from a specific type of parasitic wasp. These wasps are usually not found in
cooler climates. The first thing to consider when growing figs in cooler
climates is the variety. There are some that produce an early spring crop
(called the breba crop), without pollination, on last year's growth. Such
varieties as Brown Turkey (also known as San Piero), Blanche (also known as
White Marseille, Lattarula, and Italian Honey Fig), and Osborne Prolific
(also known as Neveralla or Archipel) are best adapted to cool areas with
short summers.
Although figs don't require supplemental irrigation in dry-summer regions,
fruit quality is best with regular irrigation.
Bougainvilleas do best in full sun. In my experience, if plants are in
part-shade and part-sun, the parts in the sun will flower well and the shaded
parts won't. The most spectacular bougainvilleas I've seen have been in the
desert areas of California and Chile. There may also be some truth to the
idea that they perform better with a dry-winter, wet summer regimen. That
might be difficult to provide out-of-doors in England.
Kurt Mize
Stockton, California
USDA Zone 9
