Re: Fig trees and watering
Re fig tree watering and as it applies to pot grown standard-trained figs, I
grow white merseilles amongst other varieties which winter under glass. In
an attempt to maximise sweetness I continually experiment with limiting
water. There is a fine point at which leaves go dull and start to droop and
some dampness is needed at this point if fruit shrinkage and eventual drop
is to be averted. There is no doubt about improved flavour if the water
restriction is properly regulated - easier said than done.
The experience of those in Italy and others with standard-grown plants in
pots on this water issue would be interesting.
Edward Faridany, Sussex UK
----- Original Message -----
From: M. & L. Doster <mld@theworks.com>
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: 09 July 2000 13:35
Subject: Re: Fig tree and bougainvillea...
> From: Janet Blenkinship:
> >Our fig tress in Crete naturally thrive and do well, but locals here say
> >that they should NOT be watered. I feel sure that I have also read -
> >somewhere - that though they do not NEED water they can benefit from some
> >summer irrigation. Does anyone know the answer to this one.
>
> In the mid-1990s a University of California researcher investigated the
> water use of Black Mission and Calimyrna fig trees. Basically, fig trees
> were given different amounts of water (I think relative to reference
> evapotranspiration), and then the fruit was evaluated for amount produced
> and quality. I can't remember the exact results, but Black Mission trees
> could receive a lot of water with a corresponding increases in yield. The
> situation for the Calimyrna trees was not so simple or clear cut. I have
> some summaries of the results around somewhere; if I find them, I can give
> more details.
>
> Traditionally, commercial fig orchards (at least, Calimyrna figs?) in
> California were not irrigated from early June to after harvest (a period
> during which typically no rains fall). My understanding was that one
reason
> was to avoid getting split fruit. Now with drip irrigation, some growers
do
> give some water during summer, although care has to be taken not to
> interfere with the drying of the figs. Some growers apply a lot of water
to
> Black Mission orchards during summer.
>
> The effect of amount of water applied on the flavor of figs is not so
clear.
> I've eaten figs off of trees that did not receive any summer water, and
> these figs were very, very tasty. On the other hand, I've eaten figs off
> trees that had lost some leaves due to lack of water, and these figs were
> _not_ tasty (probably due to lack of photosynthates being produced).
>
> I water my own fig trees during summer (I live in an area with a hot and
> very dry summer) but less than I do my stone fruit trees.
>
> --Mark
> Mark Doster
> central San Joaquin Valley, California
> USDA zone 9; Sunset zone 9
>
>
>
>
>
