Re: Planting a Fig Tree

I don't know about British Columbia, but here in the Central Valley of
California, fig trees are VERY vigorous growers.  I have a wonderful Black
Mission fig tree that I love dearly, but it takes a great deal of pruning
every winter to keep it a manageable size (12 feet tall and rather more
across).  Trying to espalier one against a wall would be a losing battle, at
least in this climate.  Aside from the fruit drop, the canopy is very dense
and I find that almost nothing will grow beneath it, so you definitely want to
make sure you have a good spot for it.  

Other than picking a warm, nearly overripe fig right off the tree and eating
it out of hand, I can't think of anything better than a dried fig.  They're
just like candy, only good for you!

Does anyone have a "cure" for aphids and ants?  I have a plague of aphids
(being "farmed" by ants) on my plum trees every year.  I've tried malathion on
the aphids, and that works for a week or two, but the ants seem to repopulate
the trees with aphids very quickly.  I've also tried diazanon around the base
of the trees to repel the ants, but that only seems to divert them until it
gets washed away.  I'd prefer not to have to resort to chemical sprays every
year.  Ideas, anyone?

Thanks,
Kurt Mize
Stockton, California
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