In early spring, many fig lovers wait impatiently for their figs, which have been cultivated in pots or outdoors, to sprout again and then produce plenty of fruit. Sometimes all the fruit trees are in full bloom and spring is almost over by the time the figs cautiously show their delicate green shoots.
Planted figs sprout late
A first sign that the juices are rising and the fig tree is sprouting are the thickening buds. These are brightly colored and give way slightly when gently pressed with a finger. If there are no fresh shoots in the upper part of the fruit tree, you should be patient. A supposedly frozen fig often sprouts again from the rootstock.
Important: the right cut
For outdoor figs, cut back anything that has frozen in early spring. Since figs bear fruit on last year's wood, it is possible that fruit trees that have been pruned back after a severe winter will initially produce shoots but no fruit. However, pruning stimulates shoot formation and there is a possibility that so-called winter fruits will form on the fresh shoots during the warm summer months.
Unfortunately, these fruits do not fully ripen outdoors in our latitudes. Since the tree sheds these figs in winter, you can remove the fruit in the fall.
Stimulate the budding of a tub fig
If the figs have hibernated in a dark and cool room during the cold season, you should move the potted plants to a bright, frost-free room in early spring. The budding of the fig tree is stimulated by daylight. Keep the figs moist. However, avoid waterlogging, to which the tree is very sensitive at this point.
Repotting stimulates shoot formation
To encourage the formation of new shoots, you can cut back the figs in spring and repot them in fresh soil. When transplanting, prune the roots and remove the root thatch completely. Always use sharp pruning shears or a well-cleaned saw to cut the roots so that no bacteria can penetrate the cuttings into the rootstock. Slowly get the tree used to the changed site conditions. Sudden strong sunlight can burn the leaves and result in leaf shedding.
tips and tricks
How well the fig survives the cold season depends on the right location. Frost-resistant plants withstand brief periods of cold with temperatures as low as -15 degrees.
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