Figs: growing at home. Figs from seeds. Growing outdoors, care

Figs, he is a fig tree, he is a fig tree - this is a southern plant that prefers to grow where it is warm. However, Russian gardeners are not afraid of the upcoming difficulties, and they began to try to plant it not only on the windowsill, but also on the plots. It should be noted that this is an extremely interesting experience, so read, gain theoretical knowledge and try it - it's extremely interesting.

Features of the plant

Before growing a seedling for planting, it's good to ask what fig represents. Cultivation of this miracle-berry at home requires attentive attitude and great patience. The adult plant tolerates the temperature decrease in winter time to -20 degrees, but will not give more than one harvest per year, whereas in the tropics the fruits are removed three times a year. Of course, for our conditions this is an unreal figure, however, so that the tree grows and the fruits mature, it is necessary to give maximum attention to the fact that the plant receives enough heat. Only in this way you will be able to get delicious figs by autumn. Growing at home a large number of tropical fruits - this is a very fascinating process.

Horticulture Tips

It is clear that the usual way of planting here is not good, the plant will carry one winter, and then it will freeze, as it will become too high. So you do not get a fresh and stunningly useful figs. Growing at home is usually limited to rooting cuttings, after which the plant is sent to the open ground. In order not only to survive the plant, but also to bring the harvest, it is necessary to choose not only the right place, but also use a special trench method of planting. Plus, it is required to form a bush in a special way, so that its branches do not freeze in winter cold. We begin to disassemble everything in order. First of all, you will need to prepare a seedling, which can be moved to the garden.

Growing figs at home from seeds

The task is very complex, which requires a lot of time and patience. Not every gardener agrees to wait 7-8 years before the time when the first fruits will ripen on the branches. However, if your interest in the plant is more creative, then you are interested in the process itself, then why not look at it, starting with small, tender shoots.

In order to obtain seed, you need to buy fresh or dried figs. Ripe fruit collected on the plantations have seeds of good germination. Now you need to wait for the spring and sow the seeds in the ground. Seeds are well washed, removing mucus from them, and spread out to dry. Plant the seeds to a depth of 2 cm, water well and cover with a plastic bag. Approximately three weeks, provided that high humidity and air temperature are maintained, a small fig will appear. Now your task is gradually to accustom the plants to room temperature, and then temper them, putting them on the balcony first for a few minutes, and then for hours. When the seedlings reach 10 cm in length, you can make a pick.

Cultivation of figs with the help of cuttings

This is a much faster way that the figs multiply. Growing at home (photo more clearly demonstrates this process) involves rooting cuttings and the subsequent transplantation into a large pot or landing in an open ground. Which is very convenient, because the branches for cuttings can be cut at any time of the year, so if your friends are gathered in warmer places, ask them to bring their shoots with them, wrapping them in a damp cloth.

The resulting cuttings must be prepared for planting by making an oblique cut. On the bark, several longitudinal incisions need to be made, it is from here that the rootlets will grow. Now put the shank in the water for several hours, so that the milky juice comes out. In parallel, it is necessary to decontaminate the soil with a strong solution of potassium permanganate, after which the cuttings are planted at a depth of 5 cm. Top with 1 cm of sand, and the container is covered with a jar or polyethylene. About a month later you will see the first young leaves, and a month later the fig will be ready for a transplant. About a year later, it will be possible to eat the first fruits.

Figs in a pot

A young plant can spend in the pot about 12 months, during which time its root system will grow significantly, and it will be necessary to transplant it. It should be noted that transplanting immediately into a large pot slows down its development, so it is necessary to shake the plant out of the pot every year, examine its roots and select a new one. The pot should interfere with the root system and leave a little more room for its growth and development. Adult plants (usually six-year plantings) stop in their development, now you can change them every 5-6 years.

If there are other subtleties that allow you to grow a good fig. Care and growing at home should exactly meet the requirements of a tropical plant. When planting, the root neck is not buried, and the plant itself is located in the brightest place, it needs to ensure a good watering.

Another surprise: this is a deciduous plant, which means that with the onset of autumn it will be necessary to provide him with a rest period. It is best to lower the temperature to +5 degrees, if this is not possible, then before spring put it in a dark place and reduce watering. Watering is done with cool water and only slightly so that the soil does not dry out.

Spring awakening

We continue to talk about figs. Cultivation at home (reviews say it is not as difficult as it seems) becomes much more interesting with the advent of spring. With the appearance of the first kidneys, the plant is transferred to a bright spot and watering is increased. At the same time, it is necessary to feed it with nitrogen fertilizer. In the future, this procedure should be repeated twice a month. The second and third can be carried out with the help of nitrogen fertilizers, and then you need to use complex ones.

Trimming

Figs - it's still a tree, so if you do not care about the formation of the crown, it will swing to the ceiling. Every spring, preferably before the buds appear, you need to cut off shoots directed inward, and also pinch the tops. However, remember that horizontal branches can not be touched, it is on them that fruit is formed. Most often form the crown in the form of a fan, it's very simple. Fruits of the first collection are formed on last year's shoots around the beginning of summer.

Competent planting in the open ground

In fact, the cultivation of the southern fig tree in the northern regions is not an easy task. That's why many do not undertake to grow figs. Growing at home, diseases and various difficulties, the risk of losing a plant in a cold winter - all this is a weighty argument for planting a plant adapted to our conditions. However, there are among the gardeners and those who are not afraid of difficulties. That the plant grows well, it is planted in deep trenches. In this case, the place should be the most sunny and warm in the whole area. Very well, if this place is open from the south, and all the other sides will be covered with brick walls or trees. This will create a unique microclimate.

Digging a trench

Now it is necessary to work, it depends on the cultivation of figs at home. In open ground it is necessary to dig a strip a foot and a half deep. At the same time, remove the top layer, it is the most fertile, and dumped in one direction, we will use it to create a substrate. Lower layer, the poor nutrient elements are thrown to the north side, forming an earthen shaft. The width is about one meter. At the same time, the southern wall must be made with a smooth slope downwards. Now fill the drainage layer, and on top - a nutrient substrate mixed with humus and biohumus, the depth of the pit is reduced by about 100 cm.

Additional heating

We have already stressed that figs - a plant extremely thermophilic. Therefore, it will not be superfluous not only to preserve, but also to increase summer heat. For this, the southern slope of the trench is covered with black film, and the northern slope is fortified with painted white boards or metal. In the daytime the wall accumulates heat, but at night it gives it away. In winter, with proper shelter, the figs will be completely protected from frost, since the soil freezes no more than one meter. Thus the fig perfectly winters and yields. Such a landing allows creating almost tropical conditions, which means raising not only figs, but also garnet, laurel and mandarin.