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Cornucopia - Australia

Fig pruning

21 years ago

I have to be quick because I'm at school. I have a fig that has become dormant for the second time, and I still only have one slender bending stem with a green bud on top. What can I do to promote figs to form AND to get the tree to start producing lateral branches? I fear if I don't do something, this time next year, I will have a single stem taller than me, no fruit, with a green bud on the top.

Please reply quick!

Corey

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Comments (4)

pepino
21 years ago
Hi Corey,
Bludging at school hey? With the fig I'd give it some dolomite lime and ensure it is mulched well. I don't think you need to prune it. Perhaps next yr it'll branch out.

Good luck
Saintin
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanks pepino,

I'm doing this at break time in the library, but the librarian is like a hawk, and she'll probably chuck me out for not doing 'academic' stuff. I had a scare last night as I was reading in my gardening book and it said that figs need 300 hours under 10 degrees otherwise they won't fruit. Does this mean it won't fruit in Brissy? We've had a VERY mild winter this year, some days it feels like False Spring.

Corey
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pepino
21 years ago
Corey
I wouldn't worry too much. They grow pretty well around the mediterranean and I would guess some parts have a similar climate to Brisbane (perhaps drier). Don't quote me on that though. They grow them in the South in the US too. I know they can't tolerate too much cold. What are the overnight lows at the moment.

We have also been having a mild winter with warm sunny days around 18 degrees. Last night changed though and we had a wonderful electrical storm followed by rain all night. It's still raining now.
Raymondo
21 years ago
I wouldn't worry too much either. But if you want to encourage branching just cut off the growing tip just above a bud.
Ray

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