in southern MD- My fig tree looked awful last year summer '09 and produced fewer figs than usual. There was less fruit and very few ripened. They stayed green and hard, and were small. This tree had been a very prolific tree. I was wondering how your trees produced last summer. So far this year I have very little growth on old wood and some long new growth from the bottom. Top looks bad. Any advice is welcome. Not sure weather is only factor. There is a groundhog hole nearby. Could it be eating the roots? It did not get the fruit because I was keeping a close eye.

Hi, the Brown Turkey I bought was from an ebay seller. It is 18 to 20 inches tall, planted in a 20 oz styrofoam cup and very healthy looking. It has many leaves and they are not stretched or anything, nicely spaced I mean. I may pot up so I don't have to worry about it drying too quickly. I am still waiting on the Gurneys order. I am hopeful that it will be the golden celeste that another person received :). I like what I read about Just Fruits and Exotics, per everyones advice, I will wait until spring. In the meantime. I am interested in learning about fig propagation so will continue learning all I can from you guys who are enjoying those succulent looking fruits :). I will post back here when the Gurneys order comes. I wonder what they will send. Take care, 3jsmom31

Hi, total newbie here. I have a similar question. I have a fig bush that has been unmaintained in the past 3-4 years. It is only about 3 metres, and has much more branches, like 20 or so. Can I prune similar to Herman's advice, but in early Winter here? Should I cut to a particular location (e.g. bud facing outwards?). The branches are about 1 inch thick. Can I use a saw to prune? thanks heaps.

If it's a new purchase, I'd return it. If it's not, you can stick it out with the neem oil, maybe alternating with a 50/50 spritz of rubbing alcohol at alternating 1 week intervals (neem 1 week, 50/50 the next. You can also go this route: Neem Oil Insecticide 1 pint very hot water 1 pint rubbing alcohol or ethanol 1 tsp pure, cold-pressed neem oil 1/2 tsp Castile Peppermint Soap, Murphy’s Oil Soap, or insecticidal soap In a 1 qt spritzer, mix the neem with the soap & hot water. Shake well. Add the alcohol & shake again. Shake regularly to keep the mixture emulsified as you spritz the plant, making sure as you spritz that you’re covering all the vegetative surfaces, especially the underside of leaves and leaf/branch crotches. Use all the mix same day or discard. Use only pure, cold-pressed neem oil, such as that packaged by Dyna-Gro. Other methods of oil extraction limit the effectiveness of the active ingredient in neem oil – azadiractin. Al