Fig tree is known for producing delicious edible fruits. The edible fruits of fig trees are famous all around the world.
Apart from its nutritional value, fig tree also enhances the landscape beauty of a garden. But today, we are going to talk about the edible fruit of fig trees and find out when they start producing it.
When do fig trees produce fruit?
Most varieties of fig trees have the ability to start producing fruit during the summer. To be precise, a fig tree starts producing fruit in the months of May and June. The fruit bearing period of fig trees can stretch up to the month of November and can produce as many as sixty fruits per tree.
Let’s look at different varieties of fig tree and discuss when they start producing fruit.
Dwarf fig tree:
Dwarf fig trees are small in size compared to other varieties of fig trees. But the important thing to remember here is that it does not stop people from planting dwarf trees as an ornamental plant.
Because they are excellent at increasing the landscape beauty of the garden.
Additionally, it is very easy to take care of dwarf fig trees. Because they can survive under difficult conditions too.
For example, dwarf fig trees are known for being incredibly drought tolerant and heat tolerant. They also do not require a lot of water to reach their optimum growth.
It has been noticed by experts that dwarf fig trees are capable of producing edible fruits. In fact, they produce fruits which are larger than most other varieties of fig trees.
The important thing to remember here is that it takes dwarf fig trees at least three years to start producing fruits from the time of plantation.
An average dwarf fig tree is seen producing fruit in the summer or the fall. The fruits produced by dwarf fig trees turn into purple color upon ripening. This is the time when you start collecting fruits from the fig trees.
Common fig tree:
The scientific name of common fig tree is ficus carica. Common fig trees can reach a height of twenty feet when they become fully mature.
But they do require a decent amount of sunshine for their optimum growth. Common fig trees do very well as ornamental plant.
Common fig trees are known for producing edible fruits too. According to experts, common fog trees mostly start producing fruit three years from plantation.
When it comes to the exact time of the year, common fig trees start to produce fruits in the summer. May is the most likely month of the year for common fig trees to start producing juicy fruits.
Additionally, it has also been noticed that some common fig trees can end up producing fruits at two different times of the year. Out of these two production times, only one of the production might be edible.
Most of the times, the second production of common fig trees is known for giving birth to edible fruits while the first one produces inedible ones.
Things to know about fig tree fruiting:
There are a lot of things that one needs to know about the fruiting of fig trees. Let’s discuss in detail about some of those things.
The months of the year when fig trees produce fruit:
It is very important to know which months of the year fig trees produce fruit. It is believed by experts that most of the fig tree varieties start producing fruit in the month of May.
If they do not start producing fruit in May, then you can be sure that they will surely start producing fruit by the time June month arrives.
The fruit bearing period of most fig trees last up to the month of November. There is another important thing you need to remember about the fruit bearing period of fig trees.
Some varieties of fig trees are known for having more than one fruit producing season.
These varieties will produce their first batch of fruits in the month of May or July. Then, September to November is their second period of bearing fruits for these varieties of fig trees.
Frequency of fruit production each year:
Most of the fig trees are known for producing fruits once a year. But it is believed by experts that some varieties of fig trees have the gift of producing fruits two times a year.
But only one of their two fruit productions is edible. The first production of fruit by these fig varieties fails to produce edible fruits.
However, the second production of fruit by these fig varieties are quite capable of bearing edible and delicious fruits. So it can be said fig trees generally produce edible fruits once a year and not more than that.
Amount of figs produced from a tree each year:
The amount of fruits a fig tree can produce often depends on a lot of things. Fig trees need favorable conditions to produce delicious and edible fruits.
It has been noticed by experts that a fig tree is able to produce forty fruits per year on an average. However, good conditions and decent amount of care can increase the number of fruits produced by a fig tree.
What causes a fig tree not to bear fruit?
There are a lot of things that can hamper a fig tree’s ability to produce fruits. Let’s discuss in detail about some of the causes.
Because of prematurity:
It takes a fig tree some time to start producing edible fruits. For example, a fig tree can take as much as three years before it starts bearing fruits.
So you cannot expect a fig tree to start producing fruits in its first year of plantation. Some varieties of fig trees might even require six years to start producing fig fruits.
Wrong watering method:
It is important to know the amount of water your fig tree needs to reach the optimum growth. It is believed by experts that your fig trees can struggle to produce fruit if they are watered too much.
Excessive amount of water can hamper the optimum growth of fig trees just as much as lack of water. And we all know that a fig tree has to reach its maturity to start producing edible fruits.
Wrong fertilizer:
You will need to consult a professional and find out the most suitable fertilizer for your fig tree.
According to experts, using fertilizers that have a huge amount of nitrogen can create problem for the growth pattern of fig trees. A fig tree starts producing fruits early when the right fertilizer is used.
Pruning the wrong branches:
Sometimes pruning a fig tree is needed to maintain the landscape beauty of your garden. However, pruning the branches that can lead to production of fruit can be problematic. It stops the fig tree from producing a large number of fruits.
Tips for encouraging fruiting on fig trees:
Encouraging fruiting on fig trees might seem like a difficult task without prior experience regarding the matter. However, there are some steps and methods you can follow to accomplish the task. Let’s discuss in detail about some of them.
Improved watering method:
Too much or too little water can make a fig tree incompetent when it comes to producing edible fruits. If your fig tree is facing lack of water, then you will need to increase its supply of water.
Then, you will notice the condition of your fig tree improving as a result. The supply of water will have to be cut down if the fig tree is receiving too much water.
Right kind of fertilizer:
You will need to use the kind of fertilizer that supports the growth of your fig tree. You will need to use fertilizers that have a low amount of nitrogen in them. High amount of nitrogen creates difficulties for fig trees in terms of producing edible fruits.
Right pruning method:
According to experts, you will have to prune your fig tree at least twice a year. Pruning at the right time increases the chances of producing more fruits. Winter and summer are the two seasons you will need to target for pruning your fig tree.
How do I know if my fig tree will fruit?
The first sign that your fig tree will showcase before it starts producing fruit is the seeds. A fig tree that is not capable of bearing edible fruits will not be blessed with the power of seeding.
So if your three or four year old fig tree has started producing seeds, then you can be pretty sure that it will bear fruits in the near future too.
Final Thoughts
May is the month that most fig trees can be seen producing fruits. Some fig trees even have two fruit bearing periods. But only the second fruit bearing period that lasts from September to November produces edible fruits. The first fruit bearing period produces inedible fruits.