Here’s an exciting update on the state of our elephant ear and jelly fig trees, and a special bonus if you make it to the end!
This post may contain affiliate links.
Another place with exciting developments this spring is our garden!
Long time readers will remember our love of our two fig trees and my obsession with their growth and productivity. Read on for an update on this front!
Or feel free to skip this post if gardening isn’t your thing. I won’t be offended.
Elephant ear fig tree
I made the executive decision to prune the elephant ear fig tree this season. Most gardening advice states that trees should be pruned in the “off” season, when the weather is colder and the tree is dormant. I procrastinated a bit, and didn’t get to it until the beginning of April, when the weather was already warming up.
Since I was late, I sadly had to prune off a lot of the branches that already had buds ready to burst forth with leaves and figs!
I was worried about the tree, but it seems to have bounced back very nicely with much fuller growth. It’s much less skeletal in appearance, and I think the aggressive pruning will do it a whole lot of good.
It’s even started producing figs! Dozens of them. I’m looking forward to a massive crop later this summer.
In related news, I felt bad tossing out the nice branches, so I half heartedly prepped them in this fashion and stuck them into some growth medium. I wasn’t expecting much, to be honest.
I was pleasantly surprised that they didn’t die! They stubbornly kept on growing slowly and producing leaves.
I separated them out into their own pots a few weeks ago. I definitely stripped off some of their delicate root systems in the process, so I’m again doubly surprised that they’re still seemingly alive. We’ll see if they turn into little trees of their own.
My fig sapling count is rapidly increasing!
Jelly fig
Not to neglect the precious jelly fig saplings, here is an update on their growth as well.
In short, they are doing great! After trimming off the silly little tiny figs that they had made, the branch and leaf growth really took off. The parent tree is also lush and ready for a great growing season.
I’m looking forward to a great crop this year.
As a bonus, here is a picture of the large raised planter bed that we made.
What should we plant in this? I’ve got a couple of good ideas, so stay tuned for the next update on our garden!
— TDD
Any special recommendations for our planter beds? How is your garden coming along this fine spring? Comment, share and subscribe!
Home and Garden
- First fig of the summer | 2021
- Autumn garden update 2020: Potatoes, peppers and tree pruning
- The Darwinian Doctor’s most important investment of 2020
- A Darwinian summer of cake and salad
- First figs of the pandemic
- Childcare in the age of COVID-19
- Figs and finances
- The Darwinian Doctor hacks date night
- Gratitude and Thanksgiving in 2019
- Autumn Garden Update 2019: Tuscan melons!
- Picking chestnuts in Seattle (a horse chestnut warning)
- First figs of the summer | 2019
- Kids play structure complete!
- Fig tree and garden update | Spring
- State of the blog and update on the jelly fig plants
- Children’s book recommendations for the young scientist
- How to prevent keyboard marks on your laptop screen
- Update on the Jelly Fig cuttings: They’re alive!
- How to grow a cutting from a fig tree
- First Fig of the Summer!
Want to support the blog?
- Join our investor club at Cereus Real Estate
- Visit my Recommendations page
- Check out my wife’s food blog: Eat Dessert First
- Stay at our luxury short term rentals
- Check out my TikTok channel
- Follow me on Instagram
- Follow me on YouTube
- Contact me with questions
8 comments
Didn’t know you had a green thumb (I certainly don’t). I think it would be great to have fruit trees on my property but unfortunately don’t think I am in the right zone to have the types I would want.
I love watching things grow! Fig trees, plants, my investment portfolio, my kids, my blog. I love it all (not in that order).
What part of the country are you in? I assume somewhere colder?
— TDD
I’m southeast but still get somewhat colder winters that are not conducive for fruit trees
TDD,
Enjoying your blog. I like the fig updates. I live in a much colder climate (Zone 5/6). There are some cold hardy fig varieties that can survive here, but they must be grown in containers and kept inside during the coldest winter months. I just planted two in containers this year and eagerly awaiting growth – so I can relate.
Also, this guy in Sacramento area is by far my favorite youtuber when it comes to gardening advice and he has a ton to say about figs and citrus which has been very helpful to me. Not an ad, just good information.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD8JqzqTITM
Hey HighPlains!
I’m so thrilled that you’re enjoying the fig updates. I was completely resigned to my gardening posts to be just for my own fun.
I’ve read about the practice of unearthing fig trees to lay them in the dirt for a warm nap during the winter. I’m glad I don’t have to do this!
Good luck with your own fig plants. My small cuttings are vigorously trying to produce figs right now, but I’m pretty certain the fruit won’t be edible until the plants are more mature.
Thanks for the Youtube link; I’m definitely going to check it out!
— TDD
Just bought a house that has this tree. I think it looks like your fig tree. I’m in Michigan’s Livingston county. I hope you can open the link to my picture.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QK6YPSbnZ4SLWN8UA
Hi Sharon, I was able to open the link. The leaves on this bush seem to be more elongated than I’d expect from a fig tree.
I love the mystery of a new plant. Let us know what blooms eventually! Hopefully it’ll have some nice flowers.
— TDD
Pruning a fig tree is essential for maintaining its health, productivity, and overall structure. Regular pruning helps remove dead or diseased branches, preventing the spread of diseases and promoting a more robust tree. Additionally, selective pruning encourages sunlight penetration and proper air circulation, leading to improved fruit production, healthier foliage, and an overall thriving fig tree.