Fig tree and garden update | Spring

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!

Fig tree and garden update - spring

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.

Large planter bed

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!


Want to support the blog?

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
CommentLuv badge
7 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Xrayvsn
4 years ago

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.

Xrayvsn
4 years ago

I’m southeast but still get somewhat colder winters that are not conducive for fruit trees

HighPlainsMD
4 years ago

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

Sharon Dealey
Sharon Dealey
3 years ago

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

Show Buttons
Hide Buttons
7
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x