The Beechgrove Garden episode 11 2020: Make the most of the growing season with the Beechgrove team. George shows how easy it is to fix a fallen fig, while Kirsty explores the unique Rain Garden at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. Meanwhile, agony plant aunt Carole answers more homegrown questions from viewers.
Gardening show that celebrates Scottish horticulture and growing conditions.
The Beechgrove Garden episode 11 2020
Figs (Ficus carica) are large shrubs or small trees grown for their succulent fruit and beautiful architectural foliage. They thrive in the garden, in a container, in glasshouses or trained against a wall.
Figs come from warm Mediterranean climates and in southern regions will thrive in a sunny and sheltered position with well-drained soil.
Although figs can cope with dry conditions, drought can cause fruit to drop prematurely, especially if the developing fruit suffers from lack of water early in the growing season. Water plants regularly during the summer season, but do not give them too much or water them erratically while the fruit is ripening, as this may cause the fruit to split. Container grown plants are more vulnerable to lack of water.
Figs grown on fertile soils seldom require additional feeding in spring but when fruits appear feed weekly with a high-potassium liquid plant food (such as tomato fertiliser). If grown on poor soils and/or with root restriction, weak trees may benefit from an early spring application of 70g (2oz) of a balanced granular fertiliser (such as Growmore or fish, blood and bone). Overfeeding can lead to excessive vegetative growth at the expense of fruiting.