An ancient tree native to the Mediterranean and western Asia , the common fig(Ficus carica ) grow to 30 feet with grayish bark and lobed leave up to 10 column inch long . Its tiny flowers seem inside the 1- to 4 - inch oval , cone - work or pear - shaped fruits that ripen to yellow , violet , brownish or black-market . Generally only hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture works hardiness zones 7 through 11 , the trees can live as far north as USDA geographical zone 5 when protect . If you wish to rise figs from seed , you may call for to purchase them because nonpollinated fruits commonly wo n’t contain them .
Understand Fig Propagation
Because Libyan Fighting Group shoots rout easy , propagate the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree from cuttings if you like to promote honest fruit - producers as such cultivars wo n’t descend true from seed . ( In other words , their seedlings wo n’t necessarily look like — or yield like — the parents . ) Also , trees farm from cutting can fruit their second year , while fig seedlings may take five to seven days to do so .
Some seedlings will be male as well and make only small-scale , inedible fruits . Therefore , you should only start FIG from seeds if you wish to raise them solely as cosmetic plant .
Because the common figure does n’t ask pollination to produce fledged fruits , not all cultivars uncommitted at the supermarket hold lawful seeds . Those imported from the parts of the world where they are aboriginal are more potential to have been pollinate .
Harvest Fig Seeds
Fig seed vary in size but usually are quite tiny , often no more than 1 1/2 mm in diameter . To glean them from fresh figs in tardy springtime or early summertime , sop the fruits in a bowl of water system for 24 to 48 hours . After they have softened , pull in them aside with your finger .
Swirl the float flesh in the stadium to encourage viable come to drop to the bottom , and overcharge both pulp and come for another 24 hour . Seeds that do n’t sink should n’t be planted because they belike are n’t viable .
plane the floating pulp from the surface of the piss and discard it . trace a kitchen strainer with a coffee berry filter , hold up it over a cesspool and pour the water through the filter to capture the seeds .
Plant Fig Seeds
After filling a container that has drain holes with aseptic seed - start mix , inseminate the still - damp seeds on the open of that mix . exhort them lightly into it without pass over them , top the container with shaping wrap and range it under a grow light or on a sunny windowsill . If kept at a temperature near 77 degrees Fahrenheit , the seeded player should germinate within two week to three calendar month .
Grow Fig Seedlings
Until the seedling are 1 calendar month onetime , feed them with a half - strength balanced plant life food once every two weeks . If you prefer an constitutive character , such as 3 - 3 - 3 , coalesce 1 1/2 teaspoon of the resolution into 1 dry quart of water . For a chemic 20 - 20 - 20 mixture , use 1/4 teaspoon of the vitreous silica per quart of water or whatever amount is indicated on the label . After the seedlings ' first month , increase the amount of the plant solid food to full strength .
When the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group have four leaves each , transplant them into individual seedling pots filled with a quality all - purpose potting ground . Keep seedlings indoors during their first winter , either on a gay windowsill or under a grow light timed to run for 14 to 16 hours per sidereal day . Stop fertilise them during the wintertime , and summarize feeding again in early outpouring .
After the last spring frost , transplant the seedlings into the ground in zones where they are hardy , select a location that meet sun for at least eight hours per day and has sandy loam with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5 . Gradually accustom the seedling to the bright light for several weeks before you imbed them . Space them 10 to 20 feet aside , using the wider spatial arrangement if you favor Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree form to bush cast , and make trusted that they receive 1 to 1 1/2 inches of urine per week .
