Fig help!!

Hello, I wonder if I might ask for some advice about my figtree. It is planted on a very sunny border and looks very healthy every year but I never see any figs. The first year I planted it I saw some figs but that was about 10 years ago. Despite trying a number of things including watering not watering feeding and not feeding it never makes any figs. The plant continues to look really healthy and is growing in a good way. I wonder if I’m going to have to take it out and start again completely. I’ve uploaded a picture – I’m not sure which type of figtree this is but I would appreciate any advice thank you for your help.

 

Are the roots restricted? That is normally done to encourage fruiting rather than growing ... but I would expect yours to have taken over the neighbourhood in 10 years without root restriction ...

 

Yes. I concrete slabs around root. I have managed to contains the roots – not sure if that is the cause of the problem or whether it is due to the plant being a difficult one to fruit.

 

Do you know the variety? UK outdoors ones are usually Brown Turkey (which I don't think has very good flavour, but is hardy here)

If it is one of the French varieties (border line hardy I would say) maybe that is needing more summer than we get here ...

other than that I can't think of anything.

 

Where did you get it?

Just wondering if it is a seedling tree.
I have one for ornamental purposes and it has very sparce fruits that form so late they never have a chance ripen.

 

I wondered that but assumed because it had figs in Year One that it was mature enough to fruit.

 

Can't really understand it.
My fruiting one has two crops a year, the second one never ripens but the first always does .
The figs should at least form even if they were not to ripen.

 

Thank you everyone for your advice and help on the fig tree. As it’s quite old I’m not quite sure what variety it is but it’s certainly a variety that doesn’t give much in terms of fruit! I’m not sure whether to try and start again but it seems a shame to chop down the big tree when it looks so healthy. Maybe I could just buy some figs and stick them onto the tree but that seems a little defeatist

 

New figs coming his year.


Last years "second" crop which will fall off shortly.

 

Usually when a mature Fig is healthy, but does not fruit, it is because of a potassium deficeincy in the soil, try applying sulphate of potash to the soil, use the manufacturers instructions.

 

I've never really liked the idea or restricting the roots, I've had a couple or more over the years outside and never bothered, and apart from the seedling tree I have they have fruited pretty well.
I think the root restriction goes back to the days of victorian greenhouses, where I can understand it might be necessary.

 

The family one (unrestricted) was massive, and unwieldy. But that said it still fruited well. So I think you are right about containing it when in a greenhouse. My (French) varieties (Rouge de Bordeaux and White Marseilles) are in the greenhouse, but more because I think they are tender.

 

Nada...looks like another barren year.

 

Hmm. Doesn’t look good.