What to grow alongside a fig? Should the fig be kept (forum)

gregandroo starts with ...
Hi all,
We've recently moved into our house in Southeast Sydney and would appreciate some advice regarding whether we should keep the fig you can see in the pictures. If we do, what fruit trees if any could be grown on either side - pomegranate and mandarin or lemon are on our wish list but we're happy to hear suggestions. We're not sure what type of fig it is, or how to keep it compact and control the roots so it doesn't take over the whole bed. A couple of clues... There's a good chance it's from Cyprus. Also, it produces what I believe is known as a breba crop directly from the nodes of the old wood.
We're planning raised beds for veggies in the long bed pictured. In place of the fig and camellia we had thought to plant our mandarin and pomegranate with a small raised bed in between and a composting space to one side. Now we've seen the fruitfulness of the fig we're having second thoughts about getting rid of it.
Any information would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Greg and Roo
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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Time: 28th December 2017 11:05am

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Fruitylicious1 says...
If I happen to have a productive fig tree in my new property I would definitely keep it. It's one of the most delicious fruit since ancient times.
Fig trees are normally pruned during winter when they are dormant. I can see from your picture there are 2 main branches. Totally cut off the upper main branch to open up space for your garden bed and for easier access during harvest and plant maintenance. Prune the remaining main branch up to a third and the secondary branches by half to a quarter also remove any dead and spindly secondary laterals. Do the pruning during winter. After the major tree surgery you can see a bigger space on both sides of the fig tree being opened up ready for your pomegranate or citrus tree.
If you want to curtail the root system of the fig install a root barrier a meter away on both sides of the tree. You can install either a plastic or concrete pavers buried vertically. Excise all roots when digging a trench for your root barrier. This will force the tree to send roots deeper hence less likely to lift concrete structures nearby.
When it come to tree selection pomegranate goes well with fig because they both came from the same area (Mediterranean type climate). Citrus will also go well with your fig tree.
Happy Gardening :-)

Time: 28th December 2017 5:07pm

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Original Post was last edited: 28th December 2017 6:44pm

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gregandroo says...
Thank you Fruitylicious1 for your super helpful answer.
We really didn't want to dig up the fig and you've given us a way to keep it.
Have a delicious 2018!

Time: 29th December 2017 1:26pm

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Original Post was last edited: 29th December 2017 1:27pm
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peter30001 says...
hi greg and roo

figs either produce one or two crops

if it has two crops the 1st one is (breba) and the second is (main)

as you said the brebas are formed on
last years growth and the main crop
will form on new/current growth on the
ends of the branches that the brebs
are on,

how about some follow up pics of the fruit once they are ripe.






Time: 29th December 2017 6:00pm

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gregandroo says...
Thanks Peter,
Will do! Hopefully they're worth photographing.
Happy New Year :-)

Time: 1st January 2018 8:05pm

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