Kitchen Garden Forum

Does anyone have a clue why my fig tree always looks unhealthy by mid summer, with yellowing leaves, although it always produces fruit just fine. I've heard to restrict their roots in a pot so you get less leaf and more fruit. It is in a pretty large pot so that can't be the reason? Also i've heard they grow well in poor soils so i thought a top dressing mid summer would be enough? It is potted in general purpose peat-free compost and the top dressing is either more of the same or maybe some home grown compost. I also feed every few weeks (when i remember) with comfrey and nettle feed, and it is watered every other day as it gets very hot on my south facing balcony. But still every year the leaves look sad and yellow instead of that beautiful dark green they should be. Come to think of it, it gets more attention, love, watering and feeding than my potted orange, lemon, olive, cherry, peach and almond trees??

Dear Sarah, maybe the ones you have seen with the dark green leaves are not producing a good crop of figs like yours.

But i think i would try giving it a top dressing of John Innes No3 next year, just to see what happens.

Did you read my post about my fig tree coming back from the dead http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10190&hilit=fig It has now leaves and a couple of fairly large figs!

Mine isn't fed just really left to its own devices. I don't feed it at all.

Hiya. Thank you both for your comments. I have read it is practically impossible too kill fig trees. Last winter i repotted mine and that involved hacking off half the roots! thought that might have killed it but luckily it is still with me .