celeste fig tree

Question

My fig tree, dwarf variety, appears to be doing well but some of the leaves are turning yellow. There is quite a bit of fruit on the tree, which was planted earlier this year, in February from nursery stock. It receives 6-8 hours of sunlight daily and is in well-drained loamy soil. Should I be fertilizing? Is 8-8-8- the ideal one to use? Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Generally, these plants draw all the nutrients they require from the soil; therefore, regular fertilizing of figs is not usually necessary except for potted trees or those growing in poor soil. Fig fertilization also depends on whether your plant is young or mature.
For a young tree, fertilize in late winter or early spring. For mature fig trees, fertilize monthly from early spring until July. Use one-third pound of 10-10-10 per foot of plant height each time. A mature plant should develop only one foot of new growth each year.

Yellow leaves are normally a sign of stress, perhaps in this case from the abundance of fruit. They normally require additional watering during fruiting so if it’s not getting enough, then you may need to give the tree more water, especially if it’s been warm lately.