How to Plant, Grow, and Care For Yellow Long Neck Figs

Many individuals are accustomed to figs, both recent or dried. They could appear to be an unique fruit however they’re remarkably straightforward to develop at dwelling. Edible figs, also called widespread figs (Ficus carica) originated within the Mediterranean area and elements of Asia. These edible fruit bushes have been cultivated for 1000’s of years, and there may be now a large assortment of tasty cultivars out there for the adventurous gardener.

Edible figs develop on small to medium-sized bushes with a usually rounded, shrubby look. Every fig cultivar shows slight variations in stature, in addition to the style and look of the ripe fruits. The ‘Yellow Lengthy Neck’ fig has distinctive shiny yellow-green fruits and a candy, honey-like taste. 

Edible figs are straightforward to develop and make wonderful landscaping vegetation. They require a light local weather, loads of shiny daylight, and wealthy, moist soil. If you happen to can present these rising circumstances, you shouldn’t have any bother rising a fig tree. ‘Yellow Lengthy Neck’ figs are one of many smaller varieties and are a great possibility for container gardening and smaller landscapes.

Now, let’s dig somewhat deeper into the great world of figs. If you happen to can develop your personal, it received’t be lengthy earlier than you’re harvesting your first crop!

Overview

Plant Sort Deciduous fruit tree Species carica ‘Yellow Lengthy Neck’ USDA Hardiness Zone 7 – 10	Soil Sort Wealthy, Moist, Properly-drained Watering Necessities Medium Urged Makes use of Edible panorama, wildlife backyard, container backyard	Attracts Birds, mammals, helpful bugs Issues Fruit rot, root knot nematodes, rust, pores and skin irritation Resistant To Drought, warmth, deer

Plant Pure Historical past

Edible fig bushes (Ficus carica), additionally known as the widespread fig, are native to the Mediterranean area and elements of Asia. Of their pure habitat, they dwell in heat climates with loads of solar and average-quality, well-drained soil. They’re an essential a part of their pure surroundings as a result of they supply high quality meals for a lot of species of wildlife.

People have an extended relationship with fig bushes and have cultivated and eaten figs since historical occasions. Edible figs had been launched to Europe, China, and at last, North America, the place they had been grown for his or her abundance of scrumptious fruits.

These fruit bushes are well-loved and have been bred extensively. There are actually tons of of various cultivars, together with the ‘Yellow Lengthy Neck’ fig tree. Virtually all the commercially out there figs are cultivars of the unique dad or mum species.

Traits

‘Yellow Lengthy Neck’ figs are one of many many widespread fig cultivars. This specific selection is thought for its jumbo-sized fruits, which might attain about three inches throughout. The fruits are well-rounded, with a stout however outstanding “neck” on the high of every fruit. 

At maturity, the fruits develop shiny yellow-green skins. On the within, the tender flesh is pale amber-yellow. These figs have a scrumptious, candy, honey-like taste with a little bit of seedy crunch. These figs are absolutely edible, with mushy pores and skin and intensely tender flesh.

‘Yellow Lengthy Neck’ figs are self-fertile and don’t require one other fig close by to set loads of good fruits. These bushes bloom within the spring however don’t count on to see your tree coated with flowers. Fig flowers are uniquely fashioned. They’re inverted and seem extra like small, exhausting, inexperienced fruits than a standard petaled flower form.

Fig bushes have thick stems and clean, grey bark. The primary stems start branching very near the bottom and might have a considerably sprawling look. Total, fig bushes look densely branched and rounded in kind. The leaves are broad and have three outstanding lobes. They keep inexperienced all through the summer time and switch yellow within the fall earlier than dropping for the winter.

The right way to Develop

‘Yellow Lengthy Neck’ figs are straightforward to develop so long as you may present the fitting circumstances for them to thrive. Do you reside in a light local weather and have moist soil and loads of daylight? If you happen to do, these bushes must be proper at dwelling in your panorama. 

Daylight

This fig selection requires a location with full solar. They want no less than six to eight hours of direct daylight every day. Fig bushes grown in partial shade will lack vitality and received’t produce as many figs as these grown in full daylight.

Water

Edible fig bushes like common soil moisture however not moist soil. Give your fig tree a thorough watering as soon as per week, particularly in the course of the first couple of years after planting. As soon as absolutely established, fig bushes develop into considerably drought-tolerant.

Soil

‘Yellow Lengthy Neck’ fig bushes profit from nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. The soil must be excessive in natural matter, and you’ll add some natural compost to the planting web site to assist enrich poor soil. The soil pH must be impartial to barely acidic.

Local weather and Temperature

The ‘Yellow Lengthy Neck’ fig is hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7 by means of 10. These bushes will survive gentle winters and sizzling summers. Excessively sizzling and humid climates could enhance the chance of some fungal and bacterial ailments, comparable to leaf spot, fruit rot, and powdery mildew. Extreme freezes could kill some or all the branches, however so long as the roots are undamaged, the tree will re-sprout.

Fertilizing

A younger one- to two-year-old fig tree usually doesn’t want any further fertilizer. As your tree matures, apply an annual dose of a well-balanced fertilizer. Keep away from over-fertilization, as this will lower your tree’s fruit manufacturing.

Quite than fertilizer, you may add a high dressing of natural compost mulch over the roots annually. Because the mulch breaks down, it’s going to naturally increase the soil vitamins to your tree.

Pruning

Test your tree periodically for lifeless and broken branches, and prune these off as you discover them. Edible fig bushes don’t require further pruning until you need to maintain them a specific form and measurement.

Do your pruning within the late winter earlier than your tree begins to leaf out for the season. Put on gloves when pruning a fig tree to keep away from contact with the sap.

Mulch

Add a layer of biodegradable mulch round your fig tree, protecting the mulch away from the trunk of the tree by a few inches. Mulch will assist protect soil moisture across the roots and also will assist shield the roots from winter freezes. Because the mulch breaks down, it’s going to assist nourish the soil. Mulches have the additional benefit of serving to stop weed development round your tree.

Overwintering container-grown figs

In case you are rising a ‘Yellow Lengthy Neck’ fig tree in a container, shield it from extreme winter climate. Retailer your container in an unheated storage or basement, protecting the soil simply barely moist to maintain the roots from drying out. When the climate begins to heat within the spring, transfer your potted fig exterior once more.

Harvesting

‘Yellow Lengthy Neck’ figs will develop into plump, rounded, and shiny yellow-green when absolutely ripe. Preserve an in depth eye on them throughout harvest time and harvest them day by day as they ripen. In case you are uncertain when to reap, merely decide a fig and check out it. Whether it is tender and candy, then it’s ripe and able to decide. If it’s nonetheless agency and bland tasting, it wants somewhat extra time on the tree. 

Harvest your figs rigorously by bending the stem the place it meets the department, and they need to snap off with little resistance. Deal with the fruits rigorously as a result of they bruise simply.

Storage

Recent-picked figs could be saved within the crisper drawer of your fridge for a number of days. If you might want to retailer them longer than this, contemplate drying them (for a simple snack), freezing them (for making smoothies), or utilizing them for canning and preserving. Attempt making pickled figs, fig jelly, or fig relish!

Backyard Design

This can be a lovely fig tree for landscaping. Since this cultivar doesn’t usually develop very giant, it is a wonderful selection for a smaller panorama. Develop it as an accent plant in a sunny location and admire its interesting, rounded kind. 

Seeking to strive a fruit tree container backyard? This fig selection is a superb possibility. 

This selection could be grown in a 5- to 10-gallon container. Ideally, begin with the smaller container and repot your tree each couple of years because the roots fill within the out there house. Prune your tree annually in late winter or early spring to maintain it a manageable measurement.

Edible fig bushes have expansive and shallow root methods. Because of this, don’t develop your fig proper subsequent to a construction, sidewalk, or driveway, and maintain it a protected distance away from underground pipes. You don’t need the roots of your fig to intrude with or harm something in your property.

In case you are hoping to create an edible panorama, be sure to incorporate another edible vegetation in your yard. Blueberry bushes and figs will develop effectively in related circumstances. Incorporate some herbs or edible flowers in backyard beds close by for a scrumptious and exquisite mixture of vegetation!

Wildlife Worth

Edible fig bushes are useful wildlife bushes. Birds will discover the bushes a great place for perching and looking for shelter. Fruit-eating birds will fortunately eat the ripe fruits. Small mammals can even take pleasure in consuming the fruits. Fortuitously, these bushes are often so productive you could safely share some with the native wildlife.

Propagation

Fig vegetation could be propagated by cuttings, layering, and root sprouts. Taking stem cuttings is the quickest and easiest methodology of propagation for most individuals. If you have already got entry to a mature fig tree, you may simply begin one other by the reducing methodology.

Cuttings

In late winter or early spring, use a clear, sharp pruning software to take a number of cuttings from wholesome department ideas. Every reducing must be about 10 to 12 inches lengthy and no less than ½ inch thick. Dip the decrease finish in rooting hormone for quicker rooting. Then, place the hormone-coated decrease half right into a pot crammed with clear potting soil. Preserve your pot in a protected location the place you may regulate it.

Preserve the soil barely moist. Because the climate warms, the cuttings will begin to develop roots. You’ll know that your cuttings had been profitable after they start to sprout recent leaves within the spring. Preserve the cuttings rising of their pots all through the summer time and proceed to maintain the soil moist. Within the fall, you may safely transplant your cuttings right into a everlasting backyard location. Give them loads of mulch for his or her first winter as a result of they are going to be extra cold-sensitive till they develop into absolutely established. 

Transplanting

Frequent Issues

Fig bushes are usually wholesome and straightforward to develop within the dwelling panorama. If you happen to can present the fitting local weather and rising circumstances, you in all probability received’t expertise any issues along with your bushes. Preserve a watch out, nonetheless, for every of those potential points.

Fruit rot

As soon as figs begin to ripen, they ripen actually quick. If you happen to can’t decide all of the ripe fruits every day, they are going to rapidly begin to rot. Fruits ripening throughout extraordinarily moist and wet climate can even be extra liable to fruit rot.

Rotten fruits then begin to scent fermented, soften, invite insect pests, and spoil. The easiest way to forestall fruit rot is merely to reap all of the ripe fruits on daily basis, even when you recognize you may’t eat all of them. 

Root-knot nematodes

Root-knot nematodes are microscopic organisms that dwell within the soil. If these nematodes are current within the soil close to the place you plant a fig tree, they are going to infect the roots of the tree, inflicting the roots to develop swellings and bulges. Contaminated bushes will lose vigor and have poor fruit manufacturing and yellowed leaves. In case your tree dies on account of root-knot nematodes, or if you recognize these organisms are current in your soil, don’t plant one other fig tree in the identical location as a result of it’s going to additionally develop into contaminated.

You may deal with areas which can be infested with root-knot nematodes with helpful nematodes. These prey on the detrimental species, eliminating them within the course of. Do two therapies spaced seven to 10 days aside in temperate climate. Soils beneath 50°F (10°C) and above 80°F (27°C) are inhospitable to helpful nematodes.

Rust

Fig rust mostly impacts fig bushes grown in heat, humid climates. Rust is a fungal an infection that leads to a powdery, rusty-brown development on the leaves and fruits.

Whereas hardly ever deadly to the tree, rust does trigger harm and diminishes the general well being of your tree and its fruit manufacturing. Prune away severely affected leaves and branches and destroy contaminated supplies in order that they don’t unfold the rust spores to trigger reinfection.

Pores and skin irritation

Edible fig bushes comprise a sticky white sap within the leaves, stems, and branches. This sap can trigger contact dermatitis in delicate people. The stiff leaf hairs may trigger minor itching and pores and skin irritation for delicate individuals.

When you’re working along with your tree, put on gloves and lengthy sleeves to keep away from contact with the sap and the stiff leaf hairs. Additionally, wash your arms completely after working along with your tree.