Season Update
How goes it so far this 2026 fig season? A tiny update for you all…
Look at that fig. Isn’t she beautiful? Are you anticipating what she looks like on the inside? I know I was! I’ve been dying to try this variety and the tree finally put out quite a few figs this year.
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Here you go, the inside:
YUCK! It was rotten. This picture isn’t doing the off-colors justice, though at least your stomach isn’t turning hopefully. (Note to self: not to use sunset lighting for pictures where coloring matters.) Unfortunately, this has been the story this season with multiple varieties. What changed? I haven’t been fertilizing or foliar spraying this year.
Entering the confessional of gardening sins…
By a twist of fate, the company I work for downsized this past winter and my workload increased as a result. This meant no time in the garden as I adjusted. I got off to a late start in setting up the timers for irrigation and the fertigation unit, which was regrettable. And I have a brand new foliar sprayer sitting in a box still. Being a curious-minded person though, of course, I’m experimenting with it. I decided to purposefully take advantage of the situation to see how this year would compare to last year and whether there truly was a benefit to all of the foliar spraying I had done. And was there? Unequivocally, yes!
The difference between this season and last is really standing out. Last year had way more fruit set, way more viable, tasty fruits, and way fewer losses. In fact, I don’t recall seeing endosepsis at all last year. This year, the trees are looking less green and have fewer leaves, lower fruit set, and a lot more spoilage. I have learned my lesson. What a difference the foliar spraying made!
We’ve also had some watering issues this year. Multiple times when water was accidentally cut off for the irrigation. That caused some setbacks as well. I had a few inner grumbles over that, but it happens to everyone sometimes.
What is very interesting to me though is how some varieties seem to thrive regardless of the poorer care. Now I don’t want to make neglectful care a habit, obviously. (I am growing fig trees so I can actually eat the figs they produce. 😜) But I am very interested in cultivating varieties that do well for the growing conditions here. Having strong varieties means less babying and more time for other things. I’m not sure what I am going to do with this knowledge as of yet, but it is something I am definitely noting.
The ultimate lesson this season: Foliar spraying can make a big difference and can be very worth it. I knew this, but for whatever reason, something is validating about seeing it confirmed, both for endosepsis and the black fig fly. The other lesson is that growing trees in the ground can really help to compensate for less-than-ideal circumstances. It’s a goal to whittle the collection down and to get them all in the ground when possible.
So there’s the confession! Even if you have the head knowledge, getting it out into the garden where it has use is what is important.
So how are things going for you this season? Do you have any favorites so far? Let me know in the comments! 😊
Every great body of knowledge starts with someone asking a question that others thought was already answered.
Also…most advances in agronomy don't begin in laboratories. They begin with someone who cares enough to observe, question, and try something different.
The future of growing figs will be built by people who are willing to look closer than the generation before them….challenging the limits of what we think we know about them.
You care enough about your fig trees and the world they'll grow in to keep asking, "Can we do better?"….Your curiosity, your patience, and your respect for both the trees and the earth are what real ecological stewardship looks like.
Over time you have discussed many fertilizer and foliar feeding regimens. What is your personal current favorite? I’m likely to implement next year. I’ve been trying a foliar feeding spray that is minerals and amino acids and ferments all in one, but I’m only doing it every other week or so, not for any good reason. All of the components are from your recipes.