Black mission fig trees serve well as container plants.
Black Mission fig trees (Ficus carica) are easy to grow and do well in containers. A fig tree in a container can grow as small as 6 feet with regular pruning and serves well as a patio plant or houseplant. Fig trees grow as multiple-branched shrubs with bright-green leaves. The black mission fig fruit is purplish-black with a strawberry-colored flesh. It is eaten fresh or used for cooking and baking. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Place the black mission fig tree upright in the container. Gentle handling of the root ball minimizes root disturbance. Sprinkle potting soil mix around the tree's roots, tamping it down lightly to avoid air pockets. Fill the container with potting soil to within 4 to 6 inches of its top. Water the black mission fig tree thoroughly.
2. Apply a layer of mulch 2 to 3 inches deep. Mulching helps maintain soil moisture and temperature. It also reduces weed competition.
3. Regularly watering the black mission fig tree regularly keeps the soil from drying out. The tree's roots are close to the surface and may dry out without adequate moisture. The frequency and amount of water varies, depending on humidity and rainfall. Slight leaf wilting in the afternoon is a sign of insufficient water. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy.
4. Fertilize the black mission fig tree three or four times a year with a well-balanced fertilizer, such as 20-20-20. Feed the tree in the spring, once or twice during the summer, and again in October. Do not feed the fig tree during the winter months.
5. Pruning the black mission fig tree establishes a desired shape, stimulates new growth and controls size. Remove dead or diseased wood, as well as any suckers growing from the tree's base. Remove any secondary branches growing off the main branches at less than a 45-degree angle. Cutting back the main branches by 1/3 to 1/4 helps the tree put more energy towards producing larger and sweeter fruit the following season. Heavy pruning results in lighter crops the following year. It is best to prune immediately after you harvest your fig tree's crop in early fall.
Tags: black mission tree, mission tree, black mission, black mission, main branches, potting soil