This year, my fig tree, it’s growin’ real good. Lots of figs on it, just waitin’ to get ripe. But you know, you gotta water them fig trees just right, or they ain’t gonna give you nothin’ but heartache. I seen it a million times, folks plant ’em and forget ’em, then wonder why they ain’t got no juicy figs.
Watering figs, it ain’t rocket science, but you gotta know a few things. First off, them fig trees, they like a good drink, ‘specially when they’re young and just gettin’ their roots down. When them figs is first planted, I give ’em a good soakin’ to help the dirt settle down ’round the roots. Makes ’em feel right at home, you see.
Now, how often to water, that’s the big question. Well, I like to water my fig tree about once a week, maybe once every two weeks. Depends on the weather, you know? If it’s hotter than a skillet on the stove, I might give it some extra. You gotta feel that dirt. Stick your finger in there, down a couple of knuckles. If it’s dry, that tree’s thirsty. If it’s damp, hold off a bit.
If you overwater them, well, that ain’t good either. The figs will get all watery and sad, and they won’t taste like nothin’. It’s like when you eat watermelon that ain’t had enough sun. Just ain’t right.
- Water in the mornin’
- Feel the dirt, make sure it ain’t dry
- Don’t give ’em too much water
- About once a week or every 10-14 days is good
Best time to give ’em a drink? Early mornin’, that’s the ticket. Sun ain’t beatin’ down yet, so the water don’t just disappear into thin air. It soaks down into the ground, right to where them roots are waitin’. If you water in the evenin’, it can be okay too, but mornin’ is best. Gives them figs a good start to the day, just like a good cup of coffee for me.
Don’t just stand there with the hose right at the trunk, though. Them roots, they spread out, like the branches of the tree, but underground. You gotta water a good ways out from the trunk. I like to put a soaker hose. The soaker hose is better than a regular one. Just run it slow. Like a drip, drip.
When them figs start gettin’ ripe, that’s when you really gotta pay attention. They need that water to plump up and get all sweet and juicy. If they don’t get enough water, they’ll be small and dry, and ain’t nobody wants that.
Now, some folks say you gotta water ’em every day. Well, I ain’t never done that. Seems like too much work to me. And like I said, too much water ain’t good for ’em. Watering figs right is about findin’ that sweet spot.
And don’t forget about the weather. If it’s rainin’ cats and dogs, well, then you don’t need to water, obviously. But if it’s dry as a bone, you gotta give ’em a little extra. Fig trees, they’re kinda like people. They need more water when it’s hot and dry.
I remember one year, we had a drought somethin’ fierce. Didn’t rain for weeks. My fig tree, it started lookin’ real sad. Leaves droopin’, figs shrivelin’ up. I thought I was gonna lose it. So I started haulin’ water out there every day, just a little bit, to keep it goin’. And you know what? It pulled through. Made some of the best figs I ever tasted that year.
Some folks, when it’s hot out they water in the afternoon. But that ain’t the best. Too much water, it’ll just evaporate. Go away into the air.
- Mornin’ is best for waterin’
- Evenin’ is okay, but not afternoon
- Afternoon, the water just goes away
So, yeah, watering figs, it’s important. You want them sweet and delicious figs. Just remember to water ’em regular, feel the dirt to see if they’re thirsty, and give ’em a good drink in the mornin’. Do that, and you’ll have more figs than you know what to do with. And that is about the watering figs.
My neighbor, she used to have a fig tree, too, but she didn’t take care of it, didn’t water it. So it died. You don’t wanna be like her. It’s a shame. Fig trees like to have a drink. Just give ’em a drink when they need one. But like I said, not too much.
