Re-con-FIG-uration!

 We have four Brown Turkey figs around our house.  One of them, the smallest one, produces very well.  The other three do not.  They just get bigger and bigger and, no matter how much we prune and care for them, their output is disappointing.

This year at the Fig Festival we went to a presentation given by Chester Lynn, the Ocracoke native fig expert.  After the presentation we stayed to talk with Chester about our particular fig problem.  His first question was, “Where is your septic field?”  Then we were on to something.

As Chester explained things, while figs do need to be fed, they do not produce figs unless they are threatened and think they need to reproduce for the future of the species. This means producing figs.  If they are over fed, they just keep on happily growing without any concern about reproduction, so, no figs!

The three problem fig trees just happen to be on the edges of the septic field.  So, this week, we had Chris from Wooden Sea Tree Service come and take out those three trees.  When the trees were cut, we were amazed at how much the limbs filled the yard.  And, all this was one year’s growth.

Once all cleaned up and chipped, we now have a very bare back yard.

The plan now is to weigh down some lower limbs of the remaining Brown Turkey and cover them with dirt to see if we get some new trees rooted.  Then we may add another variety from Chester.  We will set out these trees in the front of the house where the only food they get if what we give them.  Then…we hope for production!