Identification

A fig tree produces few or no fruit or drops fruit before they mature.

Disorder Development

There are several reasons why fig trees produce few or no fruit or drop fruit before it matures. For example, improper soil moisture can cause both of these problems.

Few or no fruit. Very young fig trees are too immature to produce fruit. Generally, a fig tree will not fruit until it is at least two years old. But it can take some trees as long as six years to reach the maturity needed to produce fruit. Fig trees also greatly reduce the amount of fruit they produce or entirely stop fruit production once they reach an old age.

Trees heavily fertilized with nitrogen produce an excessive amount of branches and leaves and this suppresses fruit production. Improper soil moisture (too little or too much irrigation) stresses trees and greatly impairs their health and improper irrigation reduces or stops fruit production.

Fig drop. Too little or too much irrigation and watering trees in a manner inconsistent with their moisture needs is a common cause of drop of fig fruit before they mature. Certain diseases such as fig mosaic (Fig mosaic virus) can also cause fruit to drop.

If the fig is a variety that requires cross pollination, a suitable pollen-source variety may not be in the vicinity. The only insects that reliably pollinate figs are certain tiny species of Agaonidae wasps in the genus Pegoscapus. Each species of fig tree is pollinated by only one particular species of fig wasp. It is possible that the tree is so isolated from others that the needed wasp species is not in the vicinity of the planted or potted fig tree.

Solutions

Choose varieties well suited for your area and site and that do not require cross pollination. Do not propagate from plants showing symptoms of fig mosaic because the virus can be transmitted by vegetative propagation.

Plant fig trees in full sun and well-drained soil. If soil drains poorly (e.g., it is compacted or high in clay) plant the tree on a berm or mound of raised soil. Where cold injury might be a problem or weather is often cool and temperatures may be insufficient to provide the amount of heat fig fruit need to mature, the best planting location generally is the sunny, south side of a building. After planting, cover the root zone with course organic mulch; this can help to reduce fluctuations in soil moisture in the root zone.

Follow the guidelines for irrigating and fertilizing. Providing appropriate irrigation is especially important. Fertilize sparingly; if tree growth is excessively vigorous, stop fertilizing the tree.

References

For more information see Fig Ficus carica L. Moraceae, California Rare Fruit Growers.