Fw: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick" <rkgross3 at cox.net>
To: <EKIMECAP at cox.net>
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 12:02 AM
Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> This fig tree reminds me of one I was asked to diagnose several years ago. 
> I am in no way a fig expert but the first thing I observed was a narrow, 
> shallow irrigation ring only a foot or so from the main trunk. The foliage 
> extended four to six feet out away from the trunk but was severely wilted. 
> The drip line was bone dry.
>
> I helped him make a shallow basin 18 inches wide with the drip line 
> roughly in the middle of it. We let a hose trickle fast enough to maintain 
> a head of water roughly an inch deep until a probe could be sunk 18 to 24 
> inches in the trench all around the tree. It took two days to soak the 
> basin that deep. A month later, we repeated the irrigation but fertilized 
> with 21-0-0 Ammonium Sulfate as prescribed according to trunk diameter. 
> The tree litterally exploded with new growth.  I never got to taste the 
> fruit but the owner was pleased.
>
> An ailing or sickly tree will not fully mature and ripen its fruit because 
> it percieves that doing so would tax its strength and jeopardize its 
> existence. It is an act, I percieve, of self preservation.
>
> Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
> University of Arizona Maricopa County
> Cooperative Extension
>
>
>
> The tree exploded in new growth
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <EKIMECAP at cox.net>
> To: <>
> Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 11:05 AM
> Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
>
>
>>
>> 85042
>> EKIMECAP at COX.NET
>>
>> I have a Kodata Fig tree;in the ground 2 years;15 gal. when planted;get 
>> loads of figs BUT they never fully ripen.  Any thoughts?  Thanks
>>
>>
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>> All contents copyright 2007. Arizona Board of Regents/University of 
>> Arizona
>>
>