Hi, when I had a fig tree, I just left it alone to get on with it, I find if you manure the garden, and then a few handfuls of growmore in spring, ther's no need for extra feeding, it's just 1 of the many myths put out by the manufacturers of these feeds, to encourage people to spend a fortune on them, if you look after the soil, the soil will look after your plants, {that's assuming it's planted in the ground, if not you would probably have to give it a feed now and again}, Derek.

The fig trees growing wild in and around the Mediterranean don't get fed on anything grow on poor to impoverished soil and get damned all water for a lot of the year yet they produce exquisite figs. Problem here is going to be the lack of baking heat.

The rule of thumb here in the Arizona desert is that if the tree does not grow at least 15 to 30 cm a year, it will need some nitrogen fertilizer to continue bearing. Note that fig orchards in the Mediterranean take full advantage of water harvesting techniques, and receive a modicum of goat dung, and nitrogen fixing from wild legumes.

Lol Tugb. they also get pruned by the goats!

Years ago at my last house in Kent, I was given a small Fig tree by a customer. He was Greek and the original plant came from his family's fig plantation back in Greece. He told me where to plant it and that I should use chicken manure pellets once a year. I followed this advise and by the time I left 2 years ago I used to get so many figs, I would give them to neighbours and friends. But don't know if that was due to pellets or it was planted in a south facing corner with 2 walls so got a nice amount of heat.

Only as high as the goats can reach, MG...which would be more comforting if I hadn't seen goats stretching two meters tall, and climbing in low branches! :D

On Cyprus we watched the goat kids climb a good way up trees to eat the new leaves - totally unconcerned and when they had enough leapt off!

Thanks for this...I have one in a pot in my greenhouse and have been feeding it with Growmore. It seems happy enough but I only got it in late winter...time will tell.

Cottagek. won't be happy inside all year round and actually needs to be outside all the time. Away from the coast, which is where the fig trees grow, it is damned cold in winter round the Med!

OK, thanks Mg...so I should move it outside....? eeek! WE had a big one in the glasshouse at Glamis Castle when I worked there. That was what gave me the idea to try one here. Seriously? Outdoors? All year around?

Yup, seriously, out doors all year round! Slightly sheltered space in full sun and if need be protect from winter wet (not sure how wet it gets in Angus)

I shall have to think about where I can give it shelter. Winter wet won't be a problem here ....well, you can never tell of course, but should be ok. Its shelter I am short of. I first saw Figs growing in a campsite in Kent when I was about 16. The site was in an old orchard. The figs were loaded with fruit. Of course, Kent is cold in the winter, but its also warm in the summer. Thanks MG I shall give it some thought.