Planting Common Fig Tree (Ficus carica) in hot tropical lowland climate.

Fig tree is a rare species of plant in Malaysia. It was one of the oldest edible plant cultivated by human many thousands years ago. It originated from the Mediterranean and is well suited to such habitat.

This ancient tree has prostrate growth habit and wide spread root system that is equally deep to look for water in deep crevices.

It bears fruits twice a year and has to enter dormancy in between fruiting seasons. Some cultivars bears fruit without pollination. But others need some degree of pollination to produce fruits. But sadly such variety is not suitable outside their native landscape as they need a specific wasps pollinator to do such job efficiently. This pollinator does not follow the plant as it spread through the continents.

The fruit is not a botanically true berry. It is called the drupe. It is a swollen inflorescent bearing stem with an opening at its distal end. This opening is known as the ostiole. Inside the drupe is redish pulp. It is very sweet with intense flavour of red dates. Its sweetness or Brix Index is equal to the red dates.

The drupes are green and turns red or deep purple when ripen. In this photo, one can see the ostiole opening at the bottom of the drupe of which it was pointing upwards when green, and point downwards when matured red. This is the hole in which the miniature pollinator wasps enter the drupe to pollinate the flowers.

The drupes when ripen will be intense crimpson reddish purple colour, high in anthocyanin pigments which has health benefits known since the ancient time. The crack on the skin marks the sweetest peak of the fruit ripening. One can only taste this best flavour if one could get hold of one fresh fruit on the tree before the bird snatches it away. Fresh fig is rarely exported because it rot easily upon this stage.

Note: Fig prefers calcareous soil. It devours high amount of Magnesium during fruiting stage. Such fruit is good at preventing constipation. 

Fig can also be planted from seeds gathered from its fruits if the variety bears seeds. The seeds are tiny and germinate slowly. The germination can be hasten using Gibberellic Acid. Otherwise scaring it will also promote germination.

This photo shows a fig tree bearing fruits. Its older leaves are demonstrating yellowish laminae and dark green veins. This is typical characteristics of Magnesium deficiency during fruiting season. This can be avoided by watering it with magnesium fertiliser.

This plant bearing abundant of fruits but show no sign of magnesium deficiency. Why?

This is because it was watered with magnesium and other minerals necessary for healthy plant growth.

Occasionally one might come across some fresh figs on sales on the supermarket shelves. This photo was taken from Village Grocer. Look at the value. Amazing.