Behind the Fence

Sunday, August 25, 2013

A Bountiful Fig Crop


This year has been awesome for figs. We pick a basket every other day.
 
Friday's Harvest
Today's Harvest




 
They are somewhat persnickety as they do not ripen off the vine. If they are picked too early they have a greenish membrane and not too much of the sugary content. If not picked when ripe, they will split and the ants have a picnic. Knowing exactly when to pick comes with experience. In one day they can go from being too green to split open.

 
 


Lemon Fig
 
There are several varieties of figs. We grow Lemon Figs and Alma Figs, both are a greenish yellow when ripe. The Mission Fig (which is more common in our area) is purplish black when ripe.

 
 
 
 
Winter Cover
 
Most figs do not take kindly to the freezing temperatures in our Zone 7a. If not protected, the branches will freeze and die. Although the tree survives, figs produce on the previous years’ branches, if the branches freeze, there will not be figs to harvest. We have tried several ways to winter over the trees. We have moved the pots into the greenhouse; not a good idea since they will not go dormant, therefore they will not produce very many figs. We have made a wire cage to surround them, stuffing the cage with leaves and/or straw. That worked very well but was quite a mess in the spring when the time came to uncover the trees. Last year we piled bags of leaves around the trees and positioned a tarp to cover and keep the ice/snow at bay. Obviously that worked well as we have had a bumper crop. Figs grow well in large pots. I have read they will winter over very well in an unheated garage or shed. I understand there are some cold hardy fig trees like Chicago and Hunt, but have not tried them.

Fig, goat cheese, grilled chicken salad.
Folks often ask what we do with our figs. Often we eat them straight from the tree. We frequently add them to a salad with grilled chicken, goat cheese, walnuts with our signature lime infused olive oil/balsamic vinegar dressing. Sometimes we make a bruschetta with toasted artisan bread, figs and goat cheese.
Our favorite fig treat is grilled pizza with grilled chicken, goat cheese and figs. If we have arugula in the garden we add it after we take the pizza off the grill. With the bumper crop this year I am dehydrating some. I anticipate eating them in oatmeal or in a salad during the winter.

Fresh figs do not transport easily and are not often found in the grocery store. For a delicioius fruit, rich in calcium, fiber and antioxidant, we find they are worth the trouble to grow in the potager.

 

 

Monday, August 5, 2013

Out of Control!




Photograph by Mark McCoy






 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In May, the potager looked marvelous as it was well groomed for Art in the Garden.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
What a difference 12 weeks later!
A busy summer with a 60th Birthday celebration for my garden engineer, (aka my husband) an out-of-town wedding, a 2 week vacation, a major Master Gardener event and more than usual summer rain, I am left with a jungle!







        Weeds, weeds, weeds!    








     





Overgrown!



















             Out of control!    








The Mother’s Day Art in the Garden tour and art auction for the J. DarinLoftis Memorial Scholarship was a huge success, raising over $7500. The scholarship is now endowed.


 
In July I co-chaired the Purchase Area Master Gardener Association’s Twilight in the Garden. Held at the University of Kentucky Demonstration and Trial Garden, approximately 180 members of the community toured the garden. For many it was a first.





We had a small, but nice harvest of strawberries
Even with neglect, the potager has been productive. 

      

                                                    
                            

And a bumper harvest of blueberries.
 
 
 



The figs are just now starting to ripen (picked the first two today. It looks very promising for the largest crop ever!
Another short trip this next week to Washington D.C. with my daughter-in-law, Holly and granddaughters, Alison and Camille. After that I have visions of getting back in the potager, tidying it up and maybe planting some fall crops. Also, I have hopes of more regular postings on this blog!