The Fig Tree Tango
A few weeks ago, I was chatting with a fellow fig grower up north. He was telling me about an upcoming meeting he had with a lady who grows hundreds of fig varieties and prunes all her trees to a single trunk. My first thought was, “I bet that’s a beautiful fig orchard, but I also bet it’s a ton of work keeping those trees to a single trunk.”
Beginner fig growers are always surprised to see that their fig tree doesn’t grow like the other fruit trees they’ve tried growing. They expect their fig tree to look like their apple tree or citrus tree, but it doesn’t. Fig trees like to grow much differently. Most fig trees will naturally grow like a big bush. Each year, they’ll send out new branches from the bottom of the tree – these branches, called “suckers” by some growers, cause the tree to grow more horizontally than it does vertically.
Over time, as more and more sucker branches develop, a single fig tree can get quite wide. It’s not unusual for those sucker branches to get heavy and lay on the ground as they get longer. When they lay on the ground, they’ll put down roots so the tree can continue to spread. I’ve seen this with fig trees that have never been pruned – they end up making a huge jungle of a fig tree.
The natural growth habit of a fig tree is not necessarily desirable for everyone. That’s why most of us prune our fig trees to make them more manageable. I have all my fig trees planted in linear rows, so I definitely try to keep each tree contained within the row. A fig tree can be pruned to fit whatever mold you like, but one thing is important to note here: the farther you venture away from the natural growth habit of the tree, the more work you’re going to have on your hands.
The Trials of Single Trunk Pruning
If you want your fig tree to have a single trunk like an apple tree or a pear tree, you can do that. Just know that it’s going to be an ongoing battle of maintaining that single trunk profile or shape. Even when you think you’ve finally convinced the tree to only have a single trunk, the following year it will send out more sucker branches that will force you to prune.
Single trunk pruning does look much neater than a bushy, sprawling fig tree, and single trunk trees are easier to mulch and mow around the perimeter of the tree. But since this is not how the fig tree naturally wants to grow, you have to continuously prune to keep it that shape.
I used to seek the single trunk design, but I’ve since learned it’s not worth the battle in some cases. I have had some fig trees that lean more towards a single trunk than a sprawling tree, and I will try to keep those as a single trunk. But I usually just stick with 3-4 main branches on the other trees that want to sprawl.
After reading this, you may be thinking that fig trees require a lot of work and maintenance. They’re actually pretty maintenance-free though. Pruning a large fig tree only takes about 5 minutes, and it does wonders for the new growth and fig production the following year. Don’t look at pruning your fig trees as a chore – look at it as an opportunity to help the tree grow more next year. Once you see the benefits of pruning and keeping your fig trees manageable, you won’t mind doing it at all.
Squash: The Gluttons of the Garden
While fig trees may require some extra work to maintain their shape, other crops like winter squash are true gluttons when it comes to nutrients. According to this article from the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, “Squash are considered a ‘gross-feeder,’ meaning they require lots of nutrients, especially nitrogen. Some crop species are actually harmed by excessive nitrogen, especially in proportion to other nutrients like potassium. Squash, on the other hand, are the real gluttons of the garden and seem to welcome all you can give them.”
The article goes on to describe how the author, Will Bonsall, has developed a strategy to allow his squash plot to “be self-enriched way out of proportion to anything added from offsite.” He does this by sowing a cover crop of oats (and sometimes field peas) in early spring, then chopping it in around the squash plants when it’s time to plant. As the oats decompose, they release nitrogen and other nutrients that the squash plants can readily absorb.
Bonsall also uses leaves and old hay as mulch around the squash plants, which helps suppress weeds, retain moisture, and slowly release more nutrients over time. He even claims this method helps protect the squash from striped cucumber beetles, though he’s not sure why.
It’s an ingenious system that allows Bonsall to grow an abundant squash crop with minimal external inputs. And as he points out, “Squash grown by this method seem to be completely free of striped cucumber beetles, which may ravage nearby cucurbit crops grown conventionally.” Sounds like a great way to plant an orchard-like squash patch without all the sprawl and maintenance headaches.
The Complicated Reality of Apple Picking
While apple picking may seem like a quintessential autumn activity full of rustic charm, the reality behind how most apples are harvested in the U.S. is often quite different from the idyllic Instagram-worthy scenes. As this article from Vox explores, the backbreaking work done by migrant and undocumented farm laborers stands in stark contrast to the leisurely orchard strolls enjoyed by weekend apple pickers.
The article notes that at large commercial orchards, apple picking is done “rapidly and tactically – often with multiple fruits grasped with each swipe of the hand – at a grueling pace that can make for staggering scale.” Experienced pickers are expected to fill 12 boxes, or around 1,000 pounds of fruit, per day. This can lead to spinal and musculoskeletal injuries, especially when combined with the need to climb and balance on ladders.
Many of these professional apple pickers are migrant workers, often brought in through H-2A visa programs. According to the article, Washington state – the nation’s leader in apple production – increased its use of such workers by 1,600% between 2006 and 2016. These workers can face exploitation, harassment, and lack of recourse due to their precarious immigration status.
So the next time you post a picture of your family frolicking in a sun-dappled orchard, remember the harsh realities behind how that fruit ended up there. It’s a sobering reminder of the human labor that goes into producing the foods we so casually consume. As I plan my own visit to A1 Landscape Construction to discuss building an orchard, I’ll be keeping these issues in mind.
Embracing the Squash Sprawl
While the apple picking industry has become mired in troubling complexities, the world of winter squash cultivation offers a refreshingly simple alternative. As Bonsall’s article highlighted, squash are essentially the gluttons of the garden – they thrive on abundant fertility and even seem to protect themselves from pests through clever cultural practices.
Rather than fighting against a squash plant’s natural tendency to sprawl, I’m inclined to embrace it. Bonsall’s system of using cover crops, mulch, and strategic planting allows the squash to spread out happily without becoming a maintenance nightmare. Plus, the benefits to soil health and pest resistance are just icing on the cake.
I’m particularly intrigued by Bonsall’s praise for the Burgess Strain of buttercup squash. He notes that even “relatively poor-yielding crops will at least have good eating quality” because buttercup “begins storing sugar as it grows, not just after.” That sounds like a perfect option for a low-maintenance, high-flavor squash patch.
As I plan the landscaping for my new A1 Landscape Construction project, I’m definitely going to carve out a generous space for a winter squash polyculture. Rather than fighting against the natural tendencies of these plants, I’ll let them sprawl and sprawl, secure in the knowledge that they’ll reward me with an abundant, pest-resistant, and delicious harvest.
Lessons from the Fig Tree and the Squash Patch
Reflecting on the insights gleaned from these articles, a few key lessons emerge that I’ll be sure to apply as I design my dream orchard:
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Embrace the natural growth habit: Whether it’s fig trees or winter squash, trying to force plants into an unnatural shape or arrangement often leads to more work than it’s worth. It’s best to work with, rather than against, a plant’s innate tendencies.
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Leverage smart cultural practices: Techniques like Bonsall’s cover cropping, mulching, and strategic planting can create a self-sustaining, low-maintenance system. Rather than relying on constant inputs and interventions, look for ways to set the plants up for success from the start.
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Be wary of romanticized narratives: The apple picking industry serves as a sobering reminder that the picture-perfect scenes we consume online often gloss over the harsh realities of agricultural labor. It’s important to keep these complexities in mind as I plan my orchard.
By keeping these lessons in mind, I’m confident I can design an orchard that is productive, low-maintenance, and in harmony with the natural growth patterns of the plants. No sprawling fig tree tangles or pesticide-laden squash patches here – just a thriving, sustainable oasis of fruit and foliage. Bring on the autumn bounty!
