Expert: nick mccann - 3/25/2010

Question
Hi Nick,

Noticed that you live in Charlotte County, Florida just as I do also. Do you know where I may purchase a Brown Fig tree here in Charlotte County?

Where I lived in SC, there was a huge one, neighbors told me that it was close to 100 years old, not sure if that is true or not. I do know that there were more than enough figs for the birds and myself.There's nothing like picking a few and eating them right then.

If you could point me in the right direction, sure would appreciate it! Doing a search at Home Depot and Lowes, came up empty handed - darn it.

Once I get one or more, will be planting them outside. Also, about long does it take before the trees start bearing fruit?

TIA,
SuzyQ

Answer
Hi Suzy , I did see small ones (2 feet tall) at either the Port Charlotte Home Depot or Lowes (I am in them so much, can't remember which...)...and it was last week I saw them; if you do purchase them, be aware of the main problem here with them and that is "Rust fungus", the leaves will most assuredly be effected by them, so I sprayed mine (when I had them...) with Copper when the leaves first appeared and then weekly after that, which helped but didn't completely deter the fungus from afflicting them. The leaves fall off when the fungus takes hold, but they still produced figs, but not as many as a healthy specimen would have. If you have any other questions, (especially about local Horticulture..) let me know! Nick