FIG PRUNING WITH JOE

fREE FIG PRUNING WORKSHOP THIS COMING MONDAY
Winter is the best time to prune your figs and they all benefit from a hard prune at this time of the year. Many of us, myself included, are a bit hesitant about making the brave cuts but figs are probably the easiest of fruit trees to prune. However, we all benefit from some instruction from an expert so we are again opening Joe’s impressive fig orchard for a fig pruning workshop this coming Monday. There will be a short talk on growing, pruning and propagating figs followed by a demonstration on the different types of trees. There will also be an opportunity to have a go yourself! Many people think a fig tree will grow so massive as to take over the whole yard as we’ve all seen those in the older suburbs. However, by regular pruning you can keep the tree to two to three metres so that you can pick the figs yourself rather than letting the birds get them. Joe has 21 trees planted in a 6 x 6 metre space so if your garden is small, you can still have fig tree. We have a selection of varieties for sale if you would like one or more at home. They are very easy care and are native to places with hot summers like ours so tolerate heatwaves better than almost any other fruit. The other reason for growing a fig tree is that they are highly perishable and really need to be eaten within 24 hours so if you can find one in the shops they are well past that and expect to pay up to $50 a kilo for them! Another bonus is that they fruit late summer /early autumn, just when we are all mourning the loss of the copious stone fruit harvest.
The workshop is free and open to all. Donations are always much appreciated so we can continue the work of the garden and offer a variety of workshops and education programs. Come to Joe’s garden first for coffee and a talk then we will move across the road to No9 Argent and work on the figs. You will be able to take cuttings home from your prunings.

You may also like the following events from Joe's Connected Garden:

• This Saturday, 26th July, 10:00 am, Rare Fruit Society Grafting Day in Elizabeth

Also check out other Workshops in Elizabeth, Nonprofit events in Elizabeth.