Agronomic Strategies for Fig Cultivation in a Temperate-Humid Climate Zone

Abstract

The fig (Ficus carica L.) is a small-size tree native to Western Asia, distributed and cultivated mainly throughout the Mediterranean region. In the Americas, fig cultivation is widespread, mainly in the United States, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. Although the fig is cultivated mainly in semiarid regions, it could also be cultivated in temperate humid climates with no dry seasons, such as that of the central area of Santa Fe province in Argentina. The traditional training system used for fig trees is an open-vase system with three main branches, allowing a medium-size tree. In the southern hemisphere, fruit harvest is concentrated mainly during January and a lesser proportion during February. Rains in periods close to fruit maturity could cause damage, including cracking, rooting, and vinegary flavor development. In temperate-climate areas with high variability in their rain distribution, the most important strategy to diminish the risk of high fruit damage by rains is the extension of the harvest period, which can be achieved by intensive pruning. Intensive fig tree pruning with an annual renewal of the canopy strongly increases the vigor of the current shoots and, as reproductive buds are related to shoot length, intensive winter pruning could also extend the harvest period of the main crop up to 4 months (January to May) in comparison with traditional pruning. Intensive pruning also allows for high tree density (>1000 plants per hectare) and facilitates cultural practices because they can be completed from the ground without ladders. Under intensive pruning, shoot growth can reach 140–160 cm under temperate climate or 189 cm under tropical conditions, although greatly influenced by the pruning date and other factors. However, intensive pruning also shows some difficulties discussed in this chapter. For example, pruning intensity and tree age could lead to an increase in the number of fruits that remain immature at the end of the growing season and may also affect fruit yield because the end of the harvest period will not be due to the absence of fruits but to the lack of ripeness during the autumn, when temperatures begin to fall. This chapter discusses the main factors that affect fruit yield and harvest distribution of the fig crop in temperate humid climate regions, including the option of artificial ripening of late fruits.