Fig Tree, Pea Plants Fail to Produce

QUESTION: We have a huge fig tree that must be about 20 years old. When we purchased our home 15 years ago, we were told that it was a “Black Turkey” variety and would fruit twice a year. Well, figs starts appearing in February and continue on throughout the year, but never mature. They keep falling off when they are about the size of a thumb. We are very fond of figs and would appreciate any help you may offer.

I have another problem, too. The package of pea seed I planted sprouted well, and I covered each plant with a strawberry basket. However, all but six plants were cropped off almost to the ground. What could have gotten to them?

ANSWER: The two most popular garden figs are “Brown Turkey” and “Black Mission.” Brown Turkey bears brownish-purple fruit on a small-size tree, whereas Black Mission bears purple-black figs on a large tree. They bear their first crop of fruit on last year’s branches, and their second crop comes on this year’s new growth. I suspect that your tree is, in fact, neither of these. It is probably “Kadota,” which is a small, tough-skinned variety used primarily for canning; it tends to be rubbery even when it is ripe on the tree.

This being the case, there is nothing you can do to change the characteristics of your tree. You might want to have it removed. If you put in a new “Brown Turkey” this season, it may bear a few fruits this year; and you can be sure it’ll start giving you its typical, sweet figs next year and regularly thereafter.

Concerning your pea seedlings, the culprit is probably cutworms. They hide in the soil by day then come out and feed at night. They get their name from their habit of cutting new seedlings and small plants off just above soil level.

Go ahead and plant more pea seeds. Control the cutworms this time by applying Diazinon to the soil before planting, or by dusting or spraying the surface with carbarly (Sevin) just after planing. As always, carefully read and follow the instructions on the label of the pesticide.