Japanese Fig growing techniques - イチジクの栽培

[Ingevald]

I’ve made several posts over the years (mostly on F4F) about Japanese fig growing methods including espellier (step over), hydroponic, greenhouse culture, etc. I did some more research last fall but got derailed due to elder care related issues. Things are looking better at the moment. Below, I have posted a collection of interesting videos, documents and photos that may be of interest. (I was unable to activate multiple links for some reason - so you may need to cut and paste...)

Videos:
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWThGnq1DiE - very neatly trained figs growing outdoors in a field, harvesting, processing, off to market
2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odku4Ey2e6s - Greenhouse fig growing operation, harvesting process, large figs.
3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHqz5lujfn0 - interview with a greenhouse fig grower (in Japanese)
4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKX3VjG90GM - Start at 2 min 38 sec for the beginning of the fig part. A bit goofy but interesting.
5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC54E8HCJxg - An interview with a fig farmer with his orchard.

Some documents:
1) http://www.pref.aichi.jp/nososi/seik...ijiyutu104.pdf This is a document about grafting scion on “blight” resistant rootstock. I think this is nematode resistant rootstock. Training of the plant, etc., is discussed. There are some good directions if time is taken to work out the translation.
2) http://www.ari.pref.niigata.jp/nouri...ktichimanu.pdf - cutting propagation, cultivation, pruning

Some photos -
1) http://emsaien.up.n.seesaa.net/emsai...PG?d=a84122842
2) http://userdisk.webry.biglobe.ne.jp/...0416226443.jpg - a beautiful photo showing the espalier method, all ship shape!
3) http://www.kannonyama.net/ichijiku/IMG_0327.JPG - another amazing photo of their meticulous arrangement.
4) http://blog-imgs-36-origin.fc2.com/m...n/PICT0118.jpg This photo came from this blog http://manchounouen.blog83.fc2.com/category12-1.html This is an interesting photo showing figs growing in containers using a hydroponic soilless system.
5) http://img01.hamazo.tv/usr/e/n/s/enshokupj/IMG_1718.JPG Another well manicured orchard.
6) http://www.waa-bc.com/agri/shimane/いちじく.JPG - One last photo showing figs growing in containers using a hydroponic soilless system. It is just astounding.

I think that some of this will be interesting, especially for those of you that have thought about the "step over" fig growing methods (espalier), and those that have had interests in greenhouse culture. I also find the images very satisfying to look at.

Enjoy -
Byron (Ingevald)

[AscPete]

Thanks for taking the time to share the links.

I'll be using google translate on the PDFs There's always lots of interesting info contained in those documents.

[Ingevald]

Pete - Thanks for your thoughts. I've appreciated your interest in this topic, and your shared analysis of the information that has been found.

Byron

[jmaler]

Thanks for this post, Bryon. I thourghly enjoyed it.

[Harborseal]

For those of you who don't know Ingevald, he's a super nice guy who's been growing figs for just about ever. He got me started with a lot of great varieties and advice. He's probably the premier fig grower of the Midwest. When they asked me to do the fig workshop I said, "I can, but if you want a real fig guru, Byron's the man."

[mountainfigs]

Inspiring links. Thanks.

[Dennis Katinas]

I found this topic by having a few google searches, thanks for all the work Ingevald Nice to know you're still on the forum also.

[Ingevald]

Thanks for resurrecting this old posting. Some of those links are probably out of date, but apparently some useful and interesting information was still available. I’ve not had time to currently research the topic but assume that there are even more resources that could be located - papers, photos and videos. I’ve been impressed by AscPete and others that have taken this information, digested it and have offered clear ways to proceed. I’ve also appreciated seeing reports and photos of the various experiments with the techniques.

I’ve been busy with the relatively new small farm project and am hoping to try my own experiments in the coming years.

I have attached a pdf document that may or may not have been posted in the past. It was one of the best documents that I found about the technique. It is in Japanese, but is filled with excellent illustrations.

Byron

[longcake]

Paste some useful technical information, including broken links.
There are few images, but the paper may be useful to read just the table and the summary at the end.

Basic research on fig breeding

http://farc.pref.fukuoka.jp/farc/kenpo/tokukenp/tokuho9.pdf

Recently, a new variety of figs has been developed, and the data on the basis of this is provided.

Large-Scale Seedling Raising by Rock Wool Cutting Method of Fig Masui Dauphin

https://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/file/attachment/2009641.pdf

labor-saving method of making large numbers of seedlings from cuttings

Effects of Sampling Sites and Traits on the Activity and Growth of Fig Cuttings in Annual Dormant Branches

https://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/lab-nourin/nourin/kenkyuuhoukoku/documents/p75-80.pdf

Data for cutting ears

Effects of Cutting-bed and Cutting-bed Temperature and Moisture on the Activation and Growth of Fig Cuttings

https://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/lab-nourin/nourin/kenkyuuhoukoku/documents/cafrc5-19-26.pdf

Information on conditions of scion and soil for cutting

Method for growing fig Seedling

https://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/ninaite/seikafukyu/documents/h2304.pdf

In the middle of the file is how to grow a first-year sapling.

Lightweight pot cultivation technique for fig

https://agriknowledge.affrc.go.jp/RN/2010900700.pdf

https://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/file/attachment/2010139.pdf

Data on soil and fertilizer used for cultivation at 20 L = 4.4 gal

Container cultivation of figs using paddy rice nursery house

http://npdas.pref.niigata.lg.jp/nosoken/5eabb61dc8c27.pdf

My prefecture is a rice production area, and rice husks are used as basic soil.

Measures against frozen frost damage of figs

https://www.pref.aichi.jp/nogyo-keiei/nogyo-aichi/gijutu_keiei/kaju131101.pdf

Aluminum vapor deposition film seems to be effective because it doesn't get cold at night and doesn't get too warm during the day.

Finally, the explanation by the fig nursery

https://www.la-fruta.jp/fs/sanyonursery/c/ichijiku-farm

[zachs91]

Container cultivation of figs using paddy rice nursery house
http://npdas.pref.niigata.lg.jp/noso...bb61dc8c27.pdf
My prefecture is a rice production area, and rice husks are used as basic soil.

I wish I could read Japanese, this is really interesting from the photos!

[longcake]

I wish I could read Japanese, this is really interesting from the photos!

After you download the file, you can use Google Translate to translate it into English. The accuracy may not be good. I'm sorry.

[zachs91]

After you download the file, you can use Google Translate to translate it into English. The accuracy may not be good. I'm sorry.

The translation is much better than I would have thought - thank you very much for pointing that out!

I'm looking at "Measures against frozen frost damage of figs", and I found some great data demonstrating the effectiveness of insulation and film covering for overwintering...

[Dennis Katinas]

You're welcome Ingevald / Byron, I'm glad this topic and post are revived. I found another one from you and AscPete from the F4F times in 2014, also an informational read. http://figs4funforum.arghchive.com/p...4805__trail_50

longcake awesome tip! Thanks!

[Vincent]

Hello, do you have an idea why fig trees in Japanese intensive production are first planted every 3 meters and then thinned to 6 meters between each tree ? What would happen if we let one trunk every 3 meters ? I understand that if the end goal is to have 1 trunk every 6 meters then planting 1 every 3 meters can bring them more productivity in the first 2 years, my question is more about aiming 3 meters in between trunks as a final stage. Are there any drawbacks in comparison with wider spacing ? Thank you for your insights. Vincent

[AscPete]

Vincent ,
Spacing relates directly to quantity of Trees per Acre and equivalent fig in Tons for commercial production.
The spacing is also based on mature trees and long term production, with smaller trees, more per acre resulting in increased tonnage of figs produced per season.

Previous discussion re. fig tree spacing and pruning... https://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-h...92#post1311192

[Vincent]

AscPete, yes I understand, so, why removing 1 tree out of 2 after 3 years, knowing that it costed money to plant it and that leaving it all in ground would allow increased tonnage per acre ... I don't get it !

[AscPete]

Vincent ,

Removing the intermediate trees provides room for larger trees and more fruiting branches. The larger trees’ roots can support larger scaffold and more fruiting Branch nodes, Scaffolds are extended to fill the gaps left by the removed fig trees.

More smaller trees in closer spacing can provide more tonnage of figs per acre but also require more intensive cultural care, pruning, fertilizing and watering.

[Vincent]

And also, in the following document :
Japan - Cultivation of Figs - Koto Agricultural Center (copy)-compressed.pdf, they always talk about a cultivation area of 10a (for productivity numbers, hours of labour, etc)
Does that mean 10000 sqft ?

Edit : I think I found myself the answer but Idk how to delete my post... Sorry.

[AscPete]

Vincent ,

1 Are = 0.0247 Acre
10 Ares = .247 Acre or 1/4 Acre

Google translate for Text and PDF documents... https://translate.google.com/

[jessup42]

At least the 2.5 is pretty consistent for remembering. 2.5 acres in hectare. 1 Are is .025 acres

[FIGRush]

I've been facinated by the Toyomitsuhime fig after watching many videos on Youtube. This article online describes the soil used by one grower:

The January-March period is the time for working on the part of fig-growing Uchida is most particular about: soil making. "Getting the soil to be light and fluffy is key. It helps root systems to more easily grow and absorb nutrients. The way we do it here is by mixing in the ashes and charcoal from wood smoking chips. We also get waste from a meat processing plant and put that into the soil, too."

Uchida also uses an original compost mix that incorporates mushroom culture medium, wood waste, malt, and bran. "I didn't really want to fatten up my figs with chemical fertilizers. It takes a lot of work to grow them like 1 do, but I want people to eat the figs with peace of mind."

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-creamy-sweetness-of-fukuoka%E2%80%99s-toyomitsuhime-figs-ministry-of-agriculture-forestry-and-fisheries/1wUR3cGxZuP2Ig?hl=en

But how do they taste?