Fig

My neighbor has a fig tree and for years has always given me fig fruit except for the last few years; her tree did not have much fruit due to the drought for the past several years. This year with a bumper crop, she has given me a lot.

Fig is an ancient tree native to the Middle East and Western Asia but it is widely cultivated in Asia and North America for its fruit and as an ornamental plant. The fruit can be eaten fresh or dried and also used in making jams. Once the fruit is picked, it should be eaten immediately as it does not keep well.

Figs are in season from August to early October. The figs my neighbor gave me are the reddish brown variety; they are soft, plump and sweet. She had given me a lot and was not able to eat everything; I will be making fig jam.

Pear Tree

My property came with a pear tree planted in front of the house. It has been bearing fruit every year ever since I bought the house except last year and the year before which may be due to the drought and also for not being watered regularly.

For this season, it is loaded with fruit thanks to the rains; not only loaded but the fruits are bigger than normal. The fruit is brownish in color and not suitable for eating as it is but it is good for cooking; especially good for baking such as making pies as it is firm and hold well when baked. It is a bit tough and not as juicy as the light green variety.

Pomegranate Fruit, 2017

My pomegranate tree bear fruit even with minimum watering due to the restrictions and conservation of water for several years as a result of the drought that affected California for the past several years.  I cut back on water usage by watering the lawn at a minimum only enough for the lawn not to die; the water saved on the lawn was used instead to water the fruit trees.

Although it had fruit last year there were only a few fruit and they are relatively small compared to pomegranate you can buy at the grocery store. This year there are more fruit and a lot bigger than last year; they look plump and healthy and I am sure the seeds will be more juicy and sweeter than last year.

Pomegranate trees are known to be extremely drought-tolerant but with more watering it will have better fruit quality, the fruit will be bigger and the seeds will be juicier. Will it be sweeter? That remains to be seen.

Peach Tree

I planted my peach tree about 14 years ago and have borne fruit year after year except for the last three years which is definitely related to the drought in California for the past several years. I thought of cutting the tree last January as it did not bear fruit for the last three years. Fruit trees are normally deep rooted and can tap water stored deeper in the ground but with several years of drought, moisture in the ground probably got deeper.

Fortunately I did not cut it down; it looks healthy and had no reason to cut it other than it has not borne any fruit for a few years. I decided to keep it with the abundant rain last winter; I thought it may bore fruit again. Luckily, it did have a lot of flowers which I’m sure it will develop into fruits.

Every branch is loaded with pink flowers, I’m sure there will be a lot of peach fruit come summer and fall.