Question
QUESTION: I have a huge fig/weed tree that has taken off for years providing nice shade and beautiful leaves.  It has never produced proper fruit....they form and are just pithy and dried out inside and drop all over my driveway making a mess.  I was just about to pull it out and plant a good fig tree that would finally give me fruits to eat.  A farmer told me today about special wasps or something that can be sent to me to inseminate or help my weed/fig tree finally produce good fruit.  have u heard of this??  plz advise and help me out on how and where to buy bugs and fertilizers to better my fig tree.

ANSWER: Hi Rachel,
Thanx for your question.  This is really a fruit and fruit tree propagation and I'm not an expert in that regard.  But, I may be able to get you into the right direction.  First, do you know what kind of fig tree you have?  Why do you refer to it as a weed?  Is it a wild form?  Yes, there are wasps of the genus Pegoscapus that assist in the pollination of figs.  Those wasps are only found in Florida and the South and into Mexico down to Argentina.  Can you tell me your location and I'll see if I can't find out more information about growing figs in your area?  I'm sorry this has taken me so long to get back to you. I have not been able to locate any information on where to get the wasps.  They have a somewhat complex life cycle and they may not be available commercially.  I hope this helps.
Tom

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QUESTION: thanks for reply and attempt.  i refer to it as a weed because it has been trying to sprout out of a neighbor's house foundation for years- intertwined with camellias and other weeds.  i have no idea what type of fig it is(they are med size fruits that are grn and kinda turn darker- not blk missions). i have read and heard lately that there is only a few different types of figs that need and use this "sort of wasp fertilization" method that dates wayyyy back.  I am waiting to hear back from a local malibu organic farmer that knew of a guy up north that mailed out wasps possibly....i am now thinking buying a proper fig tree(can't decide on a type to grow here in hollywood!!)would be much easier!!!- haha.  Let me know your thoughts- i am interested in learning from u.


Answer
Hi Rachel,
Thanx for the additional information. You are fortunate to live in Southern California because you will have so many options to grow delicious figs in your own backyard or in a tub on your patio.  Please contact the Los Angeles County Extension Service and their Master Gardeners can help you with local fig recommendations.  My cousin lives out in the desert near Victorville and I visit Southern California at least once a year.  I lived in the Monterey area up north for a while back in 1977.  Spent some time on business in the Central Valley to (Fresno).  Generally, I'm in San Diego every other year so I kind of know my way around Central and Southern California for the past 32 years!  Anyway, check out the link below and good luck with your figs.
Tom

http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/