Just impulse bought a fig, a quince and some cascading blackberries

[ChristopherTracy]

Do I have to do something with them right away or will they be ok in their pots they came in for a couple of days. I have put the fig in the upright cold frame but once I have potted it up can it then go straight out?

What would everyone do for the compost for the fig and the quince - how free draining? They will both be in pots, the quince is a patio variety.

For the fig use something loam based (John Innes 3). Don't put it in a huge pot as the more restricted the roots the more prolifically it'll fruit.

I'd add extra grit or similar to make sure the drainage is decent. Mine is in maybe 30:70 grit to compost, but it lives outside all year and I'm in Scotland so get a lot of rainfall!

I have no idea about the quince though - I'd love one and had no idea they came in patio varieties! I'll have to look it up :D

www.pomonafruits.co.uk/fruit-nut-trees/quince-trees/sibleys-patio-quince not cheap but looks very hardy. I'm pleased with it.

Thanks for the tips - will do!

That patio quince looks amazing. I have a dwarf quince in the ground - beautiful tree. I am no expert but if it were me I'd probably mix together equal quantities of garden soil, home made compost and well rotted manure to make a potting medium. Use the biggest pot you can manage and keep the watering steady. My quince is a martyr to powdery mildew in a dry spring.

PS definitely straight out for the quince. Maybe coddle the fig a little bit at first - cover with fleece on a very cold night

Yes will do. It is tricky not knowing how they looked after it. It is in the smallest pot ever seen for something 3-4 ft tall but I know that you need to restrict them. I worry about it blowing over in a smaller pot though but maybe I will just sink it.

Or you could use a bigger pot but half fill it with bricks or similar

Ah look at you @deplorabelle with the genius ideas. Chapeau!

😁

I am loving the image of you tucking your plants under fleeces at night!

Thanks OP - just bought a quince to add to the already too many trees in my v small back garden. I've a fig in a pot - been in it for about 15 years. Had ripe figs off it twice in that time but love the leaves.

Also considering a columnar apple tree...

Have an allotment so already have a massive plum tree, a greengage and a cooking apple tree.

I have more fig trees than I will admit to here, but I keep all mine in my polycrub (polycarbonate tunnel). Where I live, it's just too windy for figs, but in most places I think they are fine outdoors. You'll only get one crop a year though- I get two, Spring and Autumn. Don't repot until you really have to. I use about 50% grit in whatever compost I can get (terrible shortages here, so have to do with what's available).

With the quince, I would add less grit but still a fair amount, since I like to make sure there is no chance of waterlogging for anything pot-grown. I also really fancy a quince, but I promised not to buy any more plants until I have planted all the trees I bought for a new windbreak!