[tonyafd]

When I move down to TV in years to come, I would at least like to plant a fig tree.

What are the rules as they pertain to fruit trees?

[bike42]

No restrictions that I've heard of -- treat them like any other landscape plant and put them where you think they will look best and get the right amount of sun or shade. We have a fig, 2 loquats, 4 different citrus, blueberries, a pineapple guava and some eugenias. If you're going to live in paradise, you might as well eat the fruit.

[Shirleevee]

Originally Posted by tonyafd

When I move down to TV in years to come, I would at least like to plant a fig tree.

What are the rules as they pertain to fruit trees?

No rules as far as we know. Fig trees flourish here!

[Taj44]

In the newer sections its possible that you are not allowed to have fruit trees in the front yard, and possibly not in the side yard. I could be wrong on this, but for some reason its ringing a bell - you could check with the Architectural Review Board to see the restrictions for the particular village you're interested in. We live near Sumter Landing and everyone has their fruit trees in the back yard. A fig tree sounds interesting! Be careful with some trees like grapefruit. At maturity they are loaded with grapefruit - hundreds per tree, and they end up being a lot of work. We were going to plant one, but a friend gives us all we can use from his tree. Good luck.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Taj44

In the newer sections its possible that you are not allowed to have fruit trees in the front yard, and possibly not in the side yard. I could be wrong on this, but for some reason its ringing a bell - you could check with the Architectural Review Board to see the restrictions for the particular village you're interested in. We live near Sumter Landing and everyone has their fruit trees in the back yard. A fig tree sounds interesting! Be careful with some trees like grapefruit. At maturity they are loaded with grapefruit - hundreds per tree, and they end up being a lot of work. We were going to plant one, but a friend gives us all we can use from his tree. Good luck.

I didn't notice any restriction in my deed - Buttonwood.

[scrapple]

Originally Posted by tonyafd

When I move down to TV in years to come, I would at least like to plant a fig tree.

What are the rules as they pertain to fruit trees?

The rule is that you have to share leftovers with your neighbors!

[tonyafd]

Thank you all for your advise.

When I was a kid in the Bronx, my father always had at least a half dozen fig trees in each of the houses that he owned. I use to help him tie them up, bend them over, and cover them with newspapers leaves and dirt for the Winter. He grew white figs and purple ones.

Yes, the thicker trunks broke, but there were always five or six sprouts per root.

[HawkeyeBarb]

Planting a fruit tree or moving to a home with an established tree is one of my favorite daydreams! Are there lots of "issues" with growing oranges or grapefruit trees? Seems like all of the apple trees I have known in the Midwest always ended up with worms or some other problem and weren't the best fruit bearers. I think my grandfather had a plum that caused him problems, too. Just wondering if the citrus trees required a lot of maintainence also.

[scrapple]

I love nature. I planted 2 Norweigan fruitless plum trees for the spring flowers. Every fall we had plums. Here, we planted a fig, a lemon and an orange. I can't wait to see what we get!

[graciegirl]

Never saw a fig tree and the only time I eat figs are in fig newtons. Do you just eat them plain or make a pie or what?

They must be very sweet and in the fig newtons they have the consistency of dates. I like date pie.

[HawkeyeBarb]

I have never seen a fig tree either! Didn't know they grew in the USA...especially in the New York area! Must not be able to grow in Iowa with all that corn!
I like Date Nut Pinwheel cookies...especially at Christmas time! YUM!

[NJblue]

Be forewarned: planting fruit trees may attract rats which in turn will attract snakes.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/uw/uw12000.pdf

Sorry for the cold water.

[al & jane]

Figs are delicious all by themselves but their consistancy is a little different so not everyone cares for them. When I was a kid we had 2 trees in our yard and my Mother used to make fig preserves that were out of this world.

[pooh]

Originally Posted by NJblue

Be forewarned: planting fruit trees may attract rats which in turn will attract snakes.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/uw/uw12000.pdf

Sorry for the cold water.

I can attest to that. In CA we had a beautiful macadamia nut tree as well as a valencia orange tree. Both were lovely and the nuts and fruit were plentiful. The macadamia nut tree was removed when we found a rather large and quite beautiful, roof rat in it. The rats also enjoyed the oranges, but seemed quite content to eat the fruit from the very top of the tree. That was why I never realized the beasties were up there....I couldn't reach the top fruit and I was too lazy to grab the pole picker most of the time.

Saying all that, it is wonderful to have one's own fruit or nut tree. Both of our trees were extremely fragrant when in bloom and I loved the scents. One can plant dwarf varities and make sure to pick up any fallen fruit, share their harvest with friends and enjoy. If rats, excess fruit, caring for the plants become too much, trees can be removed. I'd plant another fruit tree, but you see, I already have this squirrel in my yard and....

[tonyafd]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Never saw a fig tree and the only time I eat figs are in fig newtons. Do you just eat them plain or make a pie or what?

They must be very sweet and in the fig newtons they have the consistency of dates. I like date pie.

Eat them right off of the tree. They are at their sweetest when they are a bit wrinkled.