Growing Figs in Scotland: An Experimental Orchard
Scotland has mild winters, but cool summers. For fig growers, that's a tricky combination.
Scott Horner isn't letting that stop him. In Fife, Scotland, he's creating an experimental fig orchard, testing growing techniques, and searching for old fig trees that have quietly thrived in the area for decades.
After visiting relatives on the Italian island of Elba, Scott returned home to Fife, Scotland, determined to grow his own figs. What began with a few trees quickly expanded into an experimental orchard with approximately 180 varieties.
But there was a problem. While his part of Scotland falls into a relatively mild winter hardiness zone, its cool summers don't provide the same heat as many places with comparable winter temperatures.
Scott's response was to create his own growing environments and experiment with ways to help fig trees fruit in a short, cool growing season.
In this episode
Why hardiness zones aren't enough: The difference between surviving winter and having sufficient summer heat to ripen figs.
Creating warmer microclimates: Using stone walls, greenhouses, polytunnels, and a Scottish structure called a polycrub.
Finding local fig survivors: Collecting and propagating figs from old trees that have fruited outdoors in Scotland for decades, including one Scott calls Blebo Dark.
Preserving wood and roots: Scott's approach to minimizing pruning and retaining established growth from one season to the next.
Experimenting with growing mixes: Using crushed Victorian brick, Scottish granite, sand, and crushed shells to create long-lasting, mineral-based growing media.
Growing in whisky barrels: Building durable planters from reclaimed oak barrel staves.
Looking ahead: Testing different varieties, protecting trees through winter, and exploring the possibility of developing locally adapted figs.
Scott's long-term ambition isn't simply to keep unusual fig trees alive. He wants to produce enough high-quality, tree-ripened fruit that people in Scotland can enjoy fresh figs grown close to home.
His project is still in its early stages, but the experiments offer plenty of food for thought for anyone growing figs in a challenging climate.
Mentioned in this episode
Polycrub – The robust Scottish growing structure Scott uses, originally developed in Shetland for challenging weather conditions.
Blebo Dark – Scott's provisional name for a locally surviving fig that produces dark, purple-fleshed fruit.
Growing degree days (GDD) – A way of measuring accumulated warmth during the growing season.
Breba figs – The early crop produced on wood from the previous growing season.
