What's eating my chicago hardy fig?

Chicago Hardy fig shares the same pest profile as other Ficus carica cultivars: birds raiding ripe fruit, fig beetles in warmer climates, and spider mites in drought stress. In its northern range it is more likely to escape fig beetle pressure but remains fully exposed to bird damage, root nematodes, and occasional scale insects.

Ripe figs are pecked open or stolen whole; damage spikes just as fruit reaches peak sweetness Cover ripening clusters with fine bird netting secured at the trunk; harvest daily once figs soften and nectar-drop

Galls on feeder roots cause stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and reduced fruiting; worst in sandy soils Plant in well-drained loam amended with compost; solarize soil before planting in hot climates; avoid replanting figs in nematode-infested ground

Bronzed, stippled foliage with fine webbing on undersides; worst in hot summers with low humidity Increase irrigation to reduce plant stress; forceful water sprays on leaf undersides; neem oil or miticide spray if population explodes

Crusty or waxy bumps on stems and branches; sticky honeydew leads to sooty mould; vigor declines over time Scrub off scale with a soft brush and soapy water; apply dormant horticultural oil in late winter before bud break