Ornamental trees

In late August, fig trees produce fruit, though technically, a fig is an inverted flower that blooms internally. This is when fresh, sweet figs are ready to eat, but they spoil quickly unless preserved through traditional methods like making jams, chutneys or drying them. Fig spoon sweets are made from May's male figs, which don't develop into the familiar large fruit.

Bursa's black figs, which received geographical recognition from the European Union in September, are readied for export to Europe following their harvest in early to mid-August, depending on the seasonal temperatures every year.

With all eyes on the olive groves (as the price of olive oil is the protagonist and driver of food inflation), consumers are waiting to find out if this season holds more inflation. Although the signals are currently contradictory – as consumption is declining, but production is also declining due to the climate crisis – there is a trend of de-escalation. But that is one side of the story.

The oldest fig seeds ever found in Anatolia, dating back 5,000 years, have been unearthed in the Yassıtepe Mound in the Bornova district of İzmir, where excavations have been continuing.

Climate change and invasive species are threatening production in Türkiye's agriculture sector, posing risks especially to cash crops, such as olive, hazelnut and pistachio.

The latest numbers from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) showed that the country's citrus production increased, while there was a steep decline in olive, hazelnut, pistachio and cotton production.

An expert has suggested planting carob trees, known for their incredible resistance to fire, along forest borders to stop wildfires from spreading to larger areas.

The oldest tree in Istanbul is a 1,300-year-old oriental plane that is under protection in a forest in the Sarıyer district, an academic has said.

Blooming peach gardens in Turkey's western Aydın province draw the attention of onlookers with their enchanting views during the spring season. (AA Photo)

Ljubljana – The cold snap that hit Slovenia this week caused damage to all types of fruit orchards nation-wide, as well causing injury to vineyards, olive groves and legumes, initial estimates by the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry (KGZS) show. In some areas all fruit crop is gone.

Cone harvesting in the southern province of Adana occurs from December to March when the cones reach full size and weight, and the pine nuts are completely developed. (AA Photo)