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Fig tree in garden


How to Grow a Fig Tree in Your Backyard

Ficus carica

The occasional pejorative use of the term “fig leaf” is wholly undeserved.

The leaves of the fig tree (Ficus carica) are quite lovely – large, beautifully shaped, and generous in their provision of shade.

It is entirely unjust that the leaves of this lovely tree have been so maligned throughout history, likely due to their part in the biblical story of Adam and Eve.

Any plant that gives us food, beauty, and shelter surely deserves our respect and admiration, rather than our scorn.

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Let’s see why!

What You’ll Learn

Origins

Native to the Middle East and northwestern Asia, the tree was brought to North America by Spanish missionaries in the early sixteenth century.

Easy-to-grow figs are among the oldest fruits known to humankind and are members of the Moraceae family, which includes the mulberry.

Photo by Ralph Barrera

These trees can be left unprotected in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10. Gardeners in northern zones can grow these plants in containers and bring them indoors when temps drop below 10°F.

These trees are relatively fast growing and can grow to 20 or even 30 feet tall, and almost as wide. The deeply-lobed leaves can be four to eight inches wide and as long as 10 inches.

The shade provided by their girth and large leaves is well-appreciated. In fact, the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, is said to have found enlightenment while sitting under a fig tree.

Photo by Gretchen Heber

In the right conditions, some species will produce two crops in a year. The first crop, called a “breba” crop, ripens in late May or early June, and a second will be ready in late September to early November.

The Joy of Jams, Jellies, and Other Sweet Preserves

“Breba” or “breva” is a Spanish word that comes from the Latin “bifera,” which means twice-producing, according to Linda Ziedrich, author of “Jams, Jellies, and Other Sweet Preserves. ” Want to check it out for yourself? This book is available on Amazon. 

What to Buy?

Of the four main types of figs, three – Caprifigs, Smyrna, and San Pedro – are not usually grown by home gardeners, because they have complex pollination requirements.

The fourth type, the common fig, is parthenocarpic, meaning the fruit forms without fertilization. Let’s look at a few varieties of this type.

Photo by Ralph Barrera

One of the most commonly planted fig trees in North America is ‘Celeste,’ available from Nature Hills Nursery.

This large beauty is fast growing and produces medium-sized, sweet, juicy fruits that are brownish-purple and ready to harvest in July.

‘Celeste’

Celeste does not produce a breba crop. The fruit is good both for eating fresh and for preserving. Also known as the sugar fig, it’s hardy to zone 6.

‘Brown Turkey’ is another favorite, especially for more northern gardeners as it’s more cold-hardy than some other varieties.

You can find ‘Brown Turkey’ available at at Nature Hills Nursery.

‘Brown Turkey’

This tree produces a smaller fruit that is not quite as richly flavored as ‘Celeste,’ but it does often produce a breba crop. And that means figs for everyone! Thrives in Zones 7-9.

Super-Southern growers might want to try ‘Black Mission’ – it’s a vigorous grower, but not particularly cold hardy. Nature Hills also sells this tree.

‘Black Mission’

This variety produces two crops of large, rich-tasting, purple-black fruits that are good fresh or dried.

‘Ischia’ is said to do particularly well in coastal California, whereas the related ‘Green Ischia’ is more suited for the South.

‘Ischia’ (Ficus carica), 4-inch Pot

Ischia are smaller, lighter-colored fruits with excellent flavor. You can purchase ‘Ischia’ from Hirts, via Amazon.

A Sun Loving Tree

Like college kids on spring break, figs like sun. They are happiest with seven to eight hours of full sun during the growing season.

When choosing a site for your tree, don’t underestimate its ability and desire to spread out. It might feel a bit crowded if it’s too close to a wall or fence.

These trees aren’t too picky about their soil, although they prefer well-drained loam with lots of organic matter.

Propagation

This species is astonishingly easy to propagate. Simply sneak into your neighbor’s yard in the dead of night, pruners in hand…

We jest. Ask permission and take an eight- to 10-inch cutting of wood in early spring.

Photo by Gretchen Heber

Stick it in a pot of good dirt, with several inches below the surface and one or two buds above the dirt line.

Let the cutting grow in the container for a season before transplanting.

Photo by Gretchen Heber

My own huge tree is the result of my dear neighbor Louie sharing a potted plant he’d propagated from a cutting he snipped from a tree at the side of a road somewhere.

When he lost his own tree during the construction of his backyard pool, he came back to our big beauty to take a cutting to propagate.

Planting Tips

Plant figs when they are dormant, in spring. Set container plants three inches deeper than their container depth.

If you’re planting bare root plants, cut back the tops to about one-half of their original length.

These plants are fairly drought tolerant, but if things get too dry, you’ll want to give them a drink.

These trees generally do just fine without any fertilizing. If it seems your tree is being stingy with its spring leaf development, give it some balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 (NPK), according to package instructions, to jumpstart it.

These plants require little or no pruning. An ill-placed branch can certainly be removed to unblock a path if needed, of course, in winter. And you’ll want to remove any deadwood.

Pests and Diseases

Squirrels. Grrrrrrrr. We’ll come back to this in a minute.

Other plagues to look for include root-knot nematodes, which are a serious threat to fig trees in parts of the South.

The larvae of these destructive pests infect plant roots, inhibiting their ability to absorb nutrients.

According to G.W. Krewer, extension horticulturist, and Floyd Hendrix, plant pathologist, both of University of Georgia Extension Service, trees infected by root-knot nematodes cannot be cured with chemical treatment.

Krewer and Hendrix suggest pruning the tops to balance the weakened root system, which may prolong the tree’s life. Usually, however, infected plants eventually die.

Rust is another blight to be aware of. It’s a fungus that shows up on the underside of leaves as raised, reddish-brown spots.

Rust is not usually fatal, and unless it’s an annual problem, spraying with a fungicide is not necessary.

Figs are also susceptible to a couple of fungal blights, including leaf and pink blight. Avoid these by using sanitary gardening practices such as applying mulch, cleaning away dead plant material, and disinfecting tools.

Avoiding Fig-Fattened Wildlife

Figs are ready to harvest when the neck weakens and the fruit droops.

The ripe fruits will be soft to the touch and the skin may begin to split. And most varieties darken to a brownish-purple color just before harvest time.

You’ll want to grab them at just the right time. Picked too soon, they aren’t yummy – and they won’t ripen once removed from the plant.

Here’s the tricky part: You have to time the harvest of the fruit perfectly, so you get them when they’re just ripe, but before the $#&%@#! squirrels get them! Or the birds.

Some gardeners cover smaller trees with netting to dissuade wildlife, but this is impractical with large trees. You simply have to be diligent about watching for ripeness and then beating the crafty creatures to the goods.

Fruit Storage

Harvested figs have a fairly short shelf life; store them in the refrigerator for two or three days, tops.

Photo by Ralph Barrera

To dry these fruits, wash them thoroughly and then dry them with a towel. Place them whole or halved on a wire rack. Place the wire rack on a baking sheet.

Put the baking sheet in a 140°F oven for eight to 24 hours.

You can also use dehydrator, following the same instructions. Learn more about dehydrators from this article on our sister site, Foodal.

You’ll know they’re dry when the outsides become leathery and you don’t see any juice on the inside. They should still be slightly pliable.

Store the dried fruit in the refrigerator or freezer in airtight containers for 18 to 24 months.

Recipe Ideas

If eating them like candy somehow gets tiresome, you can preserve the fruits or add them to any number of recipes.

This recipe for tahini, honey-roasted fig, and banana popsicles, from our sister site, Foodal, is delicious. These frozen treats are filling and not too sweet.

Photo by Kendall Vanderslice.

Packed with figs, banana, and tahini, they do double duty as breakfast and dessert.

And a sweet fig livens up a fresh salad, too! Check out this recipe for arugula dijon salad with figs, pistachios, and pea shoots, also from Foodal.

Photo by Meghan Yager.

Or if you have an abundant harvest, check out this recipe for easy fig jam, also from Foodal.

You can use your fresh, homemade jam in a hearty roasted chicken panini.

Photo by Kelli McGrane.

Doesn’t that look delicious? You can find the recipe over at Foodal.

Aspersions Aside

Clearly, we are wholly in favor of dismissing any negative connotations of the use of the fig leaf as a cover for things disagreeable.

Indeed, the fig is a most agreeable and generous specimen of a plant whose fruit is more than 50 percent sugar. We dare you to cast aspersions on this benevolent beauty.

In fact, we ask: Why wouldn’t you plant this species? Northern friends, buy a big pot or consider the ‘Hardy Chicago’ variety. Southern gardeners, select a wide spot. Soon you’ll all be members of the fig fanatics club!

Do you have fantastic figs in your yard? Planning your late-night neighborhood escapade to “borrow” from the neighbors? Tell us more in the comments section below.

And if you’re looking to expand your homegrown fruit repertoire even more, check out these guides next:

Photos by Gretchen Heber, Kelli McGrane, Kendall Vanderslice, Meghan Yager, and Ralph Barrera  © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published on February 19, 2019. Product photos via Harvard Common Press, Hirts, and Nature Hills Nursery. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock.

Fig Tree Care: How to Grow Figs

Fresh figs are delicious, sweet treats, a real taste of sunny climes. Figs are well worth the effort to grow, and their attractive, scented foliage makes a great addition to the garden, too.

Fig trees are native to Syria and Persia, and while fig trees in Britain might not yield the same quantity or sweetness of fig trees in the Mediterranean, they can be grown successfully in a sheltered, sunny spot, such as against a wall. The idea is to trick them into thinking they are growing on a rocky hilltop in the eastern Mediterranean by keeping their roots restricted.

Several fig varieties are hardy enough for outdoor cultivation in the UK and should crop even during poor summers. Choose varieties like 'Brown Turkey' and 'Brunswick', both hardy varieties bred to thrive in the British climate. They're suitable for growing in large pots (which restricts their roots), and compact and standard varieties make good trees for small gardens. They're all self-fertile, so you only need one tree for a decent crop. Some varieties are only suitable for growing in an unheated greenhouse.

How to grow figs

Grow figs in a warm, sheltered spot in full sun. Plant them in pots or use rubble or submerged paving slabs to restrict root growth when growing in the ground. Keep pot-grown plants well-watered and feed weekly with tomato food once fruits start appearing. An annual mulch of well-rotted compost or manure will keep soil fertile while suppressing weeds around the fig tree. Harvest the fruits in autumn, once they're hanging down and soft to the touch.

Growing figs: jump links

Where to plant a fig tree

How to grow figs - where to plant a fig tree

Figs do best in a sheltered, sunny spot, ideally against a brick wall where they can soak up the heat from the wall at night.

How to plant a fig tree

The best time to plant a fig tree is late winter or spring – it will have plenty of time to establish before cold weather sets in. It will need a deep hole, as it has a long tap root. It's thought that figs do best when their roots are slightly restricted. If you're planting your tree in the ground, dig a planting hole, and then part fill it with well-rotted manure and rubble, to help restrict roots. If you have them, using paving slabs to make a wall around the roots to further restrict them. Back-fill with compost and firm into place. Alternatively, you can buy root control bags online. Water well.

Alternatively, plant your fig in a large, deep pot, which will have the same effect of restricting root growth. Put crocks at the bottom for drainage, then add John Innes No. 3 compost. Stand the pot on feet to allow any excess water to drain away.

Where to buy fig trees

  • Thompson & Morgan
  • Pomona Fruits
  • Primrose

    • Caring for fig trees

    How to grow figs - caring for fig trees

    Figs can produce several stages of crop simultaneously but usually, only one crop will ripen in the UK climate, in September or October. The tiny, pea-sized embryo fruitlets formed in the autumn are next year's harvest – they will overwinter to produce a crop of figs the following year. The figs that were produced in spring and early summer and have not ripened by October will continue to grow but won't ripen in the UK climate. Remove these in late autumn.

    More like this

    When fruits start developing, feed with a liquid tomato feed every couple of weeks.

    In some areas, fig trees will need protecting over winter, especially if the tree is young. When the leaves have dropped, cover with horticultural fleece, or if your tree is fan-trained, pack straw around the branches. Move pot grown fig trees into a cool shed, or covered area such as a greenhouse.

    In spring, remove the protection, give the tree a good feed and mulch with well rotted manure, or move pot-grown figs back outdoors.

    Repot container-grown figs every two or three years. When the tree becomes too big to repot, remove as much compost from the surface as you can, and replace with fresh.

    Training and pruning fig trees

    How to grow figs - fig tree against a shed

    Outdoor figs can be fan-trained to help manage growth and create space and light for fruits to ripen.

    Train against the wall on horizontal wires, tying in the stems to create a fan-shape. In early summer, pinch out half the growing tips on the main frame of the fan, to encourage growth lower down. Tie in the new shoots as they appear. In late winter, cut out any dead or crossing stems to keep the framework of the tree open.

    Prune container-grown fig trees in a similar way, by removing dead and weak branches in late winter and new shoot tips in summer.

    They’re also extremely vigorous, so require regular annual pruning to keep them in check. If your tree is growing too large for its space, you can prune it back hard – bear in mind that you will lose fruit for a time, however.

    Do not prune fig trees in spring – it can cause them to bleed sap, which can weaken and even kill the tree. The sap of figs is an irritant, so wear gloves.

    Watch Monty Don prune a fan-trained fig tree, in this clip from Gardeners' World:

    Harvesting figs

    How to grow figs - harvesting figs

    Most outdoor-grown figs are ready at the end of the summer. You can pick the fruits as they ripen through to the end of September. The fruits are ready when the stem bend and the fruits are hanging down – they may produce a drop of sugar at the bottom. The skin will be soft and almost squishy and may split when squeezed gently. Some varieties, such as 'Madeleine des Deux Saisons', fruit twice, in June and September.

    The remaining tiny, embryo fruit towards the ends of the shoots will over-winter and will ripen the following autumn.

    In this short excerpt from Gardeners' World, Monty Don is harvesting figs. Even during a cold grey summer, there are plenty to choose from. Watch as he demonstrates how to tell when the figs are ripe and how to harvest them easily:

    Looking for inspiration on how to use your figs? Our friends at olive have curated a delicious collection of fig recipes, including their indulgent fig and gorgonzola tartines.

    Storing figs

    How to grow figs - storing figs

    Figs are at their best when freshly picked and warmed by the sun. If you can resist temptation, the fruits can be dried in an airer or in an airing cupboard for a few weeks, for eating later on.

    Growing figs: problem solving

    Figs, like most fruit trees, are popular with birds and squirrels. They will demolish a crop if they have the opportunity, so use deterrents or cover your tree with net or fleece to protect it.

    Wasps will be attracted to split fruit or windfalls, so pick fruits as soon as they are ripe and pick up any fallen fruits.

    If your tree drops its fruit early, it could be a sign that your plant needs water.

    A young tree may take a few years to bear fruit. There may be other causes too – watch our Quick Tips video to find out what causes figs to stop fruiting:

    Advice for buying figs

    Where to buy figs online

    Fig varieties to try

    How to grow figs - fig varieties to try

    Fig tree: characteristics, advantages and disadvantages and more

    Image - Wikimedia / H. Zell

    Fig tree, scientifically known as Ficus Carica This is a deciduous tree that produces delicious fruits with a delicious sweet aroma. But despite this, we should think carefully about whether we are really interested in having one in the garden because it has some features that we might not really like. nine0003

    For this reason, we will tell you what are the advantages and disadvantages of the fig tree in the garden. So it will be much easier for you to decide 🙂.

    Index

    What does a banyan tree look like?

    Image - Wikimedia / Juan Emilio Prades Bel

    To know if a fig tree is really a good tree for a garden, it is important to know this. This plant grows in Southwest Asia, but has taken root in the Mediterranean and other regions with a hot and dry climate. Grows as a tree or large shrub 3 to 7 meters high. , with a barrel thickness of more than 40 centimeters.

    The crown consists of many branches and is very dense. nine0007 Its leaves are also large, 12 to 25 centimeters long and 10 to 18 centimeters wide. , and consist of 3-7 beats. They are green in color and slightly rough to the touch.

    Subscribe to our Youtube channel

    Blooms in spring although its flowers are not visible to the naked eye. They sprout from a pear-shaped vessel, the male ones are closest to its opening, and the female ones are closer to the inner one. After pollination - a task performed by small wasps - this vessel matures and eventually becomes what we call a breve (if it forms in the winter and completes ripening in the spring) or a fig (which will be ready to eat between mid and late summer) . nine0003

    Depending on variety , there are fig trees that produce only one crop and others that produce two crops. . The latter are known as reblooming or biconvex fig trees. There are also monoecious (they have flowers of both sexes), while others are dioecious.

    How old is the fig tree?

    This is a very fast growing plant that begins to bear fruit at a very young age (I can tell you myself that we had one that had a few shoots left when it died. We kept one of them and two years later it gave a few figs.). But that's exactly what their lifespan is very limited, around 60 years maximum.

    Trees, and any plants in general, that bloom at a very young age have a short life span.

    What are the advantages and disadvantages of having such a house in the garden?

    Let's not lie to you: the fig tree is a plant that looks great in the garden as it provides shade and is very resistant to drought. However, when buying and / or planting in the ground, it is necessary to take into account both its advantages and disadvantages:

    Advantage

    Picture - Online Plant Guide

    The fig tree has many advantages such as: take care of itself (they fall 350mm a year). Of course, in the first year it is important to water from time to time so that the roots become stronger.

  • Can be reproduced by cuttings : this means that from one copy we can get several. When? Late winter. nine0020
  • Produces two types of fruit : figs that ripen in late summer and figs that ripen in spring.
  • Can be potted : actually there are those who dare to grow it as a bonsai. It recovers well after pruning, so a very interesting plant for decorating a patio or terrace.

    • faults

    Fig tree care

    The fig tree is a plant that does not require special care. It's over, put in a sunny place and as far as possible from pipes and other things, you will already have a lot of livestock . Of course, the soil must be clayey, fertile and well-drained, as this way it can grow well without problems.

    If we talk about watering, then in the garden it will be moderate in the first year, but otherwise it will be negligible or even zero. . However, if it is grown in a pot, it should be watered about 3 times a week in summer and reduced to 1-2 times a week in winter. It is also recommended to fertilize it with a liquid fertilizer so that you can mix it with the water you use for irrigation, such as this. nine0003

    As far as pruning is concerned, should be pruned at the end of winter before it resumes growth (you will see this in its buds, which will swell as the temperature rises). You must remove dry branches and any that look bad, as well as those that have grown too much.

    Good resistance to cold and frost up to -12ºC .

    The fig is a very interesting plant, but it is important to know it well to avoid problems. Do you have one in your garden?


    The content of the article complies with our principles of editorial ethics. To report a bug, click here.

    Fig tree: characteristics, advantages and disadvantages and more

    Image - Wikimedia / H. Zell

    Fig tree, scientifically known as Ficus Carica This is a deciduous tree that produces delicious fruits with a delicious sweet aroma. But despite this, we should think carefully whether we are really interested in having one in the garden because it has some features that we might not really like.

    For this reason, we will tell you what are the advantages and disadvantages of the fig tree in the garden. So it will be much easier for you to decide 🙂.

    Index

    What does a banyan tree look like?

    Image - Wikimedia / Juan Emilio Prades Bel

    To know if a fig tree is really a good tree for a garden, it is important to know this. This plant grows in Southwest Asia, but has taken root in the Mediterranean and other regions with a hot and dry climate. Grows as a tree or large shrub 3 to 7 meters high. , with a barrel thickness of more than 40 centimeters. nine0003

    The crown consists of many branches and is very dense. Its leaves are also large, 12 to 25 centimeters long and 10 to 18 centimeters wide. , and consist of 3-7 beats. They are green in color and slightly rough to the touch.

    Subscribe to our Youtube channel

    Blooms in spring although its flowers are not visible to the naked eye. They sprout from a pear-shaped vessel, the male ones are closest to its opening, and the female ones are closer to the inner one. After pollination - a task performed by small wasps - this vessel matures and eventually becomes what we call a breve (if it forms in the winter and completes ripening in the spring) or a fig (which will be ready to eat between mid and late summer) . nine0003

    Depending on variety , there are fig trees that produce only one crop and others that produce two crops. . The latter are known as reblooming or biconvex fig trees. There are also monoecious (they have flowers of both sexes), while others are dioecious.

    How old is the fig tree?

    This is a very fast growing plant that begins to bear fruit at a very young age (I can tell you myself that we had one that had a few shoots left when it died. We kept one of them and two years later it gave a few figs.). But that's exactly what their lifespan is very limited, around 60 years maximum.

    Trees, and any plants in general, that bloom at a very young age have a short life span.

    What are the advantages and disadvantages of having such a house in the garden?

    Let's not lie to you: the fig tree is a plant that looks great in the garden as it provides shade and is very resistant to drought. However, when buying and / or planting in the ground, it is necessary to take into account both its advantages and disadvantages:

    Advantage

    Picture - Online Plant Guide

    The fig tree has many advantages such as: take care of itself (they fall 350mm a year). Of course, in the first year it is important to water from time to time so that the roots become stronger.

  • Can be reproduced by cuttings : this means that from one copy we can get several. When? Late winter. nine0020
  • Produces two types of fruit : figs that ripen in late summer and figs that ripen in spring.
  • Can be potted : actually there are those who dare to grow it as a bonsai. It recovers well after pruning, so a very interesting plant for decorating a patio or terrace.

    • faults

    Fig tree care

    The fig tree is a plant that does not require special care. It's over, put in a sunny place and as far as possible from pipes and other things, you will already have a lot of livestock . Of course, the soil must be clayey, fertile and well-drained, as this way it can grow well without problems.

    If we talk about watering, then in the garden it will be moderate in the first year, but otherwise it will be negligible or even zero. . However, if it is grown in a pot, it should be watered about 3 times a week in summer and reduced to 1-2 times a week in winter. It is also recommended to fertilize it with a liquid fertilizer so that you can mix it with the water you use for irrigation, such as this. nine0003

    As far as pruning is concerned, should be pruned at the end of winter before it resumes growth (you will see this in its buds, which will swell as the temperature rises). You must remove dry branches and any that look bad, as well as those that have grown too much.

    Good resistance to cold and frost up to -12ºC .

    Learn more