蜜桃恋人

How to Grow Figs: The Complete Guide

Photo Credit
Pixabay
Botanical Name
Ficus carica
Plant Type
Fruit
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Bloom Time
Spring
Hardiness Zone
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

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Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Figs

Catherine Boeckmann

Flavorful figs are the unsung superheroes of fruits! It may surprise you to learn that fig trees can be grown in both warm and temperate regions. There are even patio-sized trees that you can move indoors for winter. Learn how to plant, grow, and harvest figs. 

About Figs

Figs thrive in areas with long and hot summers (Zones 8 and warmer), though they can also be grown in colder zones if properly insulated from freezing temperatures or grown in containers and brought indoors.

The common fig tree (Ficus carica) is the most popular fig species for home gardeners because its flowers do not require pollination to yield figs. Many varieties of the common fig tree exist, including hardy cultivars that can be grown outdoors in slightly cooler climates (Zones 6 and 7).

A fig can be eaten fresh from the tree, dried, or used in cooking. A single fig is only 50 calories and provides higher mineral and fiber content than most fruits, nuts, or vegetables. 

Figs soak up cholesterol, promote healthy bowel movements, reduce heart disease, regulate kidney and liver functions, lower blood pressure, and even inhibit some cancers. Plus, figs are packed with calcium, which reduces the risk of developing osteoporosis. They also contain phosphorus, which helps bones regrow.

Read Next

Planting

Figs can be planted outdoors without much trouble in USDA Zone 8 and warmer. In zones where winter temperatures get colder than 10掳F (-12 掳C) for periods of time, be sure to choose a hardy fig variety. . 

When to Plant Fig Trees

Plant fig trees outdoors in the early spring or late fall when the tree is dormant. Alternatively, figs can be grown in large containers and brought inside for the winter.

How to Plant Fig Trees

  • For container fig trees, grow them in a soil-based potting mix and add fine bark chips to improve drainage. Keep the tree in full sun in the summer. In the spring and summer, be sure to add a high-nitrogen fertilizer every four weeks and water the tree moderately. In the winter, move the tree indoors and keep the soil moist.
  • For outdoor fig trees, plant the tree in the spring or early fall in full sun. Fig trees can grow in most types of soil as long as the soil is well-drained and contains plenty of organic material. (Learn more about organic soil amendments.) 
  • Space fig trees at least 20 feet away from any buildings or other trees.
  • If given the chance, fig trees put down deep roots, so bear that in mind when choosing a planting spot.
  • To plant container-grown trees in the ground:
    1. Remove the plant from its pot and remove any circling roots by laying the root ball on its side and using shears to cut through the roots.
    2. Dig a hole that is a few inches deeper and wider than the spread of the roots. Set the tree on top of a small mound of soil in the middle of the hole. Be sure to spread the roots away from the trunk without excessively bending them.
    3. Plant the tree 2 to 4 inches deeper than it was originally in the pot (check the color of the trunk to see the original soil line).

Fig tree and fig fruit

Growing

Caring for Fig Trees

  • Water young fig trees regularly to help them become established. In areas with dry climates, water fig trees deeply at least once a week. 
  • Unless grown in containers, most fig trees do not require regular fertilization. However, if your fig tree is not growing much (less than 12 inches in one growing season), you can add 1/2 to 1 pound of nitrogen supplement. Divide up the nitrogen into 3 to 4 feedings. Start applying the nitrogen in late winter and end in midsummer.
  • You can also apply a layer of mulch around the tree to help prevent weeds and keep moisture in the roots.
  • Fig trees require little pruning. During the dormant season, be sure to remove all dead, diseased, or weak branches to encourage growth.
  • If you have an abundant growth of figs, you can thin the fruit to encourage larger figs.
  • In colder regions, bring container-grown fig trees indoors for the winter. Keep the soil moist.
  • If your area experiences a particularly cold winter, fig trees planted outdoors may die back to the ground. If the tree is of a hardy variety, the below-ground part of the tree will likely be unaffected. Remove all dead wood while the tree is still dormant, and watch for new growth in the spring. 

Types

  • 鈥楤rown Turkey,鈥 which produces abundant medium to large figs. This type works best in warm climates, but is fairly tolerant of cooler temperatures, too.
  • 鈥楥别濒别蝉迟别’ produces small, sweet, purplish figs. It is one of the more winter-hardy varieties.
  • 鈥楬ardy Chicago’ is a winter-hardy variety that produces purple, medium-size figs.
  • 鈥楰颈苍驳’ is well adapted for the cooler conditions found in the northwest. It produces medium figs that are sweet and rich in flavor.
  • 鈥楰补诲辞迟补鈥 vigorously produces small to medium fruit. Its figs are rich and sweet, and it is the most commonly canned fig.

Harvesting

Harvesting Figs

  • You should harvest figs only when they are fully ripe, as they will not continue to ripen off the tree. The figs should be fully colored and slightly soft to the touch.
  • You may need to invest in bird netting to protect your crop; figs are a favorite of birds and squirrels.
  • When picking figs, wear gloves or long sleeves because the sap from the fig tree can irritate your skin.
  • Figs are very perishable. Store figs in the refrigerator; they will keep for 2 to 3 days.
  • For long-term storage, you can freeze figs whole for later use. Another storage method is to dry the figs. You can also can your own figs.
how to harvest figs with fig tree and figs
Gardening Products

Wit and Wisdom

  • Figs are an excellent source of potassium, dietary fiber, and calcium.
  • 鈥淵ou can’t grow figs from thistles.鈥

Pests/Diseases

  • Root-knot nematodes
  • Leaf spots
  • Rust
  • Thrips
  • Twig dieback

Recipes

Figs Stuffed With Gorgonzola and Prosciutto
Open-Face Pear-Fig Pie
Fruit
About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it鈥檚 not surprising that she and The Old Farmer鈥檚 蜜桃恋人 found each other. She leads digital content for the 蜜桃恋人 website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

Lauri Lee (not verified)

7 years 4 months ago

Hi! Over the past several years I have acquired 4 fig plants (all about a foot or so tall when I got them). Two are 2 years old and two are 1 year old. I live in northeastern Kansas (about 30 minutes west of KC). I have kept them in pots and take them in to a sunny window in the winter where they have stayed alive and growing but I think not growing as a normal fig should. None of them have a central "trunk" just several branch-like pieces are growing more horizontally than vertically and each is several feet long. They have leaves at the ends but none between the dirt and the last 8 inches or so. They have produced about 2 figs each in the time I have owned them. SO, should I
A) plant them in the ground? (Is it too cold here in the winters?) If I can plant them in the ground, is July/August too late and should I prune them back to just one of these branch like pieces first? OR,
B) re-pot them in bigger pots (the pots are already pretty big) and prune them way back? Or
C) just leave them in their pots and prune them? and if I prune them, when and how far back?
From what I have read here, fertilizing is something I've learned I definitely need to do as I never have - eeeek! I'm just perplexed about what to do first and in what scenario and to what extent. "Fig"ure I have made a mess of this whole thing!
Obviously I have no idea what I am doing.I recall my Nana in VA having beautiful figs that bore lots of fruit, and I always thought they were beautiful and remember her teaching me to make strawberry/fig preserves. I definitely inherited her love of plants but not her gift of growing them :) Can you help? Thanks ever so much!

Hi Lauri,

Most of Kansas is located in Hardiness Zone 6, which is too cold for most figs, meaning you wouldn’t want to plant yours outside unless you know that they are a cold-hardy variety. The legginess issue is commonly caused by a lack of sufficient sunlight, so if you can, keep your figs outside in the summer in a spot that gets at least 8 hours of sunlight each day (while also making sure that they are watered regularly). In winter, keep them next to the sunniest window in your house. For the rest of this season, it’d be best to leave them in their current pots and to not prune or fertilize them. In late winter, while the trees are still dormant, prune them back by about 1/3 in length and fertilize with a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer. Assuming you can get enough light on them, they should grow back in a more regular pattern. Good luck!

Mithu ahmed (not verified)

7 years 4 months ago

My fig tree is now 4 years , 2 bd year I saw 2/3 fig , last year was 2 , this year still no fig . But the tree is big now , 5/6 feet long now , I don't know what I should do , bcs tree is going bigger with no fruit - pls help me , same my pear tree as well . I put water every day

It’s true that a fig tree should start producing fruit once it reaches two years of age, but it can take some trees as long as six trees to mature. Are your figs getting 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight every day? That’s what they need to bear fruit. Also, do you live in a climate that doesn’t get colder than 15 degrees F? Figs do not do well in colder climates.

If there is a pest problem, the most common reason for poor fruiting in fig trees is nematodes. Soils in orchards and old gardens generally are heavily infested with nematodes. This is especially a serious problem for southern growers who have light, sandy soils. Treat such soils with a nematicide or with soil solarization. Consult your local cooperative extension for more information about treatments that are locally-approved. Young trees must be protected from nematodes if they are to get a good start. Once planted, this type of infestation is easy to diagnose by uncovering some roots and inspecting them. If you see tiny galls or swellings on the roots, you have root-knot nematodes. The best control is to destroy infected plants and not use that site for figs again. Pears typically produce the first fruits three years after planting, although they won’t produce a full crop for five to seven years. 

Reba Phillips (not verified)

7 years 5 months ago

My fig tree has been in my back yard for 4 years now it produces great figs more each year. It has been doing really well, but this year the leaves are turning yellow and falling off? Is it to much water or some dease? Thank You for your time.

It may be that the tree is not getting enough water; leaves turning yellow and falling is symptomatic of that. It could also be a sign of worse things. We suggest you review this page: http://afghanag.ucdavis.edu/a_horticulture/fruits-trees/figs-1/manfruitnswfiggrowingext.pdf for possible conditions. This is a California cooperative extension/university page. TO find the coop ext service nearest you, click here and find your state: http://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services

We hope this helps!

Margaret Ledesma (not verified)

7 years 5 months ago

Can you please give me instructions on how to make fig jam. I have tons of figs, well alot anyway. Any help would be appreciated. Margaret

Hi, Margaret. While we don’t have any fig jam recipes, we do have plenty of other recipes featuring the delicious fruit. Go to this page and type 鈥渇ig鈥 in the search bar:

Stephanie Hankins (not verified)

7 years 6 months ago

Hi ~ we just purchased a brown turkey fig tree in zone 9. It has several small figs (about 20), should I just leave it in the container until I pick the fruit or go ahead and transplant. I thought it was dangerous to transplant during fruiting season. Thanks for any help you can give me.