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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°F (-12 °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

  • ‘Brown Turkey,’ which produces abundant medium to large figs. This type works best in warm climates, but is fairly tolerant of cooler temperatures, too.
  • ‘C±ð±ô±ð²õ³Ù±ð’ produces small, sweet, purplish figs. It is one of the more winter-hardy varieties.
  • ‘Hardy Chicago’ is a winter-hardy variety that produces purple, medium-size figs.
  • ‘K¾±²Ô²µ’ is well adapted for the cooler conditions found in the northwest. It produces medium figs that are sweet and rich in flavor.
  • ‘K²¹»å´Ç³Ù²¹â€™ 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.
  • “You can’t grow figs from thistles.â€

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’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË found each other. She leads digital content for the ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

There are ways to reduce an overgrown fig tree. Best time to do so in most cases is during late winter, when the tree is dormant. To reduce the size, you might want to work at it gradually, over three years. Each time, reduce the size of the fruiting wood back by 1/4 to 1/3. (Also remove any suckers, diseased or rubbing branches, etc.) Keep in mind that you may forfeit part or all of the next year’s crop by doing so. (Some figs produce a breba crop in spring/summer on last year’s growth, and then a main crop later in summer/fall on current year’s growth. Others may produce only a breba or only a main crop. Pruning techniques may vary, depending on the type you have, and your region’s climate.) Heavy pruning can expose previously shaded branches to sunlight, possibly causing sunscald. To avoid this, some experts advise whitewashing the trunks. Hope this helps!

RitaT (not verified)

7 years ago

I live in Western Australia. I had a fig cuttings 3 years ago and put them into the ground and it bore 4 figs in the 2nd year. In it's 3rd year now and it is about 2 meters tall and has @50 fruits on it now. I am worried that the roots will uproot the driveway and want to remove the tree and put it into a large pot. Can you please advise me what I should do in order not to kill my lovely fig tree.

My best advice.. Wait until winter when its dormant. . dig up all the roots you can fit in the container. . pot it and cut it Way back. I think it will surprise you how it rebounds.

Tonya (not verified)

7 years 1 month ago

Hello, I live in El Paso, Texas, and recently bought a brown Turkey. We were waiting for the weather to cool before transplanting and went away for the weekend. The plant was well watered on Wednesday. When we got hom tHe leaves are curled and slightly yellow. Is this from a lack of water, and if so, can we save her?

Sheryl Mitchell (not verified)

7 years 2 months ago

Hello, I live in Beckley, WV, and would like to know when is the best time to grow/plant fig trees and what is the best, sweetest, and best yielding type of figs to grow? I'm a first time home renter with a beautiful backyard, that in passed years is very fertile, and I'm very excited to plant.

Beckley, WV, is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a. This means that you’ll need to select a cold-hardy variety of fig, and perhaps give it winter protection. You can grow figs in containers and move them to a sheltered location over winter. Or, if grown in ground, cover them with insulating material (such as leaves) in late fall, or bury the trees. Some popular cultivars hardy in your area include ‘Chicago Hardy’, ‘Brown Turkey’, and ‘Celeste’. If growing figs in the ground, it’s best to plant in spring. For more information for your area, you might contact your county’s Cooperative Extension. For contact information, see: /content/cooperative-extension-services

JG (not verified)

7 years 2 months ago

My beloved tree was blown over yesterday. Its still attached slightly but otherwise on the ground can i rescue it - if so how? Thank you

Tammy (not verified)

7 years 3 months ago

We live in NE Pa (zone 5) & have a Chicago Hardy fig tree good to -20 degrees currently growing in a container. It's getting too large to manage in our garage so we would like to transplant it into the ground.When is it advisable to do this? Spring or Fall & do you have any specific advice for transplanting.

Marie (not verified)

7 years 4 months ago

Hello, I received a small fig tree from my sister that is growing in a pot and is only about a foot tall. I live in Southeastern New York (Zone 7a) and would like to transplant the tree into my south facing garden. Can I do this now, or should I wait until fall? Many thanks!