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Are Fig Trees Easy To Grow?
Yes, fig trees are easy to grow! That’s exactly what makes them such a rewarding choice for home gardeners. Once established, figs are wonderfully low maintenance and naturally drought tolerant, which means less stress for you during those dry summer months. They're also impressively adaptable, thriving in a wide range of climates and soil conditions. If you have a sunny backyard, a small urban patio, or even a large container on your balcony, fig trees can fit right in to your environment. These trees grow with gusto and vigor, but likewise figs respond beautifully to pruning, so you can easily control their size and shape to suit your space. You may be aiming for a tidy espaliered tree against a wall, a lush, potted fruit producer, or a privacy hedge, figs are happy to cooperate.
Planting
To plant your fig tree, choose a location with at least 8 to 10 hours of sunlight, always favoring the morning sun. Now that you have chosen the right spot, dig a hole deep enough to cover the root ball. We recommend digging a hole in a cone shape and planting the tree to the center of the cone. In heavy soils, mounding to 12 inches above the soil line is recommended. Lightly tamp (pack) down soil several times while backfilling the hole to avoid air pockets. After planting, water the tree deeply to settle the soil firmly around the roots. Make a basin for future watering. Do not apply fertilizer at planting time.
When transplanting check for roots collecting at the bottom of the pot. Gently loosen up the roots at the bottom to help them quickly extend into the surrounding soil. This is also recommended when painting in containers.
When planting in a container select premium potting soil and a ¼ inch bark. Mix the total volume of the container with a mixture of 2/3 potting soil and 1/3 the ¼ inch bark. This will provide a well-draining soil mix that will be perfect for your new tree.
Watering
The number one reason gardeners lose young fig trees in the first two years is poor drainage. Figs don’t like having “wet feet,” and planting them in heavy or compacted soils that stay soggy after a rain can quickly lead to root rot. Before planting, take time to understand how water drains in your yard. Does rainwater puddle and linger, or does it soak in and move through the soil easily? If you notice poor drainage, don’t skip this step: build a planting mound at least 12 inches above the native soil line to lift the root zone and keep it out of standing water. This small adjustment can make a huge difference in your tree’s long-term health. While figs are wonderfully drought-tolerant once established, the first two years are when they need the most attention. Consistent watering without overwatering is key during this establishment phase. Think of it as training your fig tree’s roots to grow deep and strong so that, over time, the tree can take care of itself.
Good water management includes regular irrigation and mulching to get trees established. Regular irrigation on established figs helps to improve size and juiciness. Once established figs require little water.
Pruning
Unpruned fig trees can spread 25’ or more. Figs will produce a thick dense canopy with little pruning. Figs can be held to any height with regular pruning. They make an ideal plant for espalier or as a patio container plant.
Many varieties bear an early crop called a breba crop, usually in early summer. The later crop called the main crop comes in late summer to early fall. This is something to keep in mind if you are pruning because breba crops form on last year's growth.
Fertilizing
In general, fig trees are pretty low-maintenance when it comes to feeding. They really don’t need much, if any, regular fertilizing. In fact, giving them too much nitrogen can actually do more harm than good. Over-fertilizing figs can lead to lots of leafy growth at the expense of fruit production, and it may even affect the flavor and texture of the fruit.
The one major exception is when you’re growing figs in containers. Potted fig trees have limited access to nutrients and tend to use up what’s available more quickly. For container-grown figs, it’s best to feed them three to four times a year using a balanced fruit tree fertilizer like Romeo Plant Food or G&B Organics Fruit and Citrus Tree Fertilizer. This keeps the tree healthy, encourages steady growth, and supports better fruit development without overdoing it.
Cold Weather Protection
Fig trees are most susceptible to cold injury when going into dormancy. Small young trees are particularly sensitive to freeze and care should be taken to protect or delay planting until all danger of frost has passed. A mature tree when dormant can withstand much colder temperatures. However, this varies by variety and care should be taken to select varieties that are suited to your area. Some varieties of figs can withstand temperatures as low as -10 degrees
After freeze damage occurs, give the tree ample time to grow before removing the frozen limbs. Prune frost-damaged branches in the spring once the threat of heavy frost has passed.
Harvesting
Some varieties of figs can bear two crops per year. The first crop, known as the breba crop, is produced in the spring on the previous year's growth. The second, main crop is produced in the fall on that year's growth.
For best quality, allow figs to ripen on the tree, and pick as they become somewhat soft. They should detach from the tree easily when they are ripe. Some areas such as the southern seaboard of the United States deal with on-the-tree spoilage or souring caused by microorganisms in the fully ripe fruit. These organisms are usually carried into the open eye of the fig by insects, particularly the dried fruit beetle. Frequent harvest and the removal of overripe, spoiled figs can greatly reduce spoilage problems. Selecting varieties that have a “Closed Eye” will easily deal with the problem.
Check out Growing Figs for more information!
Do you have ant questions about growing fig trees? Don't hesitate to email us! cs@fourwindsgrowers.com
