How To Grow And Care For Fig Trees

Learn how to grow figs right in your backyard.

Every Southern garden should have a fig tree. These small trees or shrubs produce delicious fruit with flavors best experienced ripe from the tree. Unlike other fruits, figs ripen entirely on the branch, so planting your own allows you to harvest the freshest fruit. The common fig tree (Ficus carica) thrives in warm climates and usually does not require pollination to bear fruit. Some varieties of fig trees rely on wasps to pollinate.

Despite bearing delicious fruit, fig trees can be invasive, as the roots spread widely in optimal growing conditions. Additionally, fig trees are not safe for animals and are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Symptoms include gastrointestinal issues and skin irritation. The fruit from fig trees is generally considered safe for human consumption, but some people have a negative interaction with fig leaves and sap. Rashes or skin irritation can occur in some individuals after exposure, so wear gloves when maintaining this tree. Here's a guide to growing your own delicious common fig tree and the growing conditions that will help it thrive.

Fig Tree Care

Figs are self-fruitful, so you need only one plant to produce fruit. Mature fig trees can be 10 to 30 feet tall. If you have more room, plant several. Choose early, mid and late-fruiting selections to extend your harvest from summer into early fall. Some figs will produce bonus fruit early in the season, called a "breba" crop, and the main crop. Figs can vary in size, shape, flavor, texture, and harvest time and can be black, green, brown, violet, yellow, or purple. Figs trees are invasive in some areas like Florida because optimal growing conditions encourage the tree's roots to spread widely.

Light

Full sun is essential for an abundant harvest and the sweetest fruit. Ideally, you should plant fig trees in an area that receives six to eight hours of direct, daily sunlight. Less sunlight will prevent trees from producing as many figs compared to those planted with adequate light.

Soil

Fig trees grow in various soil conditions, but slightly acidic and well-drained soils are best. Soil with rich, organic matter helps supplement growth. Regular potting mixes work well for fig trees in containers as long as it retains moisture and is well-aerated. These plants grow well near coastal regions but also tolerate loamy, clay, or sandy conditions as long as soil is well-drained and retains some moisture.

Water

When fruit is developing, it's important to water regularly. Check daily, and pick just as the fruit ripens. During the first year, as plants become established, water regularly and mulch. Once established, figs can be very drought tolerant.

Temperature and Humidity

Figs trees need warm conditions and subtropical climates to thrive but will tolerate some cold in winter as long as it remains above 15°F. Areas with harsh winters are unsuitable for this species, but you can grow figs in big pots and overwinter them by storing them in a cool garage or basement. Since fig trees need well-drained soil, a dry climate is preferred, but some varieties have been bred for the humidity of the Southeast. Water-logged environments can prevent proper fruit development as too much rain causes fruits to split and possibly spoil.

Fig trees thrive in the Lower, Coastal, and Tropical South heat. Plant near a wall with southern exposure in the Middle South so they can benefit from reflected heat. Mulch well for winter and go with cold-hardy selections, such as 'Brown Turkey' and 'Celeste,' if you live in Zone 6 or 7.

Fertilizer

Fertilize your fig with a balanced fertilizer in early spring when growth first starts to appear or at planting time if the tree is actively growing. Especially if you have soil with poor fertility, fig trees will benefit from an application of fertilizer each year. Fertilize a second time in late spring for 1 or 2-year-old plants.

Types of Fig Trees

Fig trees have small, inconspicuous flowers, but produce different colored fruits depending on the variety. Most varieties grown in home gardens bear female flowers that develop into fruit without pollination. Here are some specific types that you can grow in your own garden:

• 'Celeste': This cold-hardy variety produces medium, rose-brown or purple fruit on relatively large trees. The very sweet fruit of the "Sugar Fig" has a closed eye that is resistant to wasps.

• 'Alma': This variety from Texas A&M is sensitive to frost. The late-season fruit is yellow or tan, rich, and sweet. 'Alma' is a more compact tree.

• 'Brown Turkey': A fast-growing tree with sweet, mild, brownish-purple fruit. This variety can produce two crops.

• 'Little Miss Figgy': From the Southern Living Plant Collection, 'Little Miss Figgy' can be grown in containers. Though it is compact, the tree produces full-size, reddish-brown fruit.

• 'LSU Purple': This heat-tolerant, nematode-resistant fig tree provides a consistent supply of sweet fruit that ripens to a deep purple.

• 'Chicago Hardy': Exceptionally cold-tolerant, this smaller tree bears small brownish-purple fruits with a pink interior.

• Caprifigs (Ficus carica sylvestris): Wasps love this species that produces male and female flowers. This species is not grown for its fruit, but instead used to pollinate other figs.

Pruning

Fig trees don't need a lot of pruning throughout the year but can benefit from pruning during their dormancy (late winter or early spring) because it promotes new growth, healthier branches, and better fruit. Fig trees that aren't pruned will naturally develop a shrubby form.

To maintain a tree-form, establish a single trunk and remove suckers at the base. Alternatively, you can select three or more widely spaced leaders. Prune out crossing branches or branches that are too parallel to the ground and can't bear the weight of fruit. After the first year of growth, prune lightly during the dormant season, removing weak side shoots and dead or diseased wood. Excessively long and heavy branches can also be cut back by 1/3.

Propagating Fig Trees

The easiest way to propagate fig trees is through cuttings. Here's how to propagate fig trees:

1. Take cuttings during the dormant season after the late chance of frost has passed. Cut at an angle and choose a branch that is a few years old and about eight to 12 inches long.

2. Dip cuttings into a rooting hormone.

3. Plant the cuttings in a container with a length twice as large as the width, so the roots have space to extend—around six inches wide and one foot tall is a good rule of thumb.

4. Cover with a few inches of soil. Water cuttings and keep the soil moist, but don't water-log the cuttings. Keep in a sunny location.

5. After establishing roots, move the new cuttings to a larger container before relocating them to a final planting location during the dormant season. The cuttings should be strong enough to move when you see three to four feet of growth.

How to Grow Fig Trees From Seed

Growing a fig tree from seed is possible, but it is more challenging than propagating from cuttings. Seed propagation does not produce a duplicate plant—this can only occur from cuttings. For more experienced gardeners, here is how to grow fig trees from seed:

1. First, acquire seeds. Seed selection is essential to select a female species if you want trees that bear fruit, as male trees do not produce edible fruit.

2. Use a fig, cut it in half, and remove the fleshy pulp and seeds.

3. Soak fig seeds to check for viability. (Only seeds that float are viable).

4. Plant the seeds in a potting mix or soil with an equal distribution of peat, perlite, and volcanic rock. Keep soil moist and add horticultural sand.

5. Place soil mixture in a seed starting tray and place it in a sunny location—at least six hours of direct, daily sunlight.

6. Expect to see germination within one or two weeks. Continue to keep the soil moist and in a sunny location.

7. You will know it is time to move the seeds into a container when there are at least two sets of leaves and the tree stands a few inches tall.

Potting And Repotting Fig Trees

If you live in Zone 6 or cooler, you'll want to grow the tree in a container to ensure its survival. Smaller fig varieties like 'Little Figgy,' 'Brown Turkey,' and 'Chicago Hardy' can successfully be grown in a container. The container will naturally limit the size of the plant. Move up one container size larger than the nursery pot when planting your tree. Use a container with multiple drainage holes. A wheeled plant stand can be helpful if you need to move your container around.

Fill the container with high-quality potting soil with plenty of organic matter and plant the tree so the top of the root ball is level with the soil, then water well. Keep in mind that containers dry out quickly and require more frequent watering. You can prune the tree to keep it to a more manageable size. Repot the tree to the next size up when the roots outgrow the container. Bring the tree indoors in winter, as described below.

Overwintering

Container-grown trees must be brought indoors for the winter or buried in the ground and mulched. Wait for fig trees to go dormant for the season before moving them indoors. You'll know this has happened when all the leaves fall from the tree. Place the tree in a basement or garage that will protect it from freezing weather and strong winds. Keep watering dormant plants, but only about once a month when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil has dried out.

If you plan to keep fig trees outside and live in the colder part of the tree's range, wrap the trunk and roots in burlap or a tent to protect them from frost. Before covering the tree, tie the branches with a rope or twine to help protect the primary growth. In any climate that experiences frost, add mulch around the roots, like hay or wood chips, to protect roots from freezing temperatures.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

The nematode is a pest that can impact a fig tree's longevity by attacking the roots, eventually stunting growth and the amount of fruit. Uncover some roots and inspect for swellings. Infected trees cannot be treated and should be removed. Don't replant in the same area, and consider having your soil checked for nematodes before planting another fig.

Pests including carpenter worm, sap beetle, and fig tree borer can prevent a fig tree from growing properly. To avert a fig tree borer infestation, use a net around the base of the tree to stop this pest from laying eggs near the fig tree. Spoiled fruit also encourages pest infestations and even fungal diseases that can occur after the fruit ripens. Harvesting ripe fruit immediately can also help prevent pests from attacking the branches and leaves.

To deter birds from eating your fruit, hang reflective tape or plant figs that stay green when ripe such as 'Marseilles' or 'Green Ischia.' Finally, cleaning up fallen leaves and fruit in autumn helps discourage pests and disease.

Common Problems With Fig Trees

Curling Leaves

There are a few reasons why fig tree leaves might curl. The first is that under watering can scorch or burn the leaves. If you've had a dry spell, live in a dry climate, or have a newly planted tree, it is time to water if the top 2 inches of soil are dry. Fig rust can also cause leaves to curl, as described below.

Leaf Spots

Various fungi can cause leaf spots, stem cankers, and eventual wilting or dying of stems. Remove diseased leaves and twigs and rake up and dispose of any fallen leaves to promote your tree's health. If fig rust causes heavy defoliation, spray the new leaves with a copper fungicide at three-to-four-week intervals (or more often in rainy weather). Fig rust starts as small yellowish-green spots that grow and turn brown, with leaves eventually yellowing or curling and falling off the tree.

Damaged Fruit

Sunken, discolored spots on fruit are usually a sign of anthracnose. Infected figs will eventually drop to the ground. Remove any diseased fruit from the tree and the ground beneath the tree.

Late freezes and dry weather can also prevent fruit from developing or cause it to drop before ripening. During long dry spells while the tree is producing fruit, water your tree deeply. For established trees, once every 10-14 days is typically enough.

Sour Fruit

Figs can turn sour because of fermentation by yeasts, fungi, and bacteria. Pick the fruit as it ripens. Sometimes a lengthy wet spell can cause souring, in which case you may have no option but to dispose of the fruit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the common fig edible?

The fruit of the common fig is edible and can be eaten fresh, dried, baked, or cooked in preserves. Birds, insects, and other wildlife also enjoy eating figs.

How big does a common fig tree get?

In their native range, common fig trees can grow 30 feet tall or higher. Colder temperatures in the U.S. usually keep the trees to 15 to 25 feet. Compact varieties like 'Little Figgy' top out at 4 to 8 feet tall.

Do all figs contain wasps?

Many species of fig are pollinated by fig wasps—tiny insects that crawl inside the fruit to pollinate the flowers—but most home-grown fig trees are self-pollinating. Popular varieties have small or closed openings that make it more difficult for wasps to enter.

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Read the original article on Southern Living.