Fig Trees
Fig Trees lend an exotic presence and the flavor of tree-ripened fruits to the home garden. With extra care to provide winter protection you can succeed in growing a fig tree even in northern climates.
Growing Fig Trees
Many people prefer the taste of fresh figs even more than that of the dried fruit. By learning how to grow a fig tree you can enjoy large harvests of this unusual fruit right from your own back yard. You may even be able to coax two crops of delicious figs from your trees each season.
The first step is to select the best location in your yard for planting the fig tree. The ideal position will offer full sun, a southern exposure, and provide protection from prevailing winds and late frosts. Planting alongside of a brick structure or stone wall will give the fig plant a convenient barrier to the weather and allow it to absorb heat radiating from the stones or brick.
Sources and Varieties of Fig Plants
Purchase your fig tree from a local nursery or for better selection order from a mail order supplier specializing in tropical fruits. If you have a neighbor growing fig trees you can easily propagate a fig plant from cuttings, or by air layering.
Popular varieties include: Brown Turkey, Hardy Celeste, Italian Golden Honey Fig, Violette Black, Green Ischia, Black Mission, Desert King, Kadota White, and Osborn’s Prolific. Do your homework before purchasing to ensure the variety selected will grow well in your climate.
Planting Fig Trees
Plant the fig tree in average soil mixed with compost, but do not add manures. Figs are not heavy feeders, and over fertilization results in lush leaf growth at the expense of fig production.
One trick that you may want to employ is to dig a hole about three feet deep and line the bottom with bricks or pot shards. This serves to restrict the roots and prevent the formation of tap roots. Figs seem to respond well to this treatment, but it is not a necessity.
Growing Figs in Containers
The plants take well to growing in containers, which also makes it convenient if you have to move them to a protected area during the winter.
For winter protection, potted figs can be placed in an unheated garage or storage area. Move them after they drop their leaves and go dormant. They will not require light or much water while in dormancy.
Winterizing and Protecting Fig Trees
To winterize an in-ground tree, insulate the base with leaves or straw and wrap the branches with blankets, quilts, canvas, carpet, or carpet padding. Next, wrap with a layer of clear plastic, or cover with a clear plastic bag.
Another trick to provide winter protection is to actually dig the plant up and lay the entire fig tree on the ground. Then cover with a piece of old carpeting, a layer of soil, and a thick covering of leaves or straw. When spring arrives simply uncover the tree and plant it upright.
Even without going through the effort to winterize your northern grown fig tree it may survive if you planted it in a sheltered location. If cold weather does destroy the tree, all is not lost as new shoots will frequently sprout from the roots to reestablish itself.
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December 27th, 2006 at 10:55 am
I planted a fig tree in a large clay pot. For 1 year it flourished and had good growth and many figs. Recently all the leaves dropped off and all I see are tiny green tips on the stalks, but no leaves or figs. I fertilzed well with water soluable and also other fertilizer. (citrus etc etc) I tried infrequent watering and frequent watering, but still no growth. I also fed with acidfier once…..what do I need to do to get this tree back to normal.
Thanks.
January 7th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Paul, where do you live and what type of climate are you groing your fig tree in? Fig trees will shed their leaves and go dormant for the winter, which is normal. They don’t require much in the way of fertilization and I wouldn’t use an acidifier on them. I keep my dormant potted fig tree in an unheated garage and water it sparingly a couple of times if that during the winter.
January 13th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Hi Kenny,
Your web site is great to read. You have lots of useful tips! My garden is most of my yard, which isn’t big but I make up for that by growing everything that I can. I grow several varieties of figs. Grocery figs are nothing like home grown. For candy-like sweetness, they must be picked when VERY ripe, otherwise they are insipid. Most of mine were grown from cuttings which is easy. I’m glad that you posted on this plant because people dont know what they are missing. Keep up with the great blogging! Daniel
February 8th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Help-
An acquaintance gave me 5 or 6 fig tree branch starts. I live in the Midwest and it is bitterly cold (our garage is averaging about 20-25 degrees) Should these starts be in dirt ? Should I wait til spring ? Is garage light enough ? Should I wrap them to keep warm ? Thanks for any advice !
February 25th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Thank you for the interesting information. I plan to plant a fig tree this spring. A friend who lives just 5 minutes away has plenty of them in his garden and I will try to propagate with cuttings. The place where I want to plant is sheltered against west and north by the house and open to the south, so I hope the fig tree will do well without any special treatment. I’m looking forward to harvesting some fruits in a few years. Regards, Andreas.
March 6th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Regarding the questions about propagating figs from cuttings, you almost can’t go wrong and have many options. The fig branches can be kept cool or even refrigerated to hold them till spring, or they can be moved to a warm location to encourage the plants to root and grow immediately. The fig cuttings can be inserted into a sterile growing medium (not dirt or soil), or the cuttings can be wrapped in layers of moist newspaper and then be placed in a plastic bag until the roots begin to grow.
March 8th, 2007 at 10:38 am
I am planning on ordering a fig tree from a catalogue and I was wondering how many years old a fig tree must be in order to begin producing figs.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Mike, Figs begin bearing fruit relatively quickly. You can anticipate a small harvest of your first figs the second season after the tree is planted. As the fig tree grows larger and matures, the size of your harvests will increase. Depending on the variety of fig that you order and your climate, the tree may even be able to bear two separate crops of fruit each season.
March 25th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
To Mike: I ordered a Dwarf Black Fig “Petite Nigra” from Parks, it came as a 6 or 8 inch tall twig in a 3 inch pot. Once it leafed out I progressively potted it up as it grew. Within 1 year it grew into a beautiful 7×7 foot tree and began bearing delicious dark purple figs exactly 1 year after I bought it. The 2nd year it produced figs all summer and this will be it’s 3rd year. I live in western Iowa so it gets really cold here, it spends the winter in a greenhouse that’s kept barely above or right at 32 degrees…
April 4th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Hi Kenny. Beautiful information you are sharing… thanks. I am also, as much as I can, gardening chemical free. My intent is to eventually make my front and back yards edible lawn. That’s a tall order because I have a pretty big front yard here in Montgomery, AL. I purchased online a gourmet fig cookbook last week which arrived two days before I saw several dirt cheap fig trees at the Air Force Base here. I bought two. How much space should I provide between them? Happy gardening y’all!
April 4th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Hello Karen, thank you for the kind comments. The fig tree’s spacing will vary depending on the variety, your climate, and the manner that you intend to prune and maintain your fig trees. You don’t want them to crowd each other, and you want to have enough room to work around them and to harvest the figs as they ripen.
I would recommend separating the trees by at least twelve feet. With your warm climate fig trees will grow larger and will never suffer from dying back to the ground over winter, so fifteen or twenty feet between your fig trees may be appropriate unless you plan on pruning to limit their size. Good luck and happy gardening to you also!
April 28th, 2007 at 2:58 am
Hi Kenny,
A friend of mine has bought a fig tree for a container on her balcony (in the Netherlands). She was puzzled by the treatment recommended: Acaricide treatment and fungicide treatment twice in winter. She’s doesn’t want to use chemicals (nor would I). What organic treatment would you recommend if she encounters any problems with mites and fungus?
Thanks for any advice,
Nitala
April 28th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Hi Nitala, I would not use chemical funicides and doubt that the containerized figs will need them over the winter. Fig trees will loose their leaves and go dormant during winter and they require very little water or other care during that period. The fig trees should be stored in a cool, unheated area over the winter which should also help to deter insect pest activity. It’s more likely that your friend won’t experience any problems with insects or fungus attacking her fig tree while it is dormant during the winter. I have never used them, but Spray and Grow does carry a line of organic fungicide products.
May 8th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Help,
I have a fig tree in my backyard that grows well but it has not given us had any figs yet. I started this tree from a cliping 3 years ago. Can you recommended something I should do so my fig tree will bear fruit next spring? Does it need to be pollinated? Thank you for your advise in advance.
Coryne
May 9th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Coryne, I’m realy not sure what the problem is with your fig tree that is preventing it from bearing figs. Figs do not require another tree for pollination, it may be that you have a variety that is not suited to your growing region or seasons. I have also had fig trees which were poor producers. You can give it more time to see if it will start to bear fruit and also prune some of the branches back a little. If nothing helps I would just try planting a different fig variety.
May 11th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
I have purchased a fig tree about 1 metre high and am wondering what size container I need for this (Carnica).
Nursery people could not advise me. Can you help please? I would like to get a container that I can put on a wheel base to move it .
May 12th, 2007 at 8:42 am
Hi Margaret, I have a containerized fig tree that’s growing fine in a pot that holds about three gallons of soil. That fig tree is about four years old and I will probably move it into a larger container this year. You can start out with an average sized container and transplant the fig into a larger pot as it grows. Bigger is better, but you will want the fig’s container to be manageable and not too heavy so that you can move it to a sheltered location in the winter, your idea for the wheel base will help with that.
May 14th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
When I dug up my fig tree this spring,it had a white substance on parts of it. The tree has been up for two weeks now and has not started to bud yet. My friends tree started to bud and grow leaves after one week. What could be wrong with mine and what can I do to help it? Thanks.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Joe, your fig tree should be showing signs of growth by now, if it doesn’t come around and start to leaf out the branches may have died back over the winter. If that’s the case the fig tree roots usually still survive and will send up new growth from the ground.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:23 am
Help, I have a beautiful fig tree that has given us nice fruit. This year, many little sticks like things are sprucing up on the trunk, when I touch them, they are sawdust and disintegrate. and there is a tiny hole. I suspect borer worms. How can I treat it and still be able to eat the fruit? Any risk on a nearby smaller fig tree?. There are small figs all over the tree now, I do not want to lose them. thanks for the help.
June 29th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Francine, it does sound like your fig tree is being attacked by borer worms. I have never dealt with them but I have heard of gardeners inserting a piece of wire into the hole to kill the borers. If you could inject BT into the hole that should also kill the worms. Borers typically target weak or diseased trees but the neighboring fig tree would be at risk also so you should keep a close eye on it.
July 5th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Hi Kenny
Thank you for this wonderful website!
HELP - Please
Is it too late for me? I just got 2 fig cuttings and I would like to know how should I plant -start in the ground or in a pot? - should I try to root first of just plant - I live upstate NY - zone 5
Thanks very much!
July 5th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Hi Donna, no it’s not too late, dormant cuttings are usually used to start fig trees but your cuttings may still root. They will be better off inserted into a pot containing a sterile growing medium such as vermiculite rather than to try to root the detached cuttings directly in the ground. Keep them cool and moist in a shaded location with high humidity levels until roots begin to form. For fig trees that have leafed out and are growing an easy way to propagate is to place a branch in contact with the ground, cover with soil, wait for roots to form, and then sever the new fig plant from the parent.
July 10th, 2007 at 8:24 am
Hi! I need someone’s help!!
I recently purchased a home that has a beautiful, mature fig tree in the backyard. I am not very familiar with fig trees but am excited to take care of this wonderful tree! It has started to bear fruit, but over the last month or so the leaves have begun to turn yellow around the outside edges and some leaves are dying all together. Could this be due to all the excess rain in my area this summer (Lousiana)?
July 10th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Hi Heidi, there’s not much to go on in diagnosing the problem with your fig tree, but it could be a temporary issue related to your weather conditions or the excessive rainfall. It’s not uncommon for fig trees to shed leaves or drop fruit. To be safe you can take a couple of the fig leaves in to your local Agriculture Extension Office and have them evaluate the situation.
July 15th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
I have a very healthy fig three which I planted a large pot (about 30 gallon pot). It was thriving up until a week ago. We live in So. California, the tree is by the swimming pool in a good sunny spot. In a week all the leaves have turned yellow (there is new fruit still on the tree) and they are rapidly falling off in large numbers. I presume at this rate within a week or two it will be a bare stick (like it becomes in the winter). We have watered it, put iron chelet in last week and have done all that we can think of to save it. Does anyone know what may be happening to this tree. P.S. in the same pot I planted a sprig of parsley, a sprig of oregano and a sprig of mint which are growing slowly and nicely, but not over-powering the pot. Is this the problem, a shared pot? HELP PLEASE!
July 16th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
I Have a problem with birds eating my figs. Any suggestions? mjjoshua@aol.com
July 16th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Juliana, you could be over or under watering the fig tree. Did you use a light, soil-less potting mixture in the container? Does the container itself offer good drainage? Keep a close eye on the fig tree and adjust your watering to see if that will help. A few herb plants planted in the same pot would not create a problem.
Michael, it will require a little effort, but the only thing that I can suggest to protect your figs from the birds is to build some type of framework around the fig tree and then attach a fine mesh netting to prevent the birds from reaching the ripening fruits.
July 27th, 2007 at 3:41 am
HI! This is such a great article and I thank you for such valuable information. I live on Staten Island, NY and there is a big and gorgeous fig tree in the back yard of my apartment. It gets minimal care but it’s doing very well. This year, I’ve decided to keep a very close eye on it and maybe harvest the fruit (my landlord wouldn’t let me do it before but he’s let up). I’ve never had a fig so I don’t know how to tell if they’re ripe. The tree has TONS of fruit on it. They’re still tiny but some are about half the size of the ones I see at the grocery store. How can I tell when it’s a good time to pick them? Thank you!
July 27th, 2007 at 6:51 am
Some figs will change color as they ripen, but generally when the fruits soften they are fully ripe and ready to eat.
August 8th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
I have a fig tree thats got to be 40+ years old. I keep pruning it but I’m not sure if I am doing it right. Please tell me when and how to prune his tree. I live on Long Island, N.Y. Please e-mail me.
Thanks
Pat
August 9th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
My fig tree finally bore fruit in southern California last year. It was heavily pruned, and I don’t see any fruit yet this summer. should I keep looking or is it already too late? Should I NOT prune it back so much or ?????
August 9th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Looks like a lot of interest all of a sudden in pruning fig trees. Here in cold climate areas the important part of pruning is to make it easier for the gardener to cover and protect the tree during the winter months. In general figs don’t require pruning to the same degree as other fruit trees such as apples.
Margene, I would not prune the fig tree “heavily” but your tree should still bear fruit again this year.
Patrick, here’s a link to some good info on pruning fig trees.
September 11th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Hi. I am new to fruit trees and to gardening as a whole. I was recently given a small fig tree as a gift and am trying to decide whether it would be better to plant it in the ground or let it grow in a container. I live in zone 9 with mild winters, high humidity, and plenty of rain. Most of my yard is shaded by a mature oak tree, and I can put the fig tree in a sunnier spot if it is in a container. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you.
September 11th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
That’s a tough call Mary, in a warm climate such as your I would normally want to plant the fig tree in the ground since you won’t have any issues with moving or protecting the fig during the winter months. But with your limited sun exposure I would probably just try growing the fig tree in a large container. Good luck and let me know how the tree does.
September 15th, 2007 at 5:18 am
Hi, please tell me how to care for my 4 year old fig tree that I have been pruning way too much and not taking care of it in winters, this coming winter. I live in NJ which gets cold in winter, the tree is not so much a tree but rather a tall bush… so I think I prune it to much every fall, I have been cutting it back to about 2 feet tall. So can you help?
September 15th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Hi Reza, there’s no need to prune the fig tree as much as you are doing, your biggest challenge is to find a way to protect the fig plant during your cold winter season. Read the article and comments above for ideas on ways to insulate, wrap, or even bury the fig tree to help protect it during the winter. You will probably have to prune the tree some to make it easier to wrap it up, but there’s no need to cut it back to two feet tall every year. If the fig tree hasn’t been dying back to the ground during the winter there’s even a chance that the fig can survive in your growing region without any pruning and a very limited amount of cold protection.
September 29th, 2007 at 8:32 am
I live in Alabama. My fig tree is 2 years old. It has lots of new growth and looks very healthy. It’s in full sun and is watered weekly. It has 50-60 figs, but they have not ripened. It did the same thing last year, (but only had 20 or so figs.)
What can I do?
October 6th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Hi. I have a problem with figs falling off my 2 fig trees before they ripen. The 2 trees are 4 and 6 years old, they are from cuttings and they grow in my back yard. I live in Baltimore MD. The fig trees are 8 to 10 feet tall and they look very healthy. Every year the figs will grow nice and green to the size of a quarter. Out of the clear blue sky, they will start turning pale/yellow and one by one will gradually fall on the ground! Is there something I can do to make these trees ripen the figs OR I should go to a local nursery and buy already rooted fig trees? Thank you in advance.
October 6th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Donna and Steve, I really don’t know what the problem is that causes certain fig trees to have issues with ripening or shedding their figs before they are ready to be harvested. My mom has a fig tree growing in MD outside of the D.C. area that easily survives the winters without protection and is always loaded with figs that have no difficulty maturing under a variety of conditions from one season to the next. If your fig problems continue, the only thing that I can suggest is to try cultivating a different variety that may be better suited to your particular climate or growing region.
October 10th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Hi! Will a fig cutting root in water? Thank you
October 10th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Mari, I’m not sure how well the fig cuttings will root in water but you can give it a try. Some backyard fig growers will wrap the ends of the fig cuttings in moist newspaper, place them in plastic bags to help retain the moisture, and watch closely until the roots start growing.
October 14th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Hi.
I live in northern NJ and just bought a home with a beautiful 6′ - 7′ tall fig tree. It looks like it’s in great shape - green leaves and dozens of small green figs.
The previous owner told me he “wrapped it up” in winter months, and not having a green thumb myself, have searched the internet for info on it. Assuming he meant using burlap, can you offer your advice on the best way to wrap this tall tree? And does that include covering the top of it?
October 14th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Joe, in late fall after the fig tree loses its leaves and goes dormant you should wrap the tree to protect it from the elements during the winter. If necessary cut it back a little to make it easier to wrap and cover. Use old blankets, cardboard, burlap, or other materials that will provide some insulation and protection to the fig tree. Follow that with another layer of plastic, a tarp, or some waterproof covering to keep things dry. The wrap should cover the top of the fig and you can use twine or bungee cords to secure everything. Without winter protection in cold climates fig trees are likely to die back to the ground and be forced to regrow from the roots each spring.
October 19th, 2007 at 7:19 am
I have a fig tree in a container. Our winters are very cold with lots of snow. When I bring it indoors, will it be OK to leave it in the fruit celler (do I cover it?) or should I leave it in an unheated bedroom next to a window. Please advise. Thanks for your help.
October 20th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Theresa, I think that the fig tree would be okay in the fruit cellar during the winter and you would not need to cover it there. I keep my potted fig in an unheated garage to protect it during the winter season. An unheated bedroom would probably still be too warm for the slumbering plant. The dormant trees will do just fine without any light so a window would not be necessary.
October 27th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
I just bought a fig tree about 2 feet high. It has several figs on it now. Would it be better to keep it indoors and grow it through the winter or should I put it in the garage to become dormant. I live in CT where the winters are very cold. If I put the tree in the unheated garage do I need to cover it?
October 29th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Lorraine, you will definitely want to allow the fig tree to go dormant and rest over the winter months so don’t try to keep it growing inside a warm building. If you store the fig plant in an unheated garage it will do just fine without a cover as the structure should offer enough protection from the wind, ice, and cold temperatures, you can wrap and insulate the container with an old blanket if necessary.
October 30th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Hi There. I’m located in upstate NY and I received a cutting from a friend over the weekend. It is in a pot in soil and seems already to have sprouted roots which want to come out the bottom of the pot. My friend advised planting it now. Temps at night by me are in the 20-30s but the days are 50-60s. I have a heated garage which is maintained at approximately 45 degrees and this would be the coolest area I have to keep the fig tree if it remains potted for the winter. Should I plant the fig tree and wrap it for the winter or would it be better to keep it potted? If I leave it potted, should I put it outside until the leaves fall (including overnight?) or should I put it out during the day and in the garage at night? Thank you much for your advice.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:14 am
Hi,
I just recieved a Italian Honey fig from mail order. It is only about 6 inches, has leaves and roots. Can I grow it indoors for a while til it gets bigger. I live in PA, zone 6.
Thanks,
Richard
November 8th, 2007 at 8:44 am
Hello,
I live in the Boston area and have a brown turkey fig tree in a pot outdoors. It has frozen here a few times, but the tree still has leaves on it and I am afraid to move it into our unheated garage until it looses all of it’s leaves. What should I do to protect this little tree for the winter? Is it time to move it in, or should I wait until it has dropped it’s leaves?
Thanks,
Eden
November 9th, 2007 at 7:46 am
The web site you gave me for “pruning fig trees” can not be displayed. Is there another web site that I can use?
Thank You
Patrick
November 9th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Abby and Richard, I would recommend that you leave the fig plants outside until they go dormant and then move them to a cool area such as an unheated garage for the winter. Eden, I’m surprised your fig hasn’t lost its leaves yet. Give it a little more time to make sure that it has gone dormant, the frost or early freezes will not harm the plant as the soil will still hold some warmth. Moving it into an unheated area should provide enough protection. Patrick, I will check the link that I sent you about pruning figs, it worked for me a short time back.
November 18th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Kenny I live in New Zealand and have planted 2 fig trees in large pots. They are two years old and appear to be route bound. Is it possible to cut away some of the roots refill the pots and leave for another year. My first year I was rewarded with lovely fruit, this year they grew became yellow and fell off. Do you think I need to re pot?? The pots are both in a very sheltered place and the weather here is very mild even in the winter. Hope you can help.
Thanks in anticipation.
November 18th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
Janet, sure you can root prune and repot your fig trees, but I would probably wait until spring. The figs may not be as root bound as you think though, and some growers claim that constricting the roots of fig trees can actually improve their performance in the garden. If your fig plants are in large pots they are probably okay, it’s not uncommon for the trees to experience periods when the fruits drop and it likely isn’t due to the containers or the root systems.
December 21st, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Hello! What a great site! I just purchased a kadota fig and I live in Oakland, CA. The plant was shipped in a sterile container and I was wondering when is the best time to plant. The temp at night has reached the low 30s and I don’t want to risk planting it in the ground right away but don’t have a garage or basement to store it. any suggestions?
December 22nd, 2007 at 9:46 pm
My buddy trimmed his fig tree and i have about 25 branches that are about 4 foot long, that i received in the first week of december and have kept them in a garbage pail with some water. I live in central new jersey which is between zone 6 and 7. How should I propagate these fig cuttings now that it is December and freezing weather ? I do have an unheated basement where the temperature is right about 45 degrees. Please advise me. Thanks Joe
February 19th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Why do the ole folks say plant a fig tree near the kitchen, please respond.
February 20th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I don’t know George, I had never heard that saying about fig trees… but I would guess that it was just to help keep them in mind, have them in sight, and just make it easier to get to those delicious tree-ripened figs as soon as they were ready to eat!
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:41 am
We recently purchased a four foot black fig tree. We live in St Augustine, FL, and have been told it is best to plant in a pot with screen in the bottom to keep the roots from protruding through the bottom. Could we also plant the fig outdoors? We do get freezing temps and frost on occasion during Jan and Feb at our location. If we plant next to a shed or garage would we still need to ‘wrap’ it?
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Marion, sure you can plant the fig tree outdoors in your yard. With your mild climate you won’t have worry about covering or protecting the fig during the winter as the dormant tree easily handle the minor amount of cold weather that you experience even if it is planted right out in the open.
March 8th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Hi
I live in the south west of western australia and I have a fig tree planted in half a wine barrel. It has produced a lot of figs, but the figs fall off before they get a chance to grow well and ripen. The figs are falling and they are small and green ie not ripe. Can you please help me to sort this problem? Many thanks.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Hi, I want to go back to my old home and get some clippings from my old fig tree. The fig tree came from my grandfather, to my dad, and when we moved I didn’t take any clippings. Now I can take the clippings and root them. When do I cut the pieces from the tree? The tree is in central NJ, woodbridge area. Please advise. Very anxious to continue the tree here in my new home.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Hi Sandy, I think the best time for taking the fig cuttings would be from when the tree goes dormant but before it begins leafing out in the spring. So now would be a great time to take the cuttings, I have heard of gardeners having some success even with fig cuttings that had leaves but I believe that using dormant fig cuttings is the best route for propagating the fig tree through cuttings. Also take a look at the article on propagating blueberries for some other ideas on multiplying fruit and berry plants.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Hello. I live in southeastern PA (near Delaware) and I just planted a Brown Turkey fig tree on the south side of my house in a corner. The tree was purchased for me as a gift, it is a baby tree, and it was in a pot. There are three branches to the tree at this point (the whole tree looks like what your hand looks like when you hold up three fingers.) Being a baby tree, there is obviously no growth on these branches whatsoever, yet. It’s just three naked branches (about 1/2 inch diameter) sticking out of the ground. So from the ground to the tips of the branches (all three branches are about the same length) is about 4 feet. I want this tree to be as fruit-bearing as possible, and I’d like it to be shaped in more of a low-ground/bush shape than a higher, bulbous traditional tree shape. My question is: should I prune this tree down at this early stage? If so, by how much and when should I do this? Or do I wait until the darn thing starts to actually look like a tree before doing any pruning? Thanks so much for your help.
April 10th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Mark, I think I would hold off on pruning the fig tree and just wait to see what form the tree will take on its own. Fig trees are pretty easy to prune and here in the north outdoor grown trees will often self prune by dying back to the ground and then re-sprout from the roots to create a new fig plant. So I think they can handle pretty much anything that you can throw at them in the way of pruning.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:31 am
I have a fig tree that I keep in a pot in the garage in the winter…. when is it safe to take it out in the spring?
April 17th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Hi-
I have a fig in my yard that is having a problem getting started.
I cut back the dead wood before winter and now the shoots/leaves that are appearing have obvious distress…perhaps a fungus. I’ve not found that plant on my fungicide containers. Would you have any suggestions as to which chemical to use to try to save the plant before it gets worse. Thank you.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Susan, it all depends on where you live but I would venture to guess that it is safe to set your fig tree back outside. My fig has been out on the patio for a few weeks now and it can tolerate a bit of cold just fine.
Jim, before you do anything try to get a positive identification of the pest or disease that is affecting your fig tree. Take a sample of the distressed leaves to your local Cooperative Extension Service or Master Gardener Program and see if they can help identify the problem and offer an organic solution. Good luck.
April 20th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Hi Annmarie
- very young plants get figs on them that fall off before they fully mature. When your tree is about 4 years old you should get figs you can eat. However, if you are fertilizing your tree too much it will harm fig production. Fig trees should only be fertilized 3 times a year or you won’t get any fruit you can eat