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How to Grow Figs: A Beginner’s Guide to Planting, Caring for, and Harvesting Fig Trees

fig fruit on a table, one cut open
Image Credit:
Katrin Shine
Botanical Name
Ficus carica
Grown as
Perennial
USDA Zones
8a
8b
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Toxicity
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Water Needs
Moderate
Height
10–20 feet
Spread
10-20 feet
Soil pH
Neutral
Alkaline
Bloom Time
Spring
Flower Color
White
Special Features
Container-Friendly
Low Maintenance
Attracts Pollinators
Attracts Songbirds
Resilience
Drought-Tolerant
Heat-Tolerant
Plant Type
Fruit
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Fig-get about fussy fruit trees—figs are surprisingly easy to grow! With their lush leaves and candy-sweet fruit, fig trees bring a taste of the tropics to your backyard, patio, or even sunny windowsill. 

Whether you’re in a warm zone or bracing for winter chills, we’ll show you how to grow this ancient superfruit right at home. Let’s get figgy with it!

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).

Planting

Figs can be planted outdoors without much trouble in 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 they are 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 4 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-draining and contains plenty of organic material. (Learn more about organic soil amendments.)
  • Space fig trees at least 20 feet away from 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, its belowground areas will likely be unaffected. Remove all dead wood while the tree is still dormant, and watch for new growth in the spring. 

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 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

Pests and Problems

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

Types

  • ‘Brown Turkey’ produces abundant medium to large figs. This type works best in warm climates but is fairly tolerant of cooler temperatures, too.
  • ‘Celeste’ 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.
  • ‘King’ is well adapted for the cooler conditions found in the Northwest. It produces medium figs that are sweet and rich in flavor.
  • ‘Kadota’ vigorously produces small to medium fruit. Its figs are rich and sweet, and it is the most commonly canned fig.

Wit and Wisdom

  • 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.
  • “You can’t grow figs from thistles.”

Fruit

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Brian</span> Sun, 11/26/2017 - 20:12
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.
<span>Tonya</span> Sun, 10/08/2017 - 18:40
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?
<span>Sheryl Mitchell</span> Sat, 09/16/2017 - 06:58
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.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 09/18/2017 - 09:30

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: https://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services

 <span>Jg</span> Thu, 09/14/2017 - 03:28
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
<span>Tammy</span> Sun, 08/06/2017 - 19:56
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.
<span>Marie</span> Mon, 07/17/2017 - 10:44
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!
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 07/18/2017 - 15:27

The best time to plant a fig is in the spring. Please scroll to the text above to see more tips on successful growing.

 <span>Lauri Lee</span> Sat, 07/08/2017 - 19:38
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!
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 07/12/2017 - 17:14

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!