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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>Keith Coon</span> Thu, 06/05/2014 - 10:42
All the old growth on my fig tree seems to die off each year and new growth starts from the root system. Is this normal? I can't remember the variety that I planted. I live in west central Missouri. The fig is planted in the ground. It has plenty of sun, water and drainage. It has been in the ground about five or six years. Is there something I can do to prevent the old growth from dying?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 09/14/2015 - 10:53

Hi, Keith: Great question! Fig trees require pruning during (the end of) their dormant season (winter) in order to focus their upcoming growth energy on the production of new branches and new fruit. At this time, you should prune away any dead or diseased branches, plus any root suckers that you can find. You should plan on cutting back your tree by 1/3 each year, but in such a way that you are focusing the tree's energy on a half-dozen or so (symmetrically balanced) branches that you are going to choose to be your "fruit growers" (for lack of a better term). Trim off the old growth so that it is not draining energy that can go to new growth. And while it's true that all old growth starts as new growth, old growth does get tired, producing less and smaller fruit. After a few years, it pretty much gets expended in terms of quality. So, to answer your question: Cut back the old growth as it dies. Use pruning to focus on new growth in selected branches. As that new growth ages and becomes old, in the meantime be starting to focus on a couple of new growth "rookies" each year, to replace worn-out old-growth branches. Speaking of which, this answer has probably worn us all out! Good luck!

 <span>Dianna Case</span> Sun, 09/13/2015 - 02:56
I have the same question as this person but did not see any answer. I would like to know answer.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 09/14/2015 - 10:54

Hi, Dianna: Please see above ...

 <span>James Xenophon</span> Tue, 06/03/2014 - 11:08
I live in zone 6 and plan to grow my fig trees in containers that I will bring into my greenhouse during the winter until or unless they get too big. When container growing, how big of a container should I plan on and does the size of the container affect the size of the tree or fruit?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 06/04/2014 - 02:24

Grow fig plants in half whiskey barrels or other large, suitable containers of about 30-gallon size. Casters on the containers
are helpful for the time when you need to move the fig plants inside. Certain cultivar grow better in containers than others. Try the ‘Petite Negri' fig plant.

To grow figs in a container, make sure that the soil is loose and well-drained with lots of compost or well-rotted manure; You can lighten heavy soils by incorporating a soil-less growing mixture containing perlite and/or vermiculite. Also be sure to water more often; as the fruits form, the plants need 2 to 3 gallons of water each day.
After fig leaves drop in the fall, shape your plant by removing suckers and heading back long branches. You can move into a protected area such as a garage the tree should go dormant.

 <span>Sherri California</span> Thu, 05/29/2014 - 01:17
My kadota fig tree produced figs the first year I planted it. It did not flower or produce figs last year, and there is no evidence of flowering this year. What could be wrong? We live in the high desert of Southern California, excellent soil, partial shade.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 05/29/2014 - 09:40
Fig trees do not usually produce a good crop of fruit until the third or fourth year after planting.
<span>Johnsun</span> Mon, 05/26/2014 - 15:27
I've had 4 fig trees in containers for 4 years, never seen them fruiting... Anybody can help me please?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 05/29/2014 - 09:22

What kind of figs are you growing? Some varieties require male and female plants to produce fruits.