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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>Silvia Gonzalez</span> Wed, 09/09/2020 - 13:35
I have been reading the questions by other fig owners and I do not see anybody having my problem. I have a fig tree, several years old, that yields a lot of fruit. However, when it is ripe or even before that, the figs taste fermented (kind of alcohol taste). I also have a problem with ants (they love my fig tree); could they be causing the fermentation? I think is a Brown Turkey because when I bought it the farmer said it was "Brown Fig Tree". I live in Miami, Florida. It rains a lot here in summer and I prune my tree but I am rather shy about it. I hope you can help me. Thanks.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 09/11/2020 - 10:45

The flavor of fig fruit can be affected by a few things. Two candidates are sour rot and endosepsis. Check whether the symptoms listed on the following pages match what you observe: 

  • https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/fig/Sour-Rot/ 
  • https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/fig/Fig-Endosepsis/ 
 <span>Tracey Loslo</span> Mon, 08/10/2020 - 16:05
August 10, 2020 Powell River, BC, Canada Sunshine Coast; Zone 8B SITUATION: - I have a healthy cutting I took in February of this year. - Once rooted in May'ish I transplanted them to 1 litre pots. - I removed all but one shoot when I potted it up to the 1 litre. - It has now grown a good set of roots that are out to the perimeter of the pot; just about to start circling in the pot. - The hardwood stem/cutting height is 8"in. - The new stem/shoot emerged 4.5"in up the stem of the hardwood stem/cutting. - The new stem/shoot is 11"in high; with 7 leaves plus the growing tip. - 7"in of the new stem/shoot appears to be transitioning to hardwood QUESTIONS: - Can I plant/bury the stem to where the new shoot has emerged from the parent/hardwood? - Will the shoot, root if I let the underside tough soil? And will the buried portion of the parent'hardwood grow roots? REASON: I would like it to grow in tree form, with a single trunk for the first 6'ish feet. I really appreciate your help! Thank you.
<span>Matt</span> Wed, 07/01/2020 - 09:35
Good morning I got a problem every other day or so I have two or three fig leaves that are on the ground looks like something come straight off what do you think this would be thank you
<span>Phyllis</span> Sat, 05/02/2020 - 19:21
Figs fully formed and large beautiful. Outside skin green and dark purple looking. Solid open up to white very dry seedy looking inside. Taken to several nurseries, don't know why
<span>Daniel Perez</span> Tue, 02/18/2020 - 22:45
I'm wondering if play sand from home depot will be fine for me to plant it there I have it indoors
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 02/25/2020 - 13:14

Sources tell us that "builder's sand" or coarse sand is best. However, remember that sand is heavy. You could also use perlite, which is...lite.

 <span>Grace</span> Wed, 10/16/2019 - 12:48
I have a fig tree that has recently lost all its leaves for the fall. It’s mid October and new leaves are coming out and several gigs. Why is this?
<span>John Urbanski</span> Thu, 09/05/2019 - 20:33
I have a new brown turkey variety fig tree. It's a great little tree & in its first year has already produced a bunch of figs. What color are the figs supposed to be before they are ripe? I always thought they would be purplish or brown, but one by one they seem to be getting soft & falling off the tree just as they are starting to turn from green some other color. They are also soft at this point too. Any advice, comments, etc., would be appreciated.
<span>Richard Demby</span> Tue, 08/27/2019 - 06:38
I have a 3 year old Mission Fig Tree here near Tampa Florida. The soil is well drained and moist most of the time right now in August. So not too much or too little water. The tree has many green figs and throws out a couple of ripe ones every day or so. Looks great. However it also has many brown and curling leaves that snap off very easily. Any suggestions on this condition please?