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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
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.
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.
The roots are probably too deep to be affected by warmth from the pavers, however, the bigger issue with pavers is that they could prevent water from reaching all the roots effectively. We would recommend using a porous covering, such as landscaping fabric or a 2-inch layer of bark mulch (or both). This will help to prevent weeds, but also allow water to reach the roots. Mulches will also help to hold moisture in the soil in times of drought.
How wet or dry is the soil? Leaves that turn brown, dry up, and fall off suggest that the soil is too dry. Moss doesn't grow deep enough to directly interfere with the roots, though it will act as a sponge and soak up some of the water that would otherwise go to the fig. If it's been a dry spring where you are, you may need to be watering the tree by hand as well.
For now, remove some of the moss and feel two to three inches deep into the soil. If the soil is dry, you may want to remove all of the moss and replace it with a layer of bark mulch. This will allow water to flow into the pot but not evaporate too quickly.
Alternatively, the problem could be that the soil is being kept too wet and the roots are rotting. Have you been getting a lot of rain? The moss could be trapping too much moisture in the soil. In any case, you'll have to do some poking around in the soil to figure out the issue first!
It is hard to know, and may depend on the health of the plant, pruning, climate, variety, etc. But if your fig normally produces 2 crops per year, it is possible that some may form later in the season. Some figs produce a breba crop in spring/summer on last year’s growth, and then a main crop later in summer/fall on current year’s growth. Others may produce only a breba or only a main crop.
Although many figs are self-fertile, some require a pollinator to set fruit; fruit will drop early if not pollinated correctly. Be sure to water consistently, and shade in extreme heat. Too much nitrogen can also deter fruiting.
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