Fig Care Guide

Fig Care Guide

Figs are low maintenance plants that can be grown in both pots and outdoors. Below is a comprehensive guide to help you care for your figs and ensure they thrive.

Outdoor Figs

1. Location & Soil:

• Choose the warmest, sunniest spot in your yard, ideally south facing, near the house. The house can act as a microclimate, providing extra warmth and protection from the winter winds that can damage figs (especially in our nursery’s Zone 7b climate). 

• Figs are adaptable to poor soil, but they need a layer of organic material or topsoil (about 1 inch deep) to provide some nutrients and moisture retention.

• Avoid rich soil, which leads to lanky growth and poor fruiting.

2. Winter Protection:

• Figs can be damaged by low temperatures (7°F), especially young, one-year-old growth, which is more susceptible to cold.

• If the plant is killed to the ground, it will regenerate new growth in spring, but will not fruit that season. 

• Plant figs in sheltered areas protected from north winds to reduce winter damage.

• Consider covering figs in areas where zero temperatures can happen, with dry materials like leaves or straw, or using a wire cage with a tin or lid to insulate the plant. This is most effective after the leaves have fallen, usually late December, after rodents have found their winter home. 

• Avoid using plastic coverings, as they can trap heat during the day and not provide sufficient insulation at night, which may damage the plant.

• Remove any dead wood after in the spring, and select 3 new shoots to keep in spring (if your plant died to the ground). Space them out for proper sunlight exposure. Depending on the variety, these new shoots may fruit the same year, but usually the top growth overwinters and fruits the following season. 

3. Pruning:

• If frost damage occurs, prune any dead wood in early spring after new growth has appeared.

• Allow a few new shoots to emerge in spring, spaced to allow proper air circulation and sunlight.

• Height can be a concern and older figs can become too tall for easy harvest. Summer shaping can help control this. When new growth has 6 new leaves, tip prune the terminal growth. This will help the plant form Y-branching and have a shorter, bushier form. If the shoot grows too long or tall, winter pruning may take much of your crop. 

Potted Figs

1. Winter Care:

• Potted figs can be moved indoors for winter protection. Provide them with at least 12 hours of light per day if you want them to continue growing. Without extra light, they will go dormant.

• If the fig is dormant, store it in a garage, basement, or shed, making sure temperatures don’t fall below 20°F.

• Check stored plants every few weeks to ensure they don’t dry out.

2. Watering and Fertilizing:

• Potted figs need more frequent watering than outdoor figs.

• Use a balanced fertilizer like Espoma Citrus-tone, but avoid over-fertilizing, as figs prefer lower fertilizer levels. 

• Add calcium to the potting soil annually (1–2 tablespoons per gallon) to prevent calcium deficiency.

• Figs respond well to a soil mix like Fafard #52, which is a perennial mix that doesn’t ‘bog’ up easily,  and contains composted pine fines, peat, and perlite.

3. Repotting:

• Gradually increase the size of the pot as the fig grows.

• When the fig reaches your desired size, root pruning may help keep it comfortable in its pot. In early spring, before growth starts, prune the roots back to half their size and replant in the same pot if desired. This helps keep the fig manageable.

Additional Tips for Growing Figs:

1. Sunlight:
   Figs need full sun, both indoors and outdoors, to produce good fruit. If grown in a pot, keep the fig in a sunny location, especially during the growing season.

2. Insect & Disease Control:

• Figs are generally resistant to pests, but check for common issues like spider mites (look for webbing). 

• For insect control, Neem oil (Triact TM) is effective for treating common pests.

• Fig rust: in humid conditions, figs are susceptible to an airborne fungus that causes premature leaf drop and can affect harvest. Keep the tree’s growth maintained to avoid leaves shading and compacting each other. When watering your fig, be sure to direct the water at the roots and try to avoid letting it touch the leaves. 

3. Growing in Cold Areas:

• In colder regions, you can plant potted figs in the ground during the warmer months. Keep the rim of the pot above ground level by a few inches. This allows the fig to send its roots through the bottom of the pot and grow more vigorously.

• When the weather cools down and leaves fall, dig up the fig, remove the roots from the soil, and store it for winter.

4. Spring Planting:

• If planting figs in colder regions, it's best to wait until spring (after the last frost) to transplant them.

• Planting figs in the fall may risk winter kill, especially in areas with freezing temperatures.

• Always mulch around the base of the plant in late fall to protect the roots.

Summary:

• Figs are relatively low-maintenance but need the right conditions to thrive.

• Outdoors, choose a sunny, sheltered location, and protect the plant from harsh winter temperatures.

• Indoors, ensure the fig gets enough light during winter and water it regularly.

• Use appropriate fertilizers, avoid overwatering, and give your fig plenty of sunlight to encourage fruiting.

• For the best results, prune regularly and monitor for pests or diseases.

With a little care, your fig plant will produce delicious fruit and continue to grow year after year!