How to Grow and Care For a Fig Tree

How to grow and care for fig trees

Fig trees (Ficus carica) are Mediterranean natives that thrive in climates with hot, dry summers and cool winters, making them well-suited to many areas in the UK. These versatile trees can be grown in gardens or large containers, offering delicious fruit and lush, green foliage.

Figs grow into medium to large trees, but they can be pruned to a manageable size or trained in pots.

Top six fig tree care tips

Choose a position in full sun, sheltered from strong winds. For the best results, train your fig tree against a sunny south- or south-west facing wall.
Prepare the soil by enriching it with compost or a soil improver before planting.
Feed fig trees grown in the ground with a high potash feed in spring, and feed container-grown fig trees every 2-3 weeks during the growing season with a high potash liquid feed.
Prune fig trees twice a year, first in spring after the last hard frost and again in early summer.
Propagate fig trees using cuttings taken in autumn.
In long hot summers, some fig trees may produce two harvests; the first in early summer from fruit set the previous autumn, and the second in late summer from fruit produced on the current year’s growth. Fig trees grown indoors in greenhouses are more likely to produce two crops in a year as they get enough reliable warmth.

Essential shopping list

A potted fig tree
Compost or soil improver for planting
Fertiliser
Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds
A sturdy stake for support
Wildlife-safe crop protection netting
Secateurs for pruning

How to plant fig trees

Site selection: Choose a sunny spot protected from strong winds. Figs thrive in free-draining soil with a neutral pH, so avoid planting in waterlogged areas.

Soil preparation: Dig a square hole wider than the rootball and around 60cm deep. Fig trees fruit best with their roots restricted, so line the sides of the hole with paving slabs and place a 10-20cm layer of rocks and crushed rubble at the bottom to stop the roots growing through.
Planting: Place the fig tree at the same depth as it was in the pot. Add a mound of compost under the root ball if necessary to position it correctly. Add Levington^® Fish, Blood & Bone Multi Purpose Plant Food, backfill the hole with soil, firm the soil gently around the roots and water thoroughly.
Mulching: Spread mulch around the base, avoiding direct contact with the trunk, to retain soil moisture and prevent weeds.

Growing fig trees in containers

Fig trees grow well in containers, which restrict their roots and promote good fruit production. Growing figs in containers in cold areas allows the trees to be moved indoors in winter to protect the developing fruits from frost.
Choosing the right container: Select a pot or container with good drainage, slightly larger than your plant’s rootball.
Compost: Use a free-draining, peat-free soil-based compost like John Innes No. 3.
Planting: Fill the container halfway with potting mix, place the fig tree centrally, and backfill until the root ball is covered. Firm the soil gently and water thoroughly to settle the roots.

Container-grown figs require consistent watering, especially during warmer months, as pots dry out quickly. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and ensure excess water drains freely. Feed every 2-3 weeks during the growing season with a liquid high-potash feed.

Container-grown fig trees will need to be repotted every 2-3 years.

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Growing fig trees indoors

Although several species of fig, such as the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) and fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) make very attractive houseplants, fruiting fig trees (Ficus carica) will not grow well indoors, as they can’t get enough direct sunlight. However, container-grown fig trees can be grown indoors in greenhouses all year round, and the additional warmth can encourage a second crop of fruit to ripen in late summer.

Caring for fig trees

Fig tree trained against brick wall.

Fig trees are relatively low maintenance but benefit from regular care to stay healthy and productive.

Pruning fan-trained fig trees:

Fig trees are often trained against a wall to take up less space and make harvesting easy. To prune a fan-trained fig:

In spring, cut back one-third of the new shoots produced the previous year (particularly any weak or spindly shoots) to stubs 2.5cm long.
On mature plants, cut back one or two old branches to 5cm.
Remove any shoots growing the wrong way, i.e. towards the wall or outwards away from it.
Tie in new shoots.
In summer, shorten all side shoots to 5 leaves.

Pruning free-standing fig trees:

In spring, remove any dead, damaged or crossing branches
On mature plants, cut one or two old branches back to 5cm stubs
In summer, shorten all side shoots to 5 leaves.

Safety tip: Fig sap is an irritant, so wear long sleeves and gloves when pruning, and wash any sap off your skin immediately. To avoid drips, start pruning from the bottom of the tree and work upwards.

Feeding fig trees:

Garden trees: Feed in early spring with a high-potash fertiliser such as Levington Fish, Blood & Bone Multi Purpose Plant Food.
Container trees: Feed every 2-3 weeks during the growing season with a high-potash liquid feed like a tomato feed.

Fig tree problems:

Birds and wildlife: Protect ripening fruit with tightly secured wildlife-safe netting.
General pests: While uncommon, occasional issues like aphids or scale can be treated with organic sprays if needed.

Harvesting figs

Bowl of ripe figs with three figs cut open.

Figs are best picked fresh from the tree when they are perfectly ripe.

Signs of ripeness: Figs are ready to harvest when they hang down on the branch, feel soft to the touch, and emit a sweet fragrance. Ripe figs will come away from the branch easily. They do not ripen after being picked, so wait until they are ready before harvesting.
Protecting your crop: Birds and other wildlife are attracted to ripe figs. Use a wildlife-safe crop protection net with holes no larger than 4mm to protect the fruit. Ensure the net is pulled tightly over the tree or use a frame to create a cover.

Some fig varieties produce two crops a year: the breba crop happens in early summer on old wood and a larger main crop happens in late summer on new growth. In the UK, the second crop is only likely to ripen in long hot summers.

Propagating fig trees

It’s easy to grow a fig tree from a cutting. Here’s how it’s done:

Take hardwood cuttings from healthy branches in autumn. Cut off side stems around 20-30cm long, cutting just below a node (nodes are the bumps on the stem).
Remove the leaves.
Plant the cuttings into pots filled with multipurpose compost mixed with perlite for good drainage, and keep them moist.
Position in a sheltered, bright location and wait for roots to establish. When new leaves start to appear, the plants can be potted on.

Growing a fig tree from a fig seed is possible but can be tricky as the germination success rate is low. To find out whether your fig seeds are viable (i.e. likely to germinate), cut the fig in half, scoop out the flesh containing the seeds and place them in a jar of water for a couple of days. Viable seeds will sink to the bottom of the jar, while non-viable seeds will float.

Fill a seed tray with well-draining seed compost and sow the viable seeds on the surface. Place in a sunny spot and water regularly to keep the compost moist. Seeds should germinate within 2 weeks. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out and pot them on into individual pots filled with multipurpose compost. It takes several years for seed-grown fig trees to produce fruit.

FAQs

When do fig trees produce fruit?

Fig trees produce two crops of fruit in a year, one on the previous year’s wood and the second on the current year’s growth. In the UK only the first crop is likely to ripen, in early summer. In very long hot summers or on greenhouse-grown figs, the second crop may ripen in late summer.