Not too many people consider figs as a backyard plant, but growing figs is actually quite easy if you live in the right climate. In the United States, figs can be grown in the warmest USDA zones, down to around zone 8. Figs need two things to grow--the first is warm weather and the second is lots of sunlight. A fig tree needs at least eight hours a day of sunlight to produce fruit.
Growing figs is possible in the southern and western portions of the U.S. Figs come in many varieties though most of us only think of figs as the type you find in the middle part of a cookie. Figs are not terribly particular about the type of soil; just remember that they must be placed in a spot that is sunny all day long. An ideal spot would be the south side of a building.
Figs should be planted in spring while they are still in the dormant stage. It is always best to start with a small plant. If your fig plant was grown in a container, you can place it in its new home just as it is, but if you have a bareroot fig, you should remove the top fifty percent before planting.
Don’t prune your figs the first year, but in the spring of the second year, you can prune down to around four strong shoots, which you should choose to be leaders. After this you can prune back every spring before the fig tree starts its growth for the new year. Figs should be cut back by about one-third each year. Remove any shoots or branches that have died.
It is also possible to take a cutting from a fig plant. It should be in the 8-10 inch range with year-old wood. Suckers can also be planted right into the soil to start new fig plants. As for watering, fig trees should have in the neighborhood of one inch of water every week. They should not need any fertilizing unless for some reason the plants just refuse to grow in your location.
When growing fig trees, mulch in the summer to keep in moisture and in the fall for winter protection. They require a hefty four to six inches of mulch. Figs are ready for harvest when the fruit starts to droop. They also produce a milky-type liquid right before they are ripe. Some people who suffer from allergies might find this white secretion bothersome.
There are really very few diseases or pests which bother fig trees. The two biggest frustrations are that your plants fail to yield fruit or that they grow fruit and you have to battle with birds to harvest it. Birds love to eat figs. That’s why it is best to pick you figs before they get too ripe. You can cover the trees with nets to keep birds off the fruit.
Often people think their fig tree is just not going to produce any figs but you have to have a lot of patience with figs. It can take as many as three to four years before a tree sets with fruit. For others, sometimes the figs either do not ripen or the figs drop off the plant prematurely. If your figs fail to ripen, you may be fertilizing them too much. They require little fertilizer.
Propagate A Fig Tree From A Cutting
There are actually several ways to propagate more fig trees for yourself or others. However, some methods are easier and have a higher success rate than others. For example, growing from seeds is very hard and often results in failure. Growing from cuttings from a healthy fig tree, on the other hand, has a 50% or higher success rate.
Step 1 – Choosing Your Tree
There are several things to consider about where you get your cuttings from. You may need to purchase some new fig trees from a nursery if you don’t already own them, or know somebody else with fig trees. If bought locally, you shouldn’t have too much trouble about picking an appropriate fig tree, but bear in mind that there are many varieties, each with their own climate and conditions that they will flourish in. A fig tree that grows superbly in Texas, for example, likely won’t grow at all in California, and vice versa.
Step 2 – Choosing Your Cutting
If you’ve purchased fig trees, you should wait about two years before getting your cuttings, to give the tree a chance to establish strong, vigorous and healthy growth.
Take your cutting from a vigorously growing stem. They should be rather woody and not entirely green, and have little to none of last year’s growth. Softer, greener stems are more likely to rot. The cutting should be about 6 to 8 inches in length, and about the diameter of a pencil.
Step 3 – Pot the Cutting
Remove most of the leaves, or at least the bottom leaves past the first 2 nodes. You can dip the cuts into a rooting hormone, but be aware some growers advise against it. Place the cuttings in a plastic pot, about 4 inches in size and filled with a light, airy soil. Moisten the soil and cover the cutting to hold in moisture. A 2 liter pop bottle with the bottom cut off and the cap still on makes for easy moisture insulation. Don't water the cutting again until it is extremely dry. Place it outside in mild sun, or under the shade of a mature fig tree.
Step 4 – Hardening Off the Cutting
In time, you’ll see vigorous growth with newly formed leaves as well as roots growing. Wait until a complete root system is formed, then you can begin to harden it off by bringing it outside uncovered for several hours a day, and bringing it back inside at night. It will take about two weeks to fully harden off and become accustomed to its new climate.
Step 5 – Transplanting
This entire process will likely start in the late summer or fall, and last until at least the following spring. Once a fig tree has hardened off, it is possible to transplant it permanently outside. However, some say that it should be left for another year from spring before transplanting.
Follow these steps, and before you know it, you’ll have a wonderful new fruit tree in your backyard!
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