Fig Trees Are Surprisingly Easy to Grow—Here’s How to Get a Bountiful Harvest

Fig trees have a certain elegance about them, which leads many gardeners to mistakenly believe they’re far too complicated to maintain. The opposite is true, though. Growing a fig tree in your backyard is surprisingly easy thanks to their speedy growth, self-pollinating nature, and adaptability to hot, dry conditions.

Along with being pretty low-maintenance, fig trees also come with the bonus of a harvest you’ll get to enjoy year after year. That’s reason enough to give this tree a try. Here’s how to plant a fig tree so it thrives and produces plenty of fruit for seasons to come.

Meet Our Expert

Elin Harryson, gardening expert at Planta

Karen Musgrave, horticulturist and certified nursery landscaper at Hicks Nurseries in New York

Victoria Oppenheim, gardening expert and owner of Garden Girl in New York

Related: 10 Low-Maintenance Landscaping Ideas That Instantly Upgrade Your Yard

What to Know Before Growing a Fig Tree

Fig trees are generally considered one of the easiest fruit trees for home gardeners to grow, says Elin Harryson, a gardening expert for Planta. Once established, she says they’re relatively drought-tolerant, adaptable to a range of soil conditions, and prone to fewer diseases and pest issues than many other fruit trees. “The biggest challenges are protecting them from severe winter cold and ensuring they receive enough sunlight to produce a reliable crop,” Harryson notes.

The Best Zones to Grow Fig Trees

Fig trees thrive in USDA Zones 7 through 10, since they benefit from warm climates with long growing seasons. “They perform best when both daytime and nighttime temperatures remain consistently warm during the growing season, which helps fruit develop and ripen properly,” notes Karen Musgrave, horticulturist and landscaper at Hicks Nurseries. In these zones, you can grow figs right in the ground.

Tips

There are many fig tree varieties to choose from, some of which are cold-hardy while others prefer more Mediterranean conditions. When growing a fig tree for your backyard, research which varieties thrive best in your area.

Growing Fig Trees in Regions With Cold Weather

In regions that experience long periods of wintry weather, growing figs in containers is an excellent option. “The plants can be moved into a protected garage, shed, or unheated space for winter,” Musgrave explains. “In-ground planting works, too, but gardeners should be prepared to provide winter protection during especially cold winters.”

Victoria Oppenheim, gardening expert and owner of Garden Girl in New York, adds that if you’re using a container, it should be large enough to support the tree and its growing roots (15 to 25 gallons). She also recommends choosing a planter with wheels so you can easily move it.

How to Grow a Fig Tree

Follow these steps for growing a fig tree in your backyard. The sooner you get going, the sooner you’ll get to enjoy a fruitful harvest.

Find the Ideal Spot

For in-ground and potted plants, pick the sunniest spot in the landscape, ideally one that gets six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. “If possible, use a south-facing area next to a wall or building to get extra warmth and shelter from cold winds,” Harryson advises. “Make sure the area has good airflow, but try to avoid low-lying areas where cold air and excess moisture can build up.”

When planting in the ground, Oppenheim says to choose a spot that gives your fig tree room to thrive at its full size, then add an additional 5 feet of clearance around it.

Place in the Ground

If you’re planting your fig tree in the ground, clear away any grass, weeds, or debris around the planting site. From there, Oppenheim says to dig a hole that’s about twice as wide as the root ball and slightly deeper. Place the tree in the hole, add the dirt back, and then give it a deep watering. “As a rule of thumb, once the ground stops taking water, that’s when you stop watering,” Oppenheim says.

Tips

Fig trees perform best in moderately fertile, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH, Oppenheim says. Poor drainage is one of the most common causes of growth issues.

Water the Fig Tree

Newly planted trees require consistent weekly watering while the roots become established during the first two years. Mature trees are fairly drought-tolerant, though, so you can pull back on this regimen once they’re established. At this point, “Deep, infrequent watering is generally better than frequent shallow watering,” Harryson says.

Fertilize Annually

You can use amended soil when first planting, but otherwise fig trees benefit from annual fertilization with a balanced fertilizer. “Following label directions is important to avoid over-fertilizing, which can encourage excessive leafy growth and less fruit,” Musgrave says.

How Long Does It Take Fig Trees to Produce Fruit?

Most nursery-grown fig trees begin producing fruit within one to three years of planting, though some established trees bear a small crop in their first year. Fig trees grown from seed typically take much longer to produce fruit.

Prune Your Branches

Pruning is an important part of fig tree maintenance. “Many gardeners train figs into a multi-stemmed bush form rather than a traditional tree form because it makes harvesting, maintenance, and winter protection much easier,” Musgrave says.

Once the tree is established, Musgrave says to prune in early spring after the danger of frost has passed but before new growth begins. Since figs produce fruit on the current season’s growth, strategic pruning helps encourage the healthy new shoots that will go on to bear fruit.

Mind Your Weather

Before the first hard frost, Oppenheim recommends wrapping the entire tree from base to top in a snug burlap. If the tree is in a container, bring it indoors before the first frost and move it back outside once the threat’s cleared. For harsh sun conditions during the peak of summer, Harryson says to place a lightweight shade cloth over the tree’s large, thin leaves to prevent burning.

Related: The Best Fruit Tree to Grow Indoors—And Why Experts Say It’s Easier Than You Think

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