Fig tree: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
When and how do you plant a fig tree?
Plant your fig in a warm, sunny position sheltered from cold winds. Where winters are severe, choose spring so the tree has a growing season to establish before frost returns. Autumn planting is more suitable for mild climates while the soil is still workable. Avoid planting into frozen or waterlogged ground. Choose a variety whose fruit can ripen with the warmth available in your garden, rather than assuming every fig will crop equally well.
Allow room for its mature form: a freely growing tree and a specimen trained against a wall need different amounts of space. Dig a hole wider than the rootball in soil that drains freely. Moisten the rootball before removing the pot, gently loosen circling roots and set the plant at its original soil level. Backfill with the excavated soil, firm gently and water to settle soil around the roots.
For container growing, use a pot with drainage holes and a growing medium suitable for shrubs. Do not leave water standing in a saucer. Restricting root space can help control vigour, but makes moisture checks more important. During establishment, water according to how quickly the soil dries. Mulch trees in the ground while keeping the base of the trunk clear.
How do you prune a fig tree?
When and how do you harvest figs?
