How to Grow a Fig Tree

Growing a tree is much more rewarding if you are able to eat the fruits of your labor. If you live in a warm climate, then having a fig tree is a both a great amenity to your home as well as a resourceful one.

Figs are delicious both fresh and dried, and can be a fantastic ingredient to add to many baked goods and summer snacks. Here are the simple steps to growing your very own fig tree in your own home.

1. The first step is to decide what kind of fig you want to grow, but there are a few breeds that are popular to grow due to how hearty they are, and they don’t require as much maintenance. You should do some research on what type of fig grows the best in your region, or contact your local nursery to ask their opinion on which variety of the tree will last in your area. Figs are normally planted in the spring. Keep in mind that it will take two years for a fig tree to bear fruit.

2. After you decide on a location to plant your fig tree, prepare the soil for it, too. Fig trees are not too finicky about their soil, but they do tend to thrive in dirt that has a bit of sand in it. Use your hands or a small shovel to dig a hole large enough to just put the root in it, as it should roughly cover about an inch or two of the tree trunk when it is in the ground.

3. Place your young fig tree in the ground, and trim up the roots around the soil. Fill in the area around the tree, and make sure that it is secure in the soil. For the first few days after the fig tree is put into the ground, give it lots of water in order to help it get established in its new location. Once it is settled in it will only need to be watered about once or twice a week.

4. In order to have the best success with your fig tree, make sure that you keep up with the soil it’s in. The health of the soil will directly impact the overall status of the tree, so it is important to pull out any weeds that you come across and mulch the base of the tree every four to five weeks or so.

5. During the first year it won’t be necessary to prune your fig tree, instead wait until the second year so that it has a chance to grow. Once it is mature, try to keep the tree at four main branches, as this will help it to produce more fruit. After the fig fruits begin to show up make sure to keep up with the pruning so that it will be easier to produce more.

6. Finally, only harvest the figs off your tree when they are fully ripe. Unlike peaches and other tree fruits, figs will not continue to ripen after they are picked off the branches. Depending on what type of fig you are growing colors may vary, but pick them as soon as they are ready to avoid the fruit being bruised. Keep in mind that fig trees also produce a sap like substance that can irritate your skin if you are not careful in handling them properly with gloves.

Simon Hopes is a certified arborist and is the owner of Cevet Tree Care, where he offers the best tree service Columbia MO has to offer. Cevet has provided tree trimming and other tree care services to mid-Missouri for almost 20 years.

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