Exotic taste: Growing figs right here
There is nothing like the taste of a fresh, ripe fig. That delightful fig is too delicate to survive commercial handling and transportation to grocery stores, so you won't easily purchase them fresh.
That's just fine, because figs are one of the easiest fruits for the home gardener to grow. They are not demanding and they are relatively pest free. They can be grown as a bush or shaped to be a small tree. In our area figs can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Hardy Chicago, Celeste, and Brown Turkey are three winter hardy varieties suited to our region. They are self-pollinating: they do not require other figs planted nearby in order to produce fruit.
Hardy Chicago has been sold in big box stores in Butler this spring. There are many online sources for other varieties that would work well for container growing in our zone, with several hundred different varieties to choose from.
There are four different types of figs: Common, Caprifigs, Smyrna and San Pedro. The Smyrna and San Pedro types require Caprifigs for cross-pollination and the Caprifigs require pollination by a wasp found only in California.
The Common fig is the only type that will produce fruit in our area. So, if you choose a fig plant online, make sure it is of the Common type.
Fig trees, if labeled hardy to zones 5 or 6, can be planted directly into the ground, or grown in large pots and overwintered in a protected location.
Container grown figs overwintered in a garage or shed have an advantage over those grown in the ground, as they will leaf out earlier and produce fruit sooner. Above-ground growth of figs overwintered outside may die-back to the ground, resulting in delayed or no fruit production that growing season.
If you choose to plant your fig in the ground, choose a sunny location that is protected from winter winds. A site in front of a south facing wall is ideal.
Soil pH should be in the range of 6 to 6.5. Soil tests are available from the extension office. Plant figs after the danger of frost is past and mulch well with compost. Fig plants usually produce fruit in the second or third year after planting.
To overwinter a ground-planted fig, some gardeners circle the plant with chicken wire and fill the chicken wire with straw and leaves. They then wrap the plant with a plastic tarp, and top it off with an upside down bucket to protect the plant from rain, snow, and wind. The wrappings are removed in spring after the danger of frost has passed. Prune all dead wood each spring. Wear gloves, as the plant sap can irritate the skin.
Another method of overwintering ground-planted figs is to trench them. Trenching involves pruning the tree, wrapping it with twine and laying it in a 2-foot deep trench. The trenched tree is insulated with dried leaves, straw, wooden boards, and perhaps more soil and a tarp. Once all danger of frost has passed in the spring, the trenched fig is uncovered.
I have ground-planted a Chicago Hardy and overwintered it using the chicken wire, leaves, and straw method. It died back to the ground and did not begin to send up new growth until late May. By then my garage-wintered plants had leafed out their established branches and started to form fruit. That year, the Chicago Hardy produced two figs which did not ripen.Based on that experience, I recommend growing fig trees in containers.To grow a fig tree in a container, choose a large lightweight pot. Castors on the pot will make the job of moving the plant easier. Use a well draining potting mix, with peat moss, perlite and vermiculite.Place the pot in a sunny location and water daily. Give more water when fruits start to form. After harvest and when the leaves drop in the fall, trim the plant back to desired shape and size. The cuttings left over from pruning can be rooted to grow additional plants.To overwinter a potted fig, move it into an area which maintains a temperature around 50 degrees, such as an attached garage or basement. Water the plant once a month during its dormancy.Fig plants in North America are generally not bothered by insects or diseases, but animals and birds love the fruits as much as we do. Consider using netting or you will find the birds or squirrels have beaten you to your harvest.The figs will start to swell and change color when they are ripening. Figs do not ripen once removed from the plant so do not pick until they are fully colored and slightly soft. Figs ripen late August to September in the containers on my patio in Butler Township.My favorite way to use fresh figs is to simmer them with a bit of honey and lemon, then puree the mixture in a food processor. The puree can be spread on cookies, toast, ice cream, and fruits, or frozen and used at a later date. Figs can also be dried in a dehydrator for snacks.For more information on growing figs, or for other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener GreenLine at 724-287-4761, Ext. 229.Monica Huselton, a life-long gardener, became a master gardener in 2015.
