Fresh Figs are Amazing, so Grow Figs at Home–What You Need to Know

Figs trees are from the genus Ficus, which contains over 800 tropical and subtropical species of plants. The fruit tree with which most of us are familiar originated in the Mediterranean region. Nearly all “fig” trees produce edible fruit, but many fig fans out there have never had a fresh fig.

The fruit of these trees, particularly the common fig, is beloved dried. It is most commonly found processed into jam, used in cakes, or put into cookies, e.g. Fig Newtons. Figs are even found in savory sauces, stealing the show in salads, and posing as a pizza topping.

Unfortunately, fresh figs aren’t all that common to find in supermarkets. They are seasonal fruit that doesn’t ripen much after being picked, are too soft to store, and squish too readily to travel well. In other words, for those who want fresh figs regularly, growing a fig tree (or three) at home might be necessary.

Ficus carica, the Common Fig

The species of ficus recognized for the figs we eat is Ficus carica. It has been cultivated for thousands of years. It’s a deciduous tree or shrub that can grow to be 20-30 feet tall in its proper habitat, but it can be kept much smaller as well. It is popular for cultivation because it is self-fertile and doesn’t have complicated pollination requirements.

The common fig thrives in warmer climates though there are varieties that can tolerate colder places, going as far as USDA Zone 5. However, due to a long growing season, even hardy figs need some protection to be productive in these colder regions. That can mean either insulating them outside or growing them in pots to move them inside in the winter.

Growing Figs at Home

Figs are resilient trees. They will tolerate most soil types as long as it is well-draining. They thrive in lots of sun and can deal with times of little rain. Although not ideal, they even can die back to the ground and sprout anew the next year. They are so ready to grow they can be propagated by just shoving a few green cuttings in the ground.

In USDA Zones 8 and warmer, figs can be planted in the ground with little worry about. By and large, figs grown outside don’t need much besides sun and regular water when they are young. Only in dire circumstances will they want fertilizing or pruning.

Figs in Colder Climates

In colder areas USDA Zone 5-7, it’s best to look for cold-hardy varieties such as Brown Turkey, Brunswick, Celeste, and Chicago Hardy. These can naturally withstand cold better than other fig trees. However, they still aren’t going to love temperatures below 10 F, and they may die back above the ground.

Thus, even with these figs, it’s best to provide some insulative protection when they go dormant. A good way of doing this is to prune the fig back to a couple of feet tall, put a ring of wire fencing around it, and pack that with dried leaves.

Once the worst of winter is behind, the cage can be removed, the mulch can be spread around the tree, and it’ll spring back to life.

Harvesting Fresh Figs

Fig trees are one of the fastest-producing fruit trees, capable of providing a harvest in their first year. Fruit will be ready to harvest in late spring to early summer for warmer climates and late summer to early autumn in cooler climates.

The fruits should only be harvested when they are fully ripe as they will not continue to ripen off the tree. They are ripe when they are fully colored, typically changing from green to a purplish or brownish color. They should also be slightly soft. Picking them early will result in bland, unsatisfactory fruit.

That said, figs will only last three or four days in the fridge once picked, and leaving them on the tree risks losing them to birds and other wildlife. That’s why we so often see them dehydrated or preserved in jams. They can also be frozen whole to be used in fresh fig recipes out of season.

Fresh Figs from Your Fig Tree

Growing a fig tree is something most of us can do. Even in very cold regions, they can be cultivated as container plants and kept pruned to fit the home. And, fresh figs are well worth the effort. Plus, the trees have beautiful foliage that makes for a pretty plant to have indoors or outside. Planting fruit trees is just a good policy.

Related Content:

• Health Benefits of Dried Figs That Even Beat Out Dates
• Culinary Herbs for Your Fall and Winter Garden
• The Beginner’s Guide to Growing an Edible Garden
• A Beginner’s Guide to Conscious Gardening
• 6 Tips for Starting a Garden from Scratch

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