Fig Growing Guide

How do I grow figs? What variety should I get? 

These are two of the most common questions that new fig growers ask. Like many things in life, the answer is: It depends.

First, understand how to keep your tree alive after you first receive it. The video above should help with that. Beyond that, you need to develop a strategy for growing your fig tree. 

How do you plan to grow your fig tree? Figs are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so if you live in a USDA Hardiness zone that is colder than 7A, you should consider growing your trees in pots as opposed to growing them in ground. 

In pots you can control the environment that the tree is exposed to by moving it to a different location. You can also give your trees extra heat by putting them in a greenhouse or other warm environment early in the season. By manipulating the environment, you can grow almost any fig variety in almost any location. 

The other way to grow figs is in-ground, and if your environment supports it, this method can result it a lot more figs for a lot less effort. But if you are going to grow in ground, you need to understand the limitations of your growing area and carefully select a variety that will be suitable for your area. Selecting a suitable variety can be the difference between a low maintenance tree that provides a lot of fruit every year, and a tree that doesn’t provide any fruit. 

To learn more about what varieties are suitable for your area, please review the Growing Maps page, and then filter the varieties on the Fig Sales page according to your location characteristics.