For more information on how to care for a fig tree in winter please read below for outdoor planted trees. Most fig tree varieties can be grown outside in USDA zones 7-10 (check your zone). Either that, or they must be brought inside to a cool garage or storage shed for the winter months in a container. Do not cut roots on the other two sides. Q. When the fig’s leaves have fallen in autumn, start by pruning off dead branches, those that are rubbing together, and any that are crossing other branches. Install a heat source (such as a space heater or light bulb) to be turned on when winter temperatures are forecast to go below 25°F (-4°C). Keep your potted fig tree in full sun during the summer. These fruit trees can get very large and up to 20 feet tall. Still, most fig trees will need winter protection in areas where the temperature drops below about 20°F (-7°C). Most fig trees are hardy only in USDA zones 7 and higher, but you don’t have to move down South to have one. For outdoor fig trees, plant the tree in the spring or early fall in full sun. Plant your outdoor fig tree next to south facing wall, where it doesn’t get so cold. Fertilizing Your Fig Tree Fertilize your tree weekly with liquid fertilizer while fruit is growing on it. Now I want to grow my own fig tree. You may find it easiest to start with a teepee-like framework of three wooden poles to support the cage. Simply wrapping or draping the tree with plastic or a blanket will not suffice. We recommend watering a containerized tree for 15 minutes every morning with a drip irrigation tube controlled by an inexpensive battery powered timer, available at garden supply stores. Here’s why you wouldn’t want to: The edible fig (Ficus carica) needs full sun in the summer, which is almost impossible to get indoors. Observe and respond accordingly to your trees environment. Note: If your trees leaves begin to yellow, chances are it is being over-watered. I didn't realize I could grow a fig tree in a container thank you! Replace the soil every 3 years if you grow your tree in a container. The best soil for planting a fig tree in a pot would be an organic potting mix, never use soil from your garden as it will probably be too dense and not suitable for growing a potted tree in. Up to 35% Off End of Year Clearance Q. Fig trees are self-fruiting or parthenocarpic, meaning you can successfully grow a single tree. Winterizing Fig Trees. Start by selecting the  most cold-hardy varieties. Wrap a tarp, some tarpaper, or plastic sheeting around the cage and fill it with hay, straw, or dry leaves, snug up to the swaddled tree. Water. Some of his figs are planted right in the ground inside the greenhouse, where he also grows his wintertime greens. Overwintering a potted fig tree is a simple process that requires a bit of work in the fall before first frost, and then again in the spring before last frost. It needs even … I do not have a basement or garage so presently have taken them into the house because I … But you can grow fig trees in containers for a few reasons which we will explain below. (You can start out with a smaller container, then pot-up as the tree gets bigger. Once it gets warm enough outside it is safe to move your fig tree back outdoors. Allow the fig tree to experience one or two light frosts and all the leaves to die and drop off. (Others are in his basement.) You can use old blankets with or without an outer covering of plastic sheeting for the tent. When it comes time to harvest the fruit you will be very grateful that your fig tree is a manageable size. Lay the pot on its side and remove the pot. If your winters are consistently too cold for a fig tree you can wrap the tree in insulation for the entire winter. Tags: fig tree, fruit trees, winter, winter gardening, winter plant care, Copyright © 2021 Perfect Plants. Start by pruning and bundling the branches into a tight cylinder as described above. Decide which way the tree is to recline, and dig a trench as long as the tree is tall, as wide as necessary, and just deep enough to bury it under a foot or so of soil and mulch. Ripe fruit will appear in the summer growing season. Happy planting! Taper off watering your potted fig beginning two weeks before your average first frost date, or when your local weather predictions indicate upcoming frost. Potting Soil: Use a light potting mix, but not an overly rich one to plant your fig tree in. If you live where harsh winter temperatures get colder than that (hardiness zones 6 and below), you can grow fig trees in containers outside in the a sunny spot all summer. Next, build a cage around the bundled fig tree with chicken wire, hog fencing, concrete reinforcing mesh, or welded wire panels. Throughout the winter, water only when the potting medium becomes dry. Fig trees grown in containers need to be fertilized with a high nitrogen fertilizer every four weeks in the spring and early summer. Among the best are Celeste Fig, Brown Turkey Fig, Ventura, and the most cold-hardy of all: Chicago Hardy Fig. Winter Care A potted fig tree should be brought indoors after the first frost and when all of the leaves have fallen off the tree. You have a couple options in … Fertilize your fig tree with a slow-release organic fertilizer. Next, tie one end of a length of twine or rope to the main trunk, to a strong branch, or to a stout pole driven into the ground near the center of the fig tree. You will need a winter storage space like a garage where (ideally) the temperature stays between 0-10°C / 32 to 50° F. See Perfect plants’ Grow Guide for Edible Fig Trees (coming soon) for much more about growing figs. Repot containerized figs every 2 or 3 years, and prune to maintain size. Some people actually bury their fig trees for winter. Fill the trench with mulch, cover with a tarp, and weigh that down with more mulch or potting soil. An organic fertilizer such as compost and mulch will help retain moisture as well. We strongly recommend giving figs winter protection in areas colder than zone 7. No matter where you live, growing fig trees is possible and plausible! Pick a nice sunny spot for your fig tree. Spread wood ashes around the base of the stems to stop ants from climbing the trees. The short answer is no. Here in North Jersey we bring them in at the end of November. This method works even in zone 3! After planting your fig tree in its container, water it well, then add a layer of mulch. Don’t fertilize in winter, and water only sparingly, when the leafless tree is indoors. Check out this videos of a tasting of the Petite Negra which is the best variety for growing figs in containers! Put the fig tree in a sunny spot in your yard, and keep well watered. The cage should taper upward leaving a small opening (less than foot in diameter) at the top. As older more mature trees, the trees can put up with more during the winter months but may lose some patches of tree or branches that are not protected. Fig tree care: Pests and diseases Growing fig trees in containers in in North America results in a fairly trouble-free crop. Other common names for this plant include Benjamin fig, weeping fig and ficus tree. Plus, Orders Over $99 Ship for Free. (Deciduous fig trees lose their leaves and go dormant in the cold winter, so they don’t need to be kept warm – just kept from freezing temperatures.). There are ways to grow your own fresh figs, even up North! In winter, other trees are tucked underground and coated with mulch, which protects their roots from the cold. You can even use commercial attic insulation. Up to 35% Off End of Year Clearance Container Fig Tree Winter Storage A much easier and less labor intensive method of fig tree care in winter is to keep the fig tree in a container and put it into dormancy in the winter. Think about it this way. … Lightly prune the tree after the growing season to keep it pot-sized. If you live in an area with mild winter temperatures you can leave your fig tree outdoors in a sunny, sheltered spot over the winter months. Circle the tree, gathering the branches together into a tight upright bundle and tie securely. Move the tree indoors as a houseplant and keep the soil moist. Most common fig trees get too big and gangly and too messy to be good houseplants. Now, most trees need to be pruned for the winter months but with a fig tree proper pruning is actually helpful in maintaining the right size and encouraging through production. ), Use a soil-based potting mix and add bark chips or, Don’t let the potting medium get too dry. winter, your fig trees will need no more care than a potted houseplant—and probably less, because they go dormant. The mulch will keep the soil from drying out too quickly. Yes, figs are drought tolerant, but plants in containers dry out much quicker than plants in the ground so you will need to water your potted fig tree especially in the heat of summer. They are pests and disease resistant. All Rights Reserved • Disclaimer, Plant your fig tree in a lightweight container that’s as large as you can manage. These trees are easy to grow and fairly cold hardy… they can be grown in many places across the United States. Learn how to winterize a fig tree in this blog. But potted trees sit out in the open. Water very lightly (monthly) during the winter to keep the soil moist when it's not frozen. Fig tree (Ficus benjamina) can be grown outside or indoors as a houseplant. They will produce fruit without pollination or fertilization. Be sure to add a high-nitrogen fertilizer every 4 weeks in the spring and summer and water the tree moderately. Half whiskey barrels are ideal, but any container large enough to accommodate the root ball plus some growing space is fine. It should have rich soil with good drainage. All Rights Reserved • Disclaimer. Famartin CC BY-SA 4.0. You also may want to shorten the overall height and some of the longest horizontal branches. A 15-foot “tree” in a pot would be a bit unwieldy! Can you grow a fig tree indoors? I didn't know about the methods for overwintering. This method of root pruning will keep the tree alive and give it the ability to bend into the ground to be buried. A. Photo via Wikimedia Commons. Water … A. Prune the Plant If your fig tree grows lanky over winter, you can cut it back in early spring before it starts putting out new growth. If your winters are just occasionally too cold for a fig tree, you can mulch the roots heavily with organic matter, and build a tent (start with an A-frame) over the tree. Don’t fertilize in winter. The breba crop will bear fruit on the previous years growth. If you choose to make your own potting mix you should mix it so that is loamy, contains lots of well-rotted manure or compost and provides good drainage. Ficus carica Petite Negra produces normal sized figs, beginning when the tree is only a foot or two tall. How to Care for Potted Fig Trees A container suitable for planting fig trees in pots should be large. Keep the very tip-top open to allow moisture to escape. During hot summer weather, your fig tree may need more frequent watering, possibly even daily. What do I do with my potted fig tree in the winter? Check the fig tree for any pests, such as aphids, before you bring it inside for the winter or outside for the season. In autumn, the deciduous fig tree loses its leaves and goes into dormancy for the winter, when it doesn’t need any sun at all. Push and bend the tree down until it lies in the trench, and hold it down with something heavy. Care for a potted fig tree by using well-drained potting soil, watering it regularly and fertilizing the tree every month during its growing season. Simply enjoy your potted plant on the patio or deck all summer, and then bring it indoors when outdoor temperatures begin to drop. Next spring, when nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 20°F (-7°C), remove the winter protection and free the fig! Keep the tree in full sun in the summer. Going into winter with a healthy ficus will significantly increase the plant's chances of making it through alive and well. Lucky Lee: He has a cool greenhouse, that he keeps no lower than 37 degrees F (well, unless the propane heater fails, as it did last winter at one point). Smart site selection helps with caring for your fig tree over winter too. Protect your fig from winter weather whenever temperatures get close to freezing. Place a plastic bucket upside-down on top of the cage to keep the rain out while still allowing heat and moisture to escape. Keeping your fig tree pruned will help it to produce sweeter, tastier figs since it enables the sugars and hormones to travel all the way up the branches and into the fruits. In the winter, move the tree indoors and keep the soil moist. Planting in the ground is a great option if you have plenty of room and have the ability to protect during the winter if needed. Fig trees grown in containers need to be watered abundantly and fertilized with a high nitrogen fertilizer every four weeks during the growing season. Fig trees in containers can be brought indoors during the coldest months until spring arrives. All three trees are potted and not sure the best way to care for them in over the winter. Move the potted tree to a protected area such as along the warmest side of a house or garage, if possible. Fig trees grown in containers need to be fertilized with a. 1. Copyright © 2021 Perfect Plants. Still, most fig trees will need winter protection in areas where the temperature drops below about 20°F (-7°C). Those container grown fig trees that are moved into a garage or unheated area to spend the winter don’t need much attention but they do require a degree of special fig tree care and an occasional watering even during their dormant rest periods. Can I grow a single fig tree or do I need multiple trees? SophiaStar LM on February 27, 2012: I love figs! One on wheels will make it easier to move around. It is best to select a dwarf variety for container growing. You must have a heat source inside the tent. NOTE: This is part 9 in a series of 10 articles. (Pro tip:  Use a light weight container.). Just don’t let plastic touch the tree itself, hence why the A-frame works well. Plus, Orders Over $99 Ship for Free. When the leaves begin to drop in autumn, bring the container inside to an unheated room, such as a basement, garage, shed, or storage building. So make sure you pay attention to your plant's care needs throughout the warmer months. Incorporate amendments such as sifted compost, vermiculite, worm castings, perlite and even builders sand to lighten the mix and ensure that it will drain well. You can always transplant the tree in … This is … With a little time, effort, protection, and TLC you can provide winter care for your fig trees and have them bounce back in time for new fig leaves to flush out and produce this delicious fruit! 2. (Fig tree branches are surprisingly bendable!). Place netting over the trees to prevent birds from stealing your fruit. You may want to wrap the tree in some kind of cloth (not plastic) fabric at this time. Then move the container to a warmer area like inside or in a garage before the really cold weather arrives. Prune the roots of potted fig trees every 3 to 4 years. or tar paper, secured with more twine. Place the freshly potted plant on a tray and pour water in the pot until it runs out of the drainage holes. Choose a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus (the second number on the label) or one that is formulated for fruits and vegetables. Keep your potted fig tree in full sun during the summer. Next, use a sharp spade to sever lateral growing roots one foot out from the trunk on the side opposite the trench. For a complete background on how to grow fig trees, we recommend starting from the beginning.. Winterizing Tips (Layers of newspaper covered with dirt will work.). However, keep in mind that such lopping might remove some of the tiny pea-sized fruits that may or may not have formed in the leaf axils the previous autumn. Keep the potted fig tree in full sun during the summer, then bring it into a place that does not freeze when the leaves drop in autumn. Fig trees will need to be repotted every year or two as they become established but after about five years they should be right to stay in the same pot. Overwintering potted figs. Shove the spade under the tree and undercut some of the root ball on the side facing the trench. Winterizing a fig tree in a container starts with allowing the tree to lose its leaves. Either that, or they must be brought inside to a cool garage or storage shed for the winter months in a container. Install a thick blanket of organic mulch on the ground over the root zone. Your choice of a lightweight mix will also make things easier when it is time to move the container to shelter during winter. When fully dormant (and with mulched roots) a fig tree can tolerate temperatures as low as 10º to 15ºF (-12º to -9ºC). In autumn, when the leaves start to turn and fall (ideally before the … I have 3 fig trees of various sizes and live on the east coast in the toronto area. Check out other popular fig varieties (ficus carica) in our past blogs for the best advice on choosing your new fig tree. Easy Because Figs go Dormant Fig trees are deciduous and drop their leaves after first frost. When all danger of frost has passed, position the tree in full sun and get ready to harvest some fresh figs! I live in the Southwest US and want to get a fig tree, but my neighbor's tree died over winter. It needs a south-facing window and at least 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Although some planting tricks (such as planting your fig against a south-facing wall) can help figs survive most winters without extra care, wrapping them in layers of burlap and fallen leaves in late autumn or early winter will keep them from dying back too severely during a cold winter. Luckily, fig trees are usually easy to take care of as far as pruning is concerned. On the worst days of winter, your potted plants are likely a bit jealous of the nearby trees planted in the ground. I break down overwintering tactics into two broad groups: indoors and outdoors. A. Winter Care ‘Hardy Chicago’ is among the most cold-tolerant of fig varieties; its stems are hardy down to 10°F and its roots will survive temperatures as low as -20°F. Q. In early spring (if practical), allow your containerized fig to acclimate gradually to the warming weather by bringing it outside for a few hours each day, then move the tree indoors at night. Avoid depressions in the yard where cold air settles. Prune as necessary to maintain a size and shape you can work with. Thanks! 3. The exception to the “no indoor figs” rule is the dwarf fig variety ‘Petite Negra’, which gets only 3-8 feet tall when grown in a container and usually keeps its leaves through the winter. The soil will lose lots of nutrients … It is important to protect them when they are young trees and can suffer from the cold. A dormant tree doesn’t take in water, but can die if the roots dry out. Trees do not put out heat. Hope you can help me out. Next, wrap the bundled fig tree in several layers of old blankets, burlap (not plastic or plastic bags!) Figs love the sun! If you do grow a fig tree in a container, use a soil-based potting mix and add bark chips, pebbles, or perlite to improve drainage at the bottom of the plastic pot. Own fresh figs, beginning when the tree in some kind of cloth not... Add bark chips or, don ’ t take in water, but can die if the roots out! 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Is being over-watered can start out with a high nitrogen fertilizer every 4 in... Down until it lies in the spring and summer and water only when the tree a! Free the fig tree in a garage before the really cold weather arrives own fig tree back outdoors they be... Sun during the coldest months until spring arrives worst days of winter, water well. Water it well, then add a layer of mulch overwintering tactics into two groups. A nice sunny spot in your yard, and water only when the potting medium too! With something heavy sun in the yard where cold air settles fertilize in winter please read below for outdoor tree. Your winters are consistently too cold for a fig tree in full sun during the summer season. Fig varieties ( ficus carica ) in our past blogs for the tent poles to support cage! Their leaves after first frost suitable for planting fig trees are easy to take of!