Written by Charlotte West
When thinking about a new fruit, try the trusty fig tree. Fig trees grow fairly quickly, from 15-30 feet tall, and they’re quite hardy. An added bonus is that they provide very dense shade, and with their tropical-looking foliage, they make top-notch ornamental trees as well.
As they age, the heavy, smooth, grey trunks can take on a gnarled form, creating the picturesque silhouette you may have seen on old homesteads. In zones where constant hard freezes occur, you can easily plant a fig in a large container, and it will still grow to around ten feet tall. Usually, in our zone, if your fig freezes, it will come back from root; so, if you like, you can treat it like a large shrub. Figs planted near a south wall will benefit from the heat. There are endless possibilities of how to train your fig tree to look.
What about soil? Most figs are not particular about soil type. Just make sure to provide good drainage for it. As it matures, make sure to trim back the dead wood each year, and cut out crossing and low-hanging branches so that sunlight can properly reach the entire tree. If you have runaway shoots, make sure to pinch them back.
Most figs can bear fruit twice a year, once in early summer and again in late fall. When they are ripe, you will know, because the fruits detach easily when barely lifted and bent back toward the branch. Keep the fruits picked as they ripen, and pick up any fallen fruit to avoid pests.
Varieties differ from zone to zone, so check with your local nursery or greenhouse to see what variety does well in your area. A few of my favorites are the Brown Turkey and Mission figs.
Your biggest challenge may be keeping the birds away, and gophers love fig roots. If you tend to have problems with burrowing animals on your property, you may want to plant your fig trees in ample wire baskets. But it’s all worth it to enjoy the fabulous fruit known as the fig.
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