Planting a Fig Tree 101

Learning how to grow figs is pretty easy...but what if the tree won't grow in your zone? Enter the Chicago Hardy Fig, a productive and easy to grow variety that bears delicious figs all the way down to Zone 5.

Let's learn how to grow figs, starting with planting this tree out on my friend Shane's property, which you may see more of in future videos.

IN THIS VIDEO

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[simpleperrydiselife]

I planted two Chicago figs this year. They did great all summer long. I'm in zone 5, I cant wait for next year to see if they survive the winter.
Thanks for sharing.
Awsome video and great tips as well.
❤🙏

[annas]

My Brown Turkey fig tree in our north coastal San Diego County back yard does not have any detectable shallow surface roots. It’s close to 20 years old and was planted in a built up berm in the center of a full sun area that was formerly lawn. I only get one edible crop of fruit a year, but after the first couple years of small crops, we now can count on about a month+ of abundant delicious ripe fruit beginning either the last week of July or the first week of August, depending on the summer heat level. During the second and third week of harvesting, I can usually fill a huge colander bowl with fruit every other day.

Only one year about ten years ago we did not have any edible fruit. We are located about 3-4 miles from the coast and it was unusually overcast and cool until the very end of July that summer. The tree did not receive enough full sun or warmth so the fruit did not swell and develop color until September-October. However, though the fruit eventually looked ripe, it never fully ripened, didn’t soften up, and lacked sweetness.

My tree requires almost no care, other than pruning after the last of the leaves drop in winter. If I procrastinate and miss the chance to prune after the final leave drop and before the new branch growth begins, I just skip pruning. I’ve tried various methods of pruning from conservative to severe and it doesn’t seem to affect the quality or quantity of the fruit crop. New branches grow no matter what I do or don’t do, and the fruit develops on the new growth. The main advantage of pruning seems to be keeping the tree from growing too tall and too wide, so I prune in a way to make it easy to reach and pick the fruit without needing a ladder or a picking device.

In fact, due to an unrelated complication of life that took all my attention away from the garden, my tree has not received ANY additional irrigation for the last 4 years or pruning, and we do not receive any rain from mid-spring through late fall/early winter. Yet the fig crops have been as good as ever, so the tree must have grown some good deep roots in the early years.

On the other hand, we used to have a huge beautiful ornamental Ficus tree in another area of our back yard garden and it had many large surface roots that made mowing the lawn a chore. While that evergreen ornamental ficus tree was related to the edible fruit tree, and is sometimes casually called a “fig” tree, the trees are quite different. Ficus fig fruits are tiny and dry and not at all edible for humans. I would never have an ornamental ficus tree in an outdoor garden again because unless the tree is kept small and intensely managed/contained, the surface roots of growing trees can heave concrete sidewalks, driveways, and foundations, and the roots can even invade waste lines.

[Athabina]

If you're in San Diego you can grow almost any kind of fig; try Black Madeira, White Madeira and Yellow Long Neck for some great varieties. I am trying to grow these in Victoria, BC

[atmosphericraven]

I love your channel. I live in San Diego and just started growing fig trees. I like how you mentioned City Farmers nursery, I've been going there for years (RIP farmer Bill). I even have a white sapote tree that grows good sized sapotes.

[Acts-]

Love it! Can't wait for my first figs, Midwest zone 6

[terinaerb]

How is the fig tree doing now? How big is it? Any new advice?

[ParagonRidgeRanch]

Hi! I came across you while searching how and where to plant my fig tree saplings. Great Video, Im glad I found your channel. Nice To Meet You!

[wild-radio]

"One Green World" nursery has HUNDREDS of Fig varieties ❤
Here in Oregon we are Blessed to have "One Green World" nursery.
They have loads of rare trees like figs, pomegranates and citrus AND an annual garage sale, where we got like 1000$ worth of plants for 70$ !!❤❤❤ i just love garden people!!😊

[tonyaalexander]

Thanks for the video and the tip to not cover the stems or base of the tree with mulch and to do a donut mulch.👍🏽 I didn't think covering the base with mulch would lead to rotting. 🙄 I thought it was a good thing. I'll be pulling mulch from around the base of my fruit trees tomorrow. Thank again! 😉

[Deb_alwaysgrowing]

Can’t wait to see how your fig tree grows! And YES, more permaculture videos and podcasts please!!

[DavidGaines]

Thank you for consistently putting out such great content. I have been following your channel for quite a while and have been inspired to create my own content and garden with a personal twist. Keep up the great work

[sirene]

Watching this on my new tablet. The video is so vivid, it made me pull my face away from the screen when you were mulching the tree and all the dust blew towards the camera! Love your videos. Thanks for sharing!

[lisakukla]

Yes, more permaculture, please. I'd really like to see ideas on how to incorporate permaculture principles in a typical backyard but keeping it tidy looking.

[zskywalker]

I 2 am so stoked to see more of tree planting as this land is short on.shad

[malakabdelrazig]

Thank you that was helpful to plant my first Fig tree at zone 7. Wish me luck.

[meganfoshee]

So cool! I'm down da bayou in zone 9 and just got my first celeste fig tree from our local nursery! This variety grows well in our area. It's a 3ft tall stick right now and they said it'd be two years before it produces but when it does - watch out! haha Can't wait! Thanks for the great videos!

[gabrielleheard]

When I planted my fig tree, I dug out a square hole 2 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet deep, lined it with paving slaps to restrict the root growth... I had read that this will promote fruiting. It has been in the ground for about 6 years, and last year was the first time I had some good figs, probably due to some hot sunshine, unusual for England!

[memejeff]

I love figs, never knew that it was possible to grow in a cooler climate. I have to try this, thank you for the tips.

[jujubeknott]

Fiig leaves tea smell good and tase good. it good to your health, too. Reserve all the leaves .

[epicgardening]

Big thanks to PlantingTree.com for providing the Chicago Hardy Fig. Code EPIC75 gets you $10 off $75 at their store!