Fig Trees

About

Growing Fig Trees in the Garden Fig trees prefer a sunny spot in your yard. They can tolerate partial sun but need as much sun as they can get to produce the most fruit. A minimum of 7 to 8 hours of sun exposure is recommended for fig trees. If your space is limited, fig trees can be planted in containers. If you decide to grow your figs in containers, they will need to be potted up every other year or so, so plan accordingly. Planting a Fig Tree After you've chosen the best spot for your Fig tree, there are a few easy to follow steps for planting your tree. Fig trees can be planted at most any time of the year as long as the soil can be worked. Step 1: Water the tree thoroughly while it is in the pot. Water until you see the water running out of the bottom of the pot. If you are planting bare-root fig trees, it is recommended to allow the roots to sit in a bucket of water for 1 to 2 hours to allow the roots to rehydrate. Step 2: Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot the tree is growing in. The depth of the hole should be as deep as the root ball, but not deeper. After the tree is planted, you should still be able to see the original nursery soil. Planting the tree too deep is the leading cause of poor growth and death of newly planted fig trees. Step 3: If your existing soil is of poor quality, you should amend the soil with local compost or peat moss at a 50/50 rate. This is also the time to mix in an organic starter fertilizer such as Bio-tone by Espoma . Step 4: Place the Fig tree in the prepared hole, being careful not to overly disturb the roots. It is ok to fluff the roots if the tree is rootbound lightly. This will cause the tree roots to begin to grow out and down rather than circle the root ball. Step 5: Begin back-filling with the amended soil in 3 to 4-inch layers being careful to tamp the soil between layers. This will remove air pockets and voids created by larger chunks of soil. Be cautious not to damage the existing roots of the tree during this proces