Figs are one of the earliest recorded grown fruits, with several biblical references to their cultivation. Not only that but planting fig tree in your garden gives a look that is simply unachievable with any other tree: a look of honor, of tradition. In this article we aim to show you the dos and don’t’ when planting a fig tree, to hopefully make your growing experience more fruitful!

Selecting your Fig Tree

Fig trees come in all different shapes and sizes. Before choosing a fig for your garden, consider if it is compatible with the other elements of your garden design, and are you likely to have plentiful resources from which it can draw and grow?

Additionally, you should consider the cost of the tree, and balance this up with quality. A great source of fig trees and invaluable information is your local garden center, stocked to the brim with experts on gardening through years of first-hand experience. Ask the employees anything: you may be surprised at how willing they are to enter into discussion, particularly when it comes to planting a fig tree or choosing a healthy tree for your garden.

One way to get around this problem altogether is to grow the tree from a cutting. Cuttings are advantageous because they have no roots initially and can so be simply planted into the ground. However, this opens your tree up to the dangers of early growth and is by no means a guarantee of success.

Planting and Growing Your Fig Tree

Fig trees where once considered heirlooms, and passed through many generations for their fruit-bearing properties. It is important when growing a fig that you dedicate time and patience towards it, to produce the best results in terms of appearance, color, and fruit. Trust me, after successfully growing your own, you will notice a real difference in taste.

The first thing you have to bear in mind when planting a fig tree, or when planting a cutting, is that fig trees need sunlight. A warmer, sunny location will help to ripen the fruit in its later stages and simply produce the best results for your tree. Having said that, in hotter climates, the tree does appreciate some shade in the afternoon to keep the worst of the baking heat at bay.

It is also an important consideration that, whilst not invasive, fig-trees eventually require a strong root system, so it is important to ensure planting well below the ground to avoid roots showing and potentially causing structural damage. Make sure you give the tree plenty of space and allow it to take its natural progression. It is also imperative to ensure the roots do not freeze during harsher climes, as this will kill the tree, so the element of winter protection is also something worthy of considering.

When planting a fig tree, there are many considerations that need to be balanced, and many factors that can ultimately go wrong. If you care for your tree religiously and ensure it is given the optimum conditions within which to grow, you will see an eventual outcome that will reflect your efforts. It is fun, but hard work.

A fig tree can be very demanding, and if you have any plants in the proximity, this may cause the problems associated with the natural competition. When planting a fig tree, there are lots to think about, but it really is worth it in the end.