Figs often get a bad wrap. It must be a combination of fig newtons (yuck) and the fact that most people have never tasted a fresh fig. Trust me fig newtons don’t hold a candle to a tree ripened fig!
Fig trees will grow in the southern half of the country without much winter care, but if you are in the northern portion of the country they will require a little extra work. Young fig trees can be planted in the ground without much protection in USDA hardiness zones 7-10. If you are in the Northeast like us then your young trees will need winter protection.
More on how to keep your figs from dying back to the ground check out this video!
If you are in the Northeast like me you have 2 options. Plant your fig in a pot placing it in a sunny location all summer and overwinter it in a garage or basement. Your second option would be to find the sheltered southern facing side of your house or building and plant it there. Planted outside in most Northeast conditions your fig will need to be wrapped and protected to survive typical winter conditions.
Planting figs on the southern side of your home will allow the buildings foundation to act as a heat sink on sunny days. Heat will be absorbed into the cinderblock foundation and slowly be released to keep your fig protected from early and late frosts. This same heat island effect will shelter your fig from large temperature swings during winter. Planted near your southern facing foundation a fig will overwinter easier than out in an open field.
Be careful with underground pipes as fig roots can grow over 100 feet long searching for water and nutrient. For more on avoiding problems with fig roots check out this video.
Most figs need approximately 90-100 days to ripen fruit so keep that in mind when selecting your growing method. If you don’t have that many frost free days figs might not be in your future.
Figs are a relatively trouble free tree in the Northeast. Sure the winter protection thing is a drag but perfectly ripened fig just aren’t found in the supermarket. If you want figs you have no choice but to grow your own!