My wife comes from sicily, her brother gave me a fig tree in a pot about 30 years ago they call it figo tarta, something like a brown turkey fig, it was planted outside and withstood many winters here in England, it would give us figs year after year, no pruning no fertilizers, no cutting back, grew to full size about 15 foot high, took many cuttings from it, gave to other family members and friends, still taking cuttings from them, easy peasy. very helpful vid as we are now growing in large tubs.
Hiya, Ross! Thank you for all the tips! ❤ No wonder I’ve been growing the same figs for four years now and never got any fruits till this year! 😂 Its mid July now here in WA zone 8b, but I’m hopeful that the fruits will ripen between now and October. The softness of the neck was SUPER helpful, as I do have a couple fairly large figs that I’ve been “squeezing the body” of to test for ripeness. 😂 SO glad I came across these tips today!!!
I have a gigantic fig tree near the brook where I live rmany years now. It is flourishing with green large figs, very large leaveand3 storeys high ,leaves fall in Winter but the figs never ripen greeand have Winter but the figs n
I live in zone 6 and I cut my figs to 1 foot above ground and cover completely with mulch. They come back strong every year and produce tons of figs. I only get the main crop though. But, I get loads of them. It did take a couple years for them to get big enough roots to ripen the figs. I do also thin them out to 6 to 8 branches and grow bushes instead of trees. I think the key is establishing a big root system. I also think building a mound around the figs and keep adding to it also helps expand the root system over time.
My brown turkey fig is struggling. Grow😅ing it in a pot im in zone 7b NY. I keep it indoors during winter and take outside for spring and summer. Yup, you nailed it. When I brought the tree outside in late April the new branches got frostbite since NY had those 50s 40s temps at night but was in 70s 80sna few times. Plus the leaves got sunburn and fell off.
Very informative have a chiago hardy in the ground in massachusetts. Using construction grade Styrofoam framed 4x8 also wrap in burlap then so ac insulation. Hormonal tips did well. This is my third yr 1 fig had die back first winter as did not use box just wrapped. Some branches 5ft will see thanks for the tips.
Hello, recently started watching this channel a lot, since I'm trying to grow a fig tree as a potted plant on my balchony in Denmark, zone 8a I think. Balcony is turned East/South East, I basically have direct sun from sunrise to around 1 pm. which is decent in the summer. I got my little fig tree back in November 2023 and had it inside because we get cold, dark winters here. Think it woke up from a slumber and suddenly started growing a lot. In the middle of March, after frost was unlikely to come back, I "repotted" the tree into a big barrel and moved it outside. IBarrel 46 cm in diameter and 32 cm deep. Bigger than the 2 gallon pots you showed. Pretty big I guess for a tree that I assume is 1 year old? When repotting my fig was not entirely root bound, but knowing less than I do now, I didn't loosen any of the roots that looped around the root clump. Had some pests by that point as well that I tried to get rid of by spraying the tree with a thin diluted alcohol/soap/water blend. Pests are mostly gone, but I think I damaged the trees leaves in the process. Some of them has colorless, crispy spots that break and crumble. As it is, the tree still has mostly green leaves, albeit with brown/white spots from the pests and my failed attempt at battling them. Leaved are not particuarly large though and there are not many of them either. The branches are long and thin and I'm afraid it's because it didn't get enough light during the winter when it woke up. We only have about 5 hours of daylight in december... I'm not too worried about the fruits for now, I just want the tree/bush to be healthy and know it's going to be okay, or if I'm kiling it with misplaced love and rookie mistakes. Sorry about the rant. Anyone with good advice, feel free to reply.
I’m just learning as well but compost leaves grass food scraps. I actually have pots beside some of my plants compost in place. Or if they are in ground chop and drop.😁I follow a few ppl that I’ve learned so much from.
He is absolutely right about the effect of too much rain on figs. I have some fig trees brought from Greece. They create delicious figs but if it rains too much in the UK they become a lot less tasty. The best way to describe it is their flavour is diluted right down. And they spoil faster because their skins crack as they are engorged with water And you cannot leave them on the tree in that state because the wasps and fungus will get them. So you're forced to cut them early when engorged with water.
Hey Ross, great informative video. I have a fig tree that my wife and her mom got me years ago. It was about two or 3 feet high when we first planted it. Was told that these fig trees should grow on the east side of the home where the sun rises. So it’s been on that side of the house. The first year at fruited it was very productive. Then One year we had very cold weather, below zero and it died after growing almost 6 to 8 feet. But then the few years following it grew crazy. And every year we have several hundred to 1000 or more Figs. You mention to protect them in the winter if you can… What if they are 10 feet or taller? How do you protect them then? It’s now getting in to fall, there are maybe 20 or so. Figs left that haven’t changed or ripened. And there are quite a few branches close to the ground that I wanted to prune back so that the fig tree grows upward instead of outward. The other question I had was, should I prune these or just let them grow? And thanks again for the great video…
Hi Ross, these tips are really good. I ran into some of these issues myself, such as keeping them indoors over the winter, and then having to deal with spider mites for the first time. Indoors, the figs were dormant for ~2mths, which led to another issue, the sunburn. I ended up dealing with that (after sunburning them the first time) by putting up a solar canopy, which actually works pretty well. I think the sunburn really comes from the UV light, not the amount of light, because indoors, there is no UV light, while even on a cold day, the UV light outdoors can already cause sunburn. I do have a question, which I'm not sure is a mistake or what. I have some "Black Madeira KK" (I was told when I bought them), and they actually budded fruit actually pretty well after 1-2 years. However, after sitting on the tree for a month or so, the figs just start to shrivel up / yellow and fall off, or they shrivel up and start to turn purple and fall off. The same appears to be happening with some Col de dame noir figs, which they sit there green for a month, and then like clockwork, start to yellow and get aborted. Is this due to the figs not being the common variety, and thus they won't ripen? Or is there some other issue going on? This is the 2nd year this is happening, where not a single one has ripened out of 6+ that may fruit on a tree. I'm trying to determine whether to give up on those fig plants if they can't ripen the fruit. Meanwhile, I do have some other figs that do ripen, like smith. Thanks!
My figs did that same thing after i did her trimming because of a bad bugs infestation and she was too weak, turned out she needed nutrients and water. I did both and she is giving me literally giant figs now really quick 🙏🏼hope this helps you
Thank you for this video! I’m also in the Philly area and I was gifted a fig tree last year. This year is the first fruits that have appeared! I’m excited about it! Not to sure of the type of fig though.
Idk what the big deal with care is. I have a fig tree that is severely neglected, we actually tried to kill it. Chopped it to the stump at ground level. The tree doesn't die. We gave up. It is still giving figs, despite the neglect it receives. Perhaps because it's a well established tree my grandparents put in.... the problem is its in the worst spot ever. These trees get huge, even after chopping it down to the ground, it gets to canopy size in 5 years. We don't water it, we don't fertilize it, we don't do anything to it. Now I feel bad saying all this out loud 😂
Your work is great and appreciated, I am dumbfounded because my fig tree has a lot of figs and they are not ripening they've been green for weeks it's strange.
I have a Celeste Fig tree in the ground this winter here in South Carolina in the Low Country along the cost got hit with that cold weather 12 deg at night for 5 days the main tree died and the tree came back from the roots. I just water the tree and it is producing fig that is so cool. Thanks Ross for all the great videos helped me out a ton....
Hi Ross! I'm so glad I found your channel. I live in Gerogia Zone 8b (formerly 8a). I have a couple of fig trees in 5 gallon containers that I'm currently over wintering in my shed (with a window). The temperature doesn't stay below 45 degrees for long because I'm also overwintering other plants, and sometimes, I use a heater to keep temperature up. If I understand you correctly, I can store them in the containers unprotected unless the temperature gets below 15 degrees. Is that correct? Also, at what temperature does a fig tree die back to the ground? I don't want them to have to start growing all over again. Also, I was gifted some fig cuttings on veterans day and they're beginning to develop leaves. Do you have a video on growing cuttings and up potting them? I currently have them in solo cups and would like to figure out the next size container I should move them to. Thank you kindly.
Hello! That is correct about the potted figs. Ideally they are kept between 15-50 all winter. Otherwise they'll wake up prematurely. Check out this article in regards to the in ground trees: www.figboss.com/post/fig-tree-hardy
We are in west central Alabama, Zone 8b. Our trees are planted in the ground. In 2023, we had breba figs on the trees in February and got a very late deep freeze in April that killed every tree back to the roots. In 2024, we had another cold wave that took them all the way back.
I put my figs in pots in my garage. I feed it water once a month. It wakes up and they are beautiful n full of fruit. My garage is heated and air conditioned. It gets sun from the windows in my door.
Hi Ross, I have a very big fig tree, and last year and every year we get a wonderful harvest. This year at the beginning of the fruiting season the tree dropped many small black figs. when I asked around I was told I was over watering, yet you say they require a lot of water. I am confused. Right now I water twice a week for 15 minutes with a very slow stream. Please advise
I have a Chicago Hardy Fig. I've had it for 2 years and it's in a 25G pot on my patio with full sun. I never pruned it so it's bushy. I am not getting fruit at all just leafs. Based on this video should I tree form it? Or just open it up and keep the bush form? Ty
Me gustaría saber cómo haces para que las plantas de higuera no crezcan demasiado. Especialmente las plantas que están en contenedores. Gracias por la respuesta. Saludos desde Extremadura España
Procura videos de un Peruano que radica en Japón, ahí verás como los japoneses crecen sus huertas de higo,digamos que más o menos usan el método de la vid,tal como las parras( plantas de uva).Te va a interesar 😉
Not sure I understood your point about avoiding summer pruning as this could unbalance the metabolism of the tree and delay or prevent fruit buds. In another fig growing in containers video the advice was to pinch out the apical bud on July 1st as this would promote fruit bud formation down the main stem, creating the figs that would ripen, hopefully by the end of the summer season before any frosts. Should I NOT do this? If so, what should I do to promote embryo bud formation if my trees are showing no sign of this? Thanks if you can advise, or anybody else here!
I'm not sure where the confusion is. Did I advise against summer pruning? That would be my mistake. One of the mistakes in this video is growers make excessive winter pruning leading to hormonal imbalances. Not summer pruning.
@@RossRaddi I might have misheard that part, but I thought you were suggesting it was a mistake to pinch out the growing point unless there was clearly an embryo fruit bud as well as a bud for a new shoot. My trees are all just new this year (except for three established ones of traditional varieties) and I am therefore very keen not to do the wrong thing and prevent them from producing their first fruit. I will take care not to over prune in winter. Thanks.
Thank you so much for this video. I have 4 fig trees, and I had them for about five years. Every year they produce a lot of figs, but they do not ripe at all. What is the solution ? I live in a dry desert in Arizona with very hot summer and very cold winter. Thank you
For some reason it doesn’t let me to send you photos. But I did it by cutting from a very good fig tree from my own area. They don’t fall off, there stay hard and rocky till the end and sometimes they become like cotton ball at the end. But never ripe.
Ross what I did insulate for the fig for the winter use the pipe insulate the bottom branches and the use fence hard wire circle around the tree Fill in with leaves stamp the leave tight also did this year for ripening fig I use mirror on fruit tree base r to reflect the sun back to tree also open center this year all my figs are ripping before winter didn’t do that last year all green fig plus 24:58 didnt stamp tight leaves it did die down to 3-4 inches zone 6b
Hello!!! I am near Canton Ohio in zone 5. I have potted figs. I let them get frosted on so that they defoliate and go dormant. I put them in my basement garage that stays in the upper 30s all winter. I also keep a compact florescent light on 24/7 while in the basement garage (because I also keep my citrus there too). They typically break into green buds in late March to early April. I have Chicago hearty, Letesia, Brown Turkey, Black Mission, Olympia, and Ischia. Can you recommend varieties that produce early and heavy? I would like to experiment with some of these. Thank you!
I have 2 fig trees in a pot. I’ve had them over three years.❤ this is the first year that I had figs growing. I’m wondering How long does it take before they turn purple which means they’re ready to eat. I also put my two plants in front of a sunny window when I return them back for the winter
Do you recommend planting figs in the ground out in the open with stakes or against house or buildings? Should they be planted on the southeast side of house for zone 7b Oklahoma?
This is so interesting to me, a light sparked and I want to grow figs. I love figs, I definitely had no idea. There was so many varieties. I live in Las Vegas Nevada and I’m considering growing a tree but I don’t even have any idea what type of fig to grow, one thing for sure it is so hot here literally everything dies so this would definitely be a challenge. I’d love your suggestion on what type to grow. Thank you so much.
Hi Ross! I live in zone 10 and noticed a fig tree(s) growing under my mature bougainvillea last year. It has not fruited. It has not been cut back. There is a lot of foliage so there may be multiple plants. I am planning to relocate it during the winter when it goes dormant. Do you have any tips for me?
I also live in zone 5 and I have them in big planters ( I have two ). I bring them in the house before the first frost and take them outside in late spring when the temperature stays in the mid fifties at night. I should add that we trim the trees in the fall to help them stay healthy and more productive. When they are inside the house during winter they are kept under grow lights.
Hi Ross, I live in South Africa. I planted an apple tree two years ago. Last year a fig tree and a lemon tree started growing right next to the fig tree. What should I do ? Would like to leave them like that but might cause problems in the future. Any suggestions?
Hi Ross, I have a mature fig tree that was planted about 4’ away from my house. Will the roots of the tree damage the foundation? I live in zone 7 in New Jersey. The tree bears a lot of fruits every year, do I need to remove the the tree all together? I am miserable for the mistake I made by planting the tree too close to my house!
Hi, I bought a Desert Fig that came from the local OSH with fruit on it. I planted in a wine barrel. Those figs ripened nicely. Next season, unsuccessful. I live in a beach climate and don't get hot temperatures except perhaps for one week. Now leaves are falling in early October. There is fruit on the tree, but i don't expect them to ripen, as the tree seems to be going dormant. The last month had been especially cool. (Not freezing, but little sun) what can I do? Is it hopeless to grow a desert fig at the beach? I will fertilize as you suggest. Not sure if my gardener was doing this. I've taken over, as I have more time now.
Hi Ross great video video going to watch it over and take notes for my log one question I live in North Jersey what would be a good variety of fig I have a Chicago hardy fig tree now like to have a different variety. Can you make a suggestion?
Question, with a very dense planting, about 2-3 ft spacing between trees, how do you open up the center of the tree without crossing branches with adjacent trees?
Love your vids very informative. I'm in middle Tennessee I have a few cuttings I'm growing out now black mission, brown turkey, kadota, sal El, I'm just wondering any others you recommend for hot humid areas. Thanks and I'm subscribed
Ross. I follow you carefully. Two things I need help with. How to and when to up pot. I tried moving some this spring early and lost several of my two year old plants. When to prune. Spring or fall??? Thanks
Hi Ross, I’m in Bucks County,Pa. I have been grow figs in pots four about 15 years with pretty good success. My next door neighbor has a fig bush planted in the ground that he does nothing to, winter or summer and gets hundreds of figs. I took a shoot from his bush last year that had lots of roots and planted it in large raised bed. Other than wrapping it for winter, is their anything extra I have to do because of raised 12 “ bed? It’s about 33” tall with four branches and I picked 18 figs this year. Don’t know variety. Thank you, I enjoy your videos.
Hi Ross! Regarding overwintering, we have winter temps that go down to - 20 celcius, a garage that goes down to +1 celcius and a glassed in porch that is bright but gets just slightly less cold than the outdoors. Which option would likely work the best? Thanks for a great video!
I've had a Celeste and a Turkey fig planted outside for 8 years now....never fruited much. They grow bushy...about 10' tall. Each spring we've taken down the dead brown old canes to make room for new growth, which becomes dense. What are we doing wrong? I assume, after watching your video, we need to make sure they're not so dense in the middle. I haven't taken down the old canes yet....waiting for your answer!
So where are we supposed to store them overwinter if not the basement? My garage would probably get too cold and likely fluctuate too much in temps too and I don't have a greenhouse that'd be warm enough either. My basement can drop to under 10c during the coldest parts of the winter and that's probably not ideal for fig growth either so I'm not really sure where you'd recommend storing them. My current plan is to put them in the basement with growlights and just hope that 4ish to 14ish c would be a fine temp range for figs, possibly I'd bring them in after they've had a couple months of dormancy? Or would it be better to extend the season for them by bringing them indoors and then putting them out in late winter when it's consistently above -10c? Or just bring them in as an evergreen tree and skip the dormancy all together? Last year my fig was still really small so I brought it upstairs during the coldest parts of winter and it seemed to really like that but this year it's going to be quite a bit larger so I'm not sure I could do that.
This article explains a lot of options and why you want to avoid the basement: www.figboss.com/post/winterizing-container-fig-trees-where-to-store-them-how-to-avoid-season-ending-setbacks
@@RossRaddi Thanks for replying but it still sounds like basement is the best option for me as long as I address consider the potential temp issue. Could watering them with cold water or putting ice on the soil be a decent hack to prolong their dormancy? My basement's pretty cold during the coldest parts of winter... at night it can drop down to just several degrees above freezing and possibly just a degree or two right next to the door where the figs would be. Actually it's possible it got cold enough last winter that my fig, mulberries and cherry-plum seedlings all briefly went dormant from it? The only other factor could have been severe under watering but that doesn't make any sense, right? They had a growlight for 8ish hours so it couldn't have been a lack of lighting either. I seriously thought I'd killed them when all their leaves just dried up and fell off (as expected from severe under watering) but a month later (or several months later in the case of the cherry-plum) they were all alive again with only a few not making it. The fig was immediately brought upstairs when I noticed the mulberries and cherry-plum losing leaves so before it had a chance to lose its leaves. Which I guess was probably a mistake since it likely needed a bit of dormancy and ultimately lost all of that year's leaves anyway before growing back newer ones shortly afterward.
My mission fig is 4 years old and now in August has dropped all its leaves. I have had a decent crop since year one and now I am just beside myself about what to do. It is very well established in the ground and the white wood is strong. Any ideas what the heck I did or didn't do, I will try anything to save my baby. I am in zone 9A Tucson AZ We had a super cold and long winter for us and now a much hotter than usual summer. Thanks
My container fig trees need to be pruned and repotted. They have basically been neglected due to my. health issues. Can you help me choose the best potting soil mix for repotting them until they can be replanted in my yard in the early spring. I live in zone 9. Thank you.
I planted a hardy fig four or five years ago and it wasn’t growing or doing anything at all. So last summer I took a blueberry fertilizer and mixed it with a rose fertilizer and tossed some around the fig and within a couple of weeks the tree started sprouting and growing branches, leaves, and fruit. The only mistake I made is fertilizing in mid summer so by the time the figs started popping up the temperature dropped and they stopped growing.
Question. My fig tree is still producing new baby figs. They wont have enough time to ripen. Should i pinch off the new ones so the plant concentrates on ripening the older ones? Or should i leave them and only pinch them off when dormant? Im new to figs. My trees loaded.
Hi. About 1 year ago I found a small plant growing in potting soil I bought and to my surprise it turned out to be a fig tree. Its growing nicely now but seeing that it wasn't grafted should I rather discard it and grow from a cutting? Please advise 😢
I'm in zone 6B (Central CT) and my containered Chicago Hardy has lots of not-full-size, unripe fruit but it's been in the mid 40s at night and will soon drop to high 30's (50's-60s during the day). Is there any way to speed up the ripening process or should I just sacrifice the unripe figs and get the container ready for winter storage in my garage?
I started a fig tree from a cutting, this is its first year, it is about 6 feet tall and looks like a big bush. Should I be removing the bottom leaves and limbs?
My fig has fruit on before the leaves. I could have sworn I’d removed all the fruit that was left on from last year. It’s only been planted in the ground for 2yrs and not had a decent crop, it’s only produced tiny fruit, which I’ve left on the tree. Should I remove those at the end of the fruiting season? Anyway, my main question is the fruit that seems to have come up before the leaves, what should I do with them? TIA for any advise you can give to me 😊
Good info, still wanting to plant my fig out of a 15 gallon container into the ground here in tropical Florida. Worried that the heat might be too much, so I want to plant it so it gets morning sun and then maybe some evening sun, but shaded during the heat of the day. Not much winter around here. It rains alot, so it's safer than keeping it in the pot.
Hi Ross, I’m in Minneapolis, a zone 4. Somehow, I’m successful in getting my 2021 small fig tree, the Chicago hardy, to 3 feet this summer and bearded 10 fruits. The first one was tasteless, the other other 9 all turned dark brown to black, and they tasted awesome! Now, my question is even inside my garage could have temp below 0 F when the polar vortex coming down. From what you described that I shouldn’t put it in the basement, but that’s the only option I have. What other options would you recommend in this case? After all, the plant needs some moist and can’t be let dry through the winter, right. Even the garage, not heated, would be below freezing, and the soil may freeze up, would that kill the roots and the plant too?
I have this same question. I have one turkey fig but would like to try some other varieties. He is saying - no basement. That is where mine is. In an unfinished basement near a window. I do put ice in the pot to water it periodically as if it were getting snow water. It survived the basement last year and thrived this summer. I did not have the problem of it budding early. I am 75 miles NW of Chicago on the Wisconsin border and we get cold here. Another fig friend told me he just puts his potted fig tree in the garage over winter. I did that last year with a Chicago fig and it died. Yes the pot froze, it's an unheated uninsulated metal butler building. So I'm perplexed. He didn't offer any solutions about where to move it to. ???
I bought a really root compacted Monrovia fignominal tree. It was very root bound and I opened it up and tried to tease the roots apart. I riped up some of the roots. Problem is I repotted it into a mix of mulch and mushroom compost soil I got from Lowe’s. Should I be worried about my new tree?
Thank you great video have two fig trees got from cuttings, but don't know what kind, can you help me. in the Shanindough Va area the trees did withstand 100 degree weather this summer. Also did report to larger containers this spring.
I'm new at taking care of the fig tree, I live in Texas zone 8a and I am growing my fig tree in a container and it's growing well. I was wondering when can I transfer my container fig tree to the ground?
I am in a constant drought in 100 - 118 degree heat in Southeast , Texas overwatering is basically impossible and when my fig plants produce the birds are always there before me on a ripe fig nd I mean every single time !
I bought 2 chicago hardy this past Spring and I live in Spring Grove PA. I don't have the ability to bring them inside the house for the winter. I do have a shed. I thought maybe I could wrap and insulate them very well and place them in the shed for the winter and water them once a month? 🤔 Also do you have any suggestions for other fig varieties for my area? Thankful to have found your channel
I live in NJ and planted a fig tree last year I covered it last fall. My question is what is the best way to keep the birds from eating the fruit? I used netting that was a pain to try to get the figs once they were ripe, can you suggest another method ?
Train your fig as a dwarf and keep it that way by pruning. When you net, make sure it goes down to the ground so that you can get in there to harvest. A more radical approach -especially costwise - would be to enclose your orchard area
I am in zone 7 and want to move my in-ground brown turkey fig to another sunnier spot in my yard. Is it too late? What fertilization does it need? Thank you!
I have an old fig tree growing in the backyard. Apparently at some point a shoot grew straight up the center and is now about 7 feet tall with a diameter of about 4 inches. Should I just leave my tree within the tree?
Hello Ross, new subscriber here and I'm very glad I found you. I'm in zone 7a (Arkansas) and have a large high tunnel (70ft long, 24 ft wide, 20ft high). In the center is a fig tree (I don't know the variety) that usually grows as tall as the roof each year and produces a ton of fruit. It also gets very wide , so I was told that it needed to be pruned back much more than I had been, so I did that this past February. Well, now it is out of control getting wider and wider and not getting taller at all. It does show some fruit. Please advise me on how to remedy this, and how to correctly prune. I have to do something now because it is heading towards other raised planters... help!!! And thank you!
That's the problem with fig trees. Prune them too hard and they get out of control! This video about halfway through will explain how to get fruit while also maintaining a good size: ua-cam.com/video/JnMsZB48t9M/v-deo.html
After listening to your videos about pruning I am even more confused about how to prune. I give a lot of information about how and why and science but all it does is leave me confused. Since this is a video how about a show and tell???
Thanks for the information! I almost prune my fig tree now that is waking up. It would have been a disaster! So, if I want to reduce it’s height, when is the best time to prune back without risking the harvest?
Decided to try a Violette de Bourdeaux here in Southern Nevada. Is this the right choice? I plan to keep it in a pot .What about heat intensity and too much light? Figs, I guess need 8 hours per day of light.
I have a fig tree question. I have 3 cedar trees on my property, I am in North Louisiana, I know that cedar will harm some fruit trees but will it harm figs? I have heard some kind of rust will happen.
I have a young Italian honey fig tree & I live in upstate NY in an apartment with a patio. Any suggestions for this variety . I will be putting it outside asap
Wow you have a lot of fig trees. Let me ask, Do you have squirrels and birds to contend with? We live between Indianapolis and Louisville and would love to grow figs . I'm afraid the massive amount of squirrels we have would eat all the fruit as they do our apples and pears and berries and our flower bulbs.
Hello Ross, I live in Ohio zone 6b. I paid no attention to figs that are best for my area. Would you suggest to me the figs that grow best in my area? Thanks
Here we have had over 30 days of 115 or more up to 119 in the phoenix area . My Fig tress is dieing and I dont kn ow if it is the heat of under or over water. I have a timer to give sprayed water for 10 mi nutes at 7:30pm but I raised it to 17 minutes today. But all but 10 % of the leaves dried up and fell, and all the tiny fruit has dried up and fall if you touch them. So can you tell me if it is the heat, over or underwatering please?
I live in st.pete.,fl. I'm having a problem with rust. I've been told to spray it with copper which I've done a couple of times. I would love to hear your thoughts on this problem. Thanks, jdb
Whoa! Your internodes are so short, with so much fruit! 😱 The internodes on mine are around a food apart! Ugh… I need to figure out how to turn my trees into bushes, then learn how to prune…
Bought a home with well established fig tree. What would you recommend for Ambrosia beetle problem? The tree is older, trunk about 10inches diameter and about 15 ft high. Sprayed tree last year, but there is bark coming off. Hate to cut it down. What would you do?
I just bough a Chicago fig that will be grown in a greenhouse. The tag says it fruits better with a cross pollinator. What variety woud be good for a zone 5 that gets 20° sometimes end of May. I live in a northern Utah valley. I would also like to air layer some to see if they'll survive and fruit unprotected outside the greenhouse
1. Fertiliser regularly, 2. Don’t over water, 3. Enough sunlight, 4. Don’t prune apical tips, 5. Spring frost protection, 6. Avoid keeping indoor, 7. Sunburn occurs if plant moved from indoors to outdoors, 8. Harvest when neck is soft, 9. Keep in 3-7 gallon pots, 10. Improper winter storage >15F, 11. Choose correct variety. Hmmm 🇵🇰❤️🇵🇰
Thank you. ❤❤❤
❤
Most appreciated 👍
And don't put it outdoors when deer are near... they chomp the whole tree down to the nub
My wife comes from sicily, her brother gave me a fig tree in a pot about 30 years ago they call it figo tarta, something like a brown turkey fig, it was planted outside and withstood many winters here in England, it would give us figs year after year, no pruning no fertilizers, no cutting back, grew to full size about 15 foot high, took many cuttings from it, gave to other family members and friends, still taking cuttings from them, easy peasy. very helpful vid as we are now growing in large tubs.
Hiya, Ross! Thank you for all the tips! ❤ No wonder I’ve been growing the same figs for four years now and never got any fruits till this year! 😂 Its mid July now here in WA zone 8b, but I’m hopeful that the fruits will ripen between now and October. The softness of the neck was SUPER helpful, as I do have a couple fairly large figs that I’ve been “squeezing the body” of to test for ripeness. 😂 SO glad I came across these tips today!!!
I’ll be saving this video for next spring. 🙄 I’ve almost made every mistake you’ve said and I’ve had a mature tree for over 3 years
My three year old figs are covered in figs. Your wisdom is why. Thank you!
Very good!
I have a gigantic fig tree near the brook where I live rmany years now. It is flourishing with green large figs, very large leaveand3 storeys high ,leaves fall in Winter but the figs never ripen greeand have Winter but the figs n
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Im glad you mentioned how much time with trial and error you can be saving people with this information. Definitely earned the 👍
I'm glad you're benefiting from it. Thank you.
I live in zone 6 and I cut my figs to 1 foot above ground and cover completely with mulch. They come back strong every year and produce tons of figs. I only get the main crop though. But, I get loads of them. It did take a couple years for them to get big enough roots to ripen the figs. I do also thin them out to 6 to 8 branches and grow bushes instead of trees. I think the key is establishing a big root system. I also think building a mound around the figs and keep adding to it also helps expand the root system over time.
My brown turkey fig is struggling. Grow😅ing it in a pot im in zone 7b NY. I keep it indoors during winter and take outside for spring and summer. Yup, you nailed it. When I brought the tree outside in late April the new branches got frostbite since NY had those 50s 40s temps at night but was in 70s 80sna few times. Plus the leaves got sunburn and fell off.
Thanks for sharing! The good news is, you can turn it around.
Very informative have a chiago hardy in the ground in massachusetts. Using construction grade Styrofoam framed 4x8 also wrap in burlap then so ac insulation. Hormonal tips did well. This is my third yr 1 fig had die back first winter as did not use box just wrapped. Some branches 5ft will see thanks for the tips.
Hello, recently started watching this channel a lot, since I'm trying to grow a fig tree as a potted plant on my balchony in Denmark, zone 8a I think. Balcony is turned East/South East, I basically have direct sun from sunrise to around 1 pm. which is decent in the summer. I got my little fig tree back in November 2023 and had it inside because we get cold, dark winters here. Think it woke up from a slumber and suddenly started growing a lot. In the middle of March, after frost was unlikely to come back, I "repotted" the tree into a big barrel and moved it outside. IBarrel 46 cm in diameter and 32 cm deep. Bigger than the 2 gallon pots you showed. Pretty big I guess for a tree that I assume is 1 year old? When repotting my fig was not entirely root bound, but knowing less than I do now, I didn't loosen any of the roots that looped around the root clump. Had some pests by that point as well that I tried to get rid of by spraying the tree with a thin diluted alcohol/soap/water blend. Pests are mostly gone, but I think I damaged the trees leaves in the process. Some of them has colorless, crispy spots that break and crumble. As it is, the tree still has mostly green leaves, albeit with brown/white spots from the pests and my failed attempt at battling them. Leaved are not particuarly large though and there are not many of them either. The branches are long and thin and I'm afraid it's because it didn't get enough light during the winter when it woke up. We only have about 5 hours of daylight in december... I'm not too worried about the fruits for now, I just want the tree/bush to be healthy and know it's going to be okay, or if I'm kiling it with misplaced love and rookie mistakes. Sorry about the rant. Anyone with good advice, feel free to reply.
I’m just learning as well but compost leaves grass food scraps. I actually have pots beside some of my plants compost in place. Or if they are in ground chop and drop.😁I follow a few ppl that I’ve learned so much from.
He is absolutely right about the effect of too much rain on figs.
I have some fig trees brought from Greece. They create delicious figs but if it rains too much in the UK they become a lot less tasty. The best way to describe it is their flavour is diluted right down. And they spoil faster because their skins crack as they are engorged with water And you cannot leave them on the tree in that state because the wasps and fungus will get them. So you're forced to cut them early when engorged with water.
Hey Ross, great informative video. I have a fig tree that my wife and her mom got me years ago. It was about two or 3 feet high when we first planted it. Was told that these fig trees should grow on the east side of the home where the sun rises. So it’s been on that side of the house. The first year at fruited it was very productive. Then One year we had very cold weather, below zero and it died after growing almost 6 to 8 feet. But then the few years following it grew crazy. And every year we have several hundred to 1000 or more Figs. You mention to protect them in the winter if you can… What if they are 10 feet or taller? How do you protect them then? It’s now getting in to fall, there are maybe 20 or so. Figs left that haven’t changed or ripened. And there are quite a few branches close to the ground that I wanted to prune back so that the fig tree grows upward instead of outward. The other question I had was, should I prune these or just let them grow? And thanks again for the great video…
Please write down 11 mistakes ,your doing excellent work,congratulations.
Great fig video. It's awesome to find great gardening videos from the same zone/bioregion. Thanks!
Hi Ross, these tips are really good. I ran into some of these issues myself, such as keeping them indoors over the winter, and then having to deal with spider mites for the first time. Indoors, the figs were dormant for ~2mths, which led to another issue, the sunburn. I ended up dealing with that (after sunburning them the first time) by putting up a solar canopy, which actually works pretty well. I think the sunburn really comes from the UV light, not the amount of light, because indoors, there is no UV light, while even on a cold day, the UV light outdoors can already cause sunburn.
I do have a question, which I'm not sure is a mistake or what. I have some "Black Madeira KK" (I was told when I bought them), and they actually budded fruit actually pretty well after 1-2 years. However, after sitting on the tree for a month or so, the figs just start to shrivel up / yellow and fall off, or they shrivel up and start to turn purple and fall off. The same appears to be happening with some Col de dame noir figs, which they sit there green for a month, and then like clockwork, start to yellow and get aborted. Is this due to the figs not being the common variety, and thus they won't ripen? Or is there some other issue going on? This is the 2nd year this is happening, where not a single one has ripened out of 6+ that may fruit on a tree. I'm trying to determine whether to give up on those fig plants if they can't ripen the fruit. Meanwhile, I do have some other figs that do ripen, like smith. Thanks!
My figs did that same thing after i did her trimming because of a bad bugs infestation and she was too weak, turned out she needed nutrients and water. I did both and she is giving me literally giant figs now really quick 🙏🏼hope this helps you
Thank you for this video! I’m also in the Philly area and I was gifted a fig tree last year. This year is the first fruits that have appeared! I’m excited about it! Not to sure of the type of fig though.
Send me photos of the fruits and I'll identify it for you.
@@RossRaddi that's very nice of you
Idk what the big deal with care is. I have a fig tree that is severely neglected, we actually tried to kill it. Chopped it to the stump at ground level. The tree doesn't die. We gave up. It is still giving figs, despite the neglect it receives. Perhaps because it's a well established tree my grandparents put in.... the problem is its in the worst spot ever. These trees get huge, even after chopping it down to the ground, it gets to canopy size in 5 years. We don't water it, we don't fertilize it, we don't do anything to it. Now I feel bad saying all this out loud 😂
Your work is great and appreciated, I am dumbfounded because my fig tree has a lot of figs and they are not ripening they've been green for weeks it's strange.
Figs stagnate while they ripen. Every 30 days they swell to a larger size almost overnight.
That happened to mine last year they just sat there at a small size and for 3 months did nothing and then the winter came😢. Not one fig to be had!
Really happy I found your channel. I’m planning on upping my fig game and you have some great information
Awesome! Thank you!
I have a Celeste Fig tree in the ground this winter here in South Carolina in the Low Country along the cost got hit with that cold weather 12 deg at night for 5 days the main tree died and the tree came back from the roots. I just water the tree and it is producing fig that is so cool. Thanks Ross for all the great videos helped me out a ton....
You're welcome!
I can't double like a video but as a lurker I can comment on one. This was a great video with lots of helpful information!
Thank you, John!
I’m in Washington State and my fig tree is in full fig explosion. 20 years ago I dug a hole, went to the garden store, bought
Excellent guide, some. Growing figs for the first time in a difficult area - sahel area of west Africa.
Very many thanks.
Hi Ross! I'm so glad I found your channel. I live in Gerogia Zone 8b (formerly 8a). I have a couple of fig trees in 5 gallon containers that I'm currently over wintering in my shed (with a window). The temperature doesn't stay below 45 degrees for long because I'm also overwintering other plants, and sometimes, I use a heater to keep temperature up. If I understand you correctly, I can store them in the containers unprotected unless the temperature gets below 15 degrees. Is that correct? Also, at what temperature does a fig tree die back to the ground? I don't want them to have to start growing all over again. Also, I was gifted some fig cuttings on veterans day and they're beginning to develop leaves. Do you have a video on growing cuttings and up potting them? I currently have them in solo cups and would like to figure out the next size container I should move them to. Thank you kindly.
Hello! That is correct about the potted figs. Ideally they are kept between 15-50 all winter. Otherwise they'll wake up prematurely. Check out this article in regards to the in ground trees: www.figboss.com/post/fig-tree-hardy
@@RossRaddi Thank you very much!
We are in west central Alabama, Zone 8b. Our trees are planted in the ground. In 2023, we had breba figs on the trees in February and got a very late deep freeze in April that killed every tree back to the roots. In 2024, we had another cold wave that took them all the way back.
I put my figs in pots in my garage. I feed it water once a month. It wakes up and they are beautiful n full of fruit. My garage is heated and air conditioned. It gets sun from the windows in my door.
A lot of good information I think I will need to watch again and take notes. I think I have already done a few of them.
The blog article in the description has all the notes you need. Thanks for watching.
Wow! Excellent information and presentation! Thanks Ross!
Hi Ross, I have a very big fig tree, and last year and every year we get a wonderful harvest. This year at the beginning of the fruiting season the tree dropped many small black figs. when I asked around I was told I was over watering, yet you say they require a lot of water. I am confused. Right now I water twice a week for 15 minutes with a very slow stream. Please advise
Hi Ross my fig tree is loaded but they are not riping
I have a Chicago Hardy Fig. I've had it for 2 years and it's in a 25G pot on my patio with full sun. I never pruned it so it's bushy. I am not getting fruit at all just leafs. Based on this video should I tree form it? Or just open it up and keep the bush form? Ty
Me gustaría saber cómo haces para que las plantas de higuera no crezcan demasiado. Especialmente las plantas que están en contenedores. Gracias por la respuesta. Saludos desde Extremadura España
Procura videos de un Peruano que radica en Japón, ahí verás como los japoneses crecen sus huertas de higo,digamos que más o menos usan el método de la vid,tal como las parras( plantas de uva).Te va a interesar 😉
The wasps in my area are so numerous, that I pick a lot of my figs a day or two early, and ripen them on my counter.
Im suddenly craving Fig newton's cookies! 😋😂 Im not in the right climate for fig trees! So cool to be able to grow tropical stuff!
What climate is that? They'll fruit very reliably when grown in pots in zones 4&5. Plant them in the ground in zone 6 and higher.
Not sure I understood your point about avoiding summer pruning as this could unbalance the metabolism of the tree and delay or prevent fruit buds. In another fig growing in containers video the advice was to pinch out the apical bud on July 1st as this would promote fruit bud formation down the main stem, creating the figs that would ripen, hopefully by the end of the summer season before any frosts.
Should I NOT do this? If so, what should I do to promote embryo bud formation if my trees are showing no sign of this? Thanks if you can advise, or anybody else here!
I'm not sure where the confusion is. Did I advise against summer pruning? That would be my mistake. One of the mistakes in this video is growers make excessive winter pruning leading to hormonal imbalances. Not summer pruning.
@@RossRaddi I might have misheard that part, but I thought you were suggesting it was a mistake to pinch out the growing point unless there was clearly an embryo fruit bud as well as a bud for a new shoot. My trees are all just new this year (except for three established ones of traditional varieties) and I am therefore very keen not to do the wrong thing and prevent them from producing their first fruit. I will take care not to over prune in winter. Thanks.
Thank you so much for this video. I have 4 fig trees, and I had them for about five years. Every year they produce a lot of figs, but they do not ripe at all. What is the solution ? I live in a dry desert in Arizona with very hot summer and very cold winter. Thank you
Do they fall off prematurely?
Where did you get your fig tree?
Can you send me photos of your tree?
For some reason it doesn’t let me to send you photos. But I did it by cutting from a very good fig tree from my own area. They don’t fall off, there stay hard and rocky till the end and sometimes they become like cotton ball at the end. But never ripe.
Thanks ross for your enormeous help/"knowhow" with growing figs
My pleasure!
Ross what I did insulate for the fig for the winter use the pipe insulate the bottom branches and the use fence hard wire circle around the tree
Fill in with leaves stamp the leave tight
also did this year for ripening fig I use mirror on fruit tree base r to reflect the sun back to tree also open center this year all my figs are ripping before winter didn’t do that last year all green fig plus 24:58 didnt stamp tight leaves it did die down to 3-4 inches zone 6b
My figs survived minus 20 in zone 5b 6 outside and less hardy variety Celeste and lsu purple fig with your advice.
Mine, zone 4. There are hardy fig trees, plus outdoor protection.
Hello!!! I am near Canton Ohio in zone 5. I have potted figs. I let them get frosted on so that they defoliate and go dormant. I put them in my basement garage that stays in the upper 30s all winter. I also keep a compact florescent light on 24/7 while in the basement garage (because I also keep my citrus there too). They typically break into green buds in late March to early April. I have Chicago hearty, Letesia, Brown Turkey, Black Mission, Olympia, and Ischia. Can you recommend varieties that produce early and heavy? I would like to experiment with some of these. Thank you!
I have 2 fig trees in a pot. I’ve had them over three years.❤ this is the first year that I had figs growing. I’m wondering How long does it take before they turn purple which means they’re ready to eat.
I also put my two plants in front of a sunny window when I return them back for the winter
Do you recommend planting figs in the ground out in the open with stakes or against house or buildings? Should they be planted on the southeast side of house for zone 7b Oklahoma?
This is so interesting to me, a light sparked and I want to grow figs. I love figs, I definitely had no idea. There was so many varieties. I live in Las Vegas Nevada and I’m considering growing a tree but I don’t even have any idea what type of fig to grow, one thing for sure it is so hot here literally everything dies so this would definitely be a challenge. I’d love your suggestion on what type to grow. Thank you so much.
Hi Ross! I live in zone 10 and noticed a fig tree(s) growing under my mature bougainvillea last year. It has not fruited. It has not been cut back. There is a lot of foliage so there may be multiple plants. I am planning to relocate it during the winter when it goes dormant. Do you have any tips for me?
Here’s the problem for zone 5, we can’t plant outside because our winters will kill them. Some of us need to keep them inside.
I also live in zone 5 and I have them in big planters ( I have two ). I bring them in the house before the first frost and take them outside in late spring when the temperature stays in the mid fifties at night. I should add that we trim the trees in the fall to help them stay healthy and more productive. When they are inside the house during winter they are kept under grow lights.
I live in Chicago zone 5 I bought a Chicago fig put it in the ground and it comes back every year.
Hi Ross, I live in South Africa. I planted an apple tree two years ago. Last year a fig tree and a lemon tree started growing right next to the fig tree. What should I do ? Would like to leave them like that but might cause problems in the future. Any suggestions?
Sounds like they're seedlings. I would get rid of them. Fruit trees should be grafted to get high quality fruit.
Hi Ross, I have a mature fig tree that was planted about 4’ away from my house. Will the roots of the tree damage the foundation? I live in zone 7 in New Jersey. The tree bears a lot of fruits every year, do I need to remove the the tree all together? I am miserable for the mistake I made by planting the tree too close to my house!
If it’s not right on top of a water or sewer line you’re probably fine. Relax and enjoy your figs👍
Hi, I bought a Desert Fig that came from the local OSH with fruit on it. I planted in a wine barrel. Those figs ripened nicely. Next season, unsuccessful. I live in a beach climate and don't get hot temperatures except perhaps for one week. Now leaves are falling in early October. There is fruit on the tree, but i don't expect them to ripen, as the tree seems to be going dormant. The last month had been especially cool. (Not freezing, but little sun) what can I do? Is it hopeless to grow a desert fig at the beach? I will fertilize as you suggest. Not sure if my gardener was doing this. I've taken over, as I have more time now.
I wished you put this video out on March or April :( very valuable information, please next year post one early as April
Hi Ross great video video going to watch it over and take notes for my log one question I live in North Jersey what would be a good variety of fig I have a Chicago hardy fig tree now like to have a different variety. Can you make a suggestion?
Question, with a very dense planting, about 2-3 ft spacing between trees, how do you open up the center of the tree without crossing branches with adjacent trees?
Hehe, you can see the dilemma.
Imagine that all of the tree is just one big tree with branches positioned carefully within the tree.
Love your vids very informative. I'm in middle Tennessee I have a few cuttings I'm growing out now black mission, brown turkey, kadota, sal El, I'm just wondering any others you recommend for hot humid areas. Thanks and I'm subscribed
Hi Ross, What are your thoughts on growing the Italian ever bearing fig for central New Jersey climate?
Got Italian fig, year 3, no fruit...
Ross. I follow you carefully. Two things I need help with. How to and when to up pot. I tried moving some this spring early and lost several of my two year old plants. When to prune. Spring or fall??? Thanks
Cheek this out, Peter: ua-cam.com/video/OIz5K9C-aUI/v-deo.html
Hi Ross, I’m in Bucks County,Pa. I have been grow figs in pots four about 15 years with pretty good success. My next door neighbor has a fig bush planted in the ground that he does nothing to, winter or summer and gets hundreds of figs. I took a shoot from his bush last year that had lots of roots and planted it in large raised bed. Other than wrapping it for winter, is their anything extra I have to do because of raised 12 “ bed? It’s about 33” tall with four branches and I picked 18 figs this year. Don’t know variety. Thank you, I enjoy your videos.
THANK YOU!! You answered all my questions👏..
Hi Ross! Regarding overwintering, we have winter temps that go down to - 20 celcius, a garage that goes down to +1 celcius and a glassed in porch that is bright but gets just slightly less cold than the outdoors. Which option would likely work the best? Thanks for a great video!
I've had a Celeste and a Turkey fig planted outside for 8 years now....never fruited much. They grow bushy...about 10' tall. Each spring we've taken down the dead brown old canes to make room for new growth, which becomes dense. What are we doing wrong? I assume, after watching your video, we need to make sure they're not so dense in the middle. I haven't taken down the old canes yet....waiting for your answer!
Great video!
So where are we supposed to store them overwinter if not the basement?
My garage would probably get too cold and likely fluctuate too much in temps too and I don't have a greenhouse that'd be warm enough either. My basement can drop to under 10c during the coldest parts of the winter and that's probably not ideal for fig growth either so I'm not really sure where you'd recommend storing them.
My current plan is to put them in the basement with growlights and just hope that 4ish to 14ish c would be a fine temp range for figs, possibly I'd bring them in after they've had a couple months of dormancy? Or would it be better to extend the season for them by bringing them indoors and then putting them out in late winter when it's consistently above -10c? Or just bring them in as an evergreen tree and skip the dormancy all together? Last year my fig was still really small so I brought it upstairs during the coldest parts of winter and it seemed to really like that but this year it's going to be quite a bit larger so I'm not sure I could do that.
This article explains a lot of options and why you want to avoid the basement: www.figboss.com/post/winterizing-container-fig-trees-where-to-store-them-how-to-avoid-season-ending-setbacks
@@RossRaddi Thanks for replying but it still sounds like basement is the best option for me as long as I address consider the potential temp issue. Could watering them with cold water or putting ice on the soil be a decent hack to prolong their dormancy?
My basement's pretty cold during the coldest parts of winter... at night it can drop down to just several degrees above freezing and possibly just a degree or two right next to the door where the figs would be. Actually it's possible it got cold enough last winter that my fig, mulberries and cherry-plum seedlings all briefly went dormant from it? The only other factor could have been severe under watering but that doesn't make any sense, right? They had a growlight for 8ish hours so it couldn't have been a lack of lighting either.
I seriously thought I'd killed them when all their leaves just dried up and fell off (as expected from severe under watering) but a month later (or several months later in the case of the cherry-plum) they were all alive again with only a few not making it. The fig was immediately brought upstairs when I noticed the mulberries and cherry-plum losing leaves so before it had a chance to lose its leaves. Which I guess was probably a mistake since it likely needed a bit of dormancy and ultimately lost all of that year's leaves anyway before growing back newer ones shortly afterward.
Thanks Ross, I’ve learned so much from you over a few years!
Great video Ross! Thanks for the tips! I liked and already subscribed.
My mission fig is 4 years old and now in August has dropped all its leaves. I have had a decent crop since year one and now I am just beside myself about what to do. It is very well established in the ground and the white wood is strong. Any ideas what the heck I did or didn't do, I will try anything to save my baby. I am in zone 9A Tucson AZ We had a super cold and long winter for us and now a much hotter than usual summer. Thanks
Is a chicago hardy fig good for zone 7 in va?
Yes.
www.figboss.com/post/a-hardy-fig-tree-starts-with-the-variety
My container fig trees need to be pruned and repotted. They have basically been neglected due to my. health issues. Can you help me choose the best potting soil mix for repotting them until they can be replanted in my yard in the early spring. I live in zone 9. Thank you.
I planted a hardy fig four or five years ago and it wasn’t growing or doing anything at all. So last summer I took a blueberry fertilizer and mixed it with a rose fertilizer and tossed some around the fig and within a couple of weeks the tree started sprouting and growing branches, leaves, and fruit. The only mistake I made is fertilizing in mid summer so by the time the figs started popping up the temperature dropped and they stopped growing.
Wonderful post, thank you !
Question. My fig tree is still producing new baby figs. They wont have enough time to ripen. Should i pinch off the new ones so the plant concentrates on ripening the older ones? Or should i leave them and only pinch them off when dormant? Im new to figs. My trees loaded.
I haven't seen any proof that removing helps ripen the others.
Definitely limit pruning or winter damage. Your figs will ripen a lot earlier.
@RossRaddi thanks for that. I will leave them now. I'm new to figs & it's definitely a learning curve. So far I'm very happy
How do you protect your figs in the winter. I live in zone 5 Illinois and I’ve been told to put them in the garage in the winter.
Hi. About 1 year ago I found a small plant growing in potting soil I bought and to my surprise it turned out to be a fig tree. Its growing nicely now but seeing that it wasn't grafted should I rather discard it and grow from a cutting? Please advise 😢
They aren't grafted typically.
I'm in zone 6B (Central CT) and my containered Chicago Hardy has lots of not-full-size, unripe fruit but it's been in the mid 40s at night and will soon drop to high 30's (50's-60s during the day). Is there any way to speed up the ripening process or should I just sacrifice the unripe figs and get the container ready for winter storage in my garage?
I started a fig tree from a cutting, this is its first year, it is about 6 feet tall and looks like a big bush. Should I be removing the bottom leaves and limbs?
I haven't any figs since I planted it .this year some branches have grown over two foot and they are still growing
Great video with lots of tips. Thanks 👍
My fig has fruit on before the leaves. I could have sworn I’d removed all the fruit that was left on from last year. It’s only been planted in the ground for 2yrs and not had a decent crop, it’s only produced tiny fruit, which I’ve left on the tree. Should I remove those at the end of the fruiting season?
Anyway, my main question is the fruit that seems to have come up before the leaves, what should I do with them?
TIA for any advise you can give to me 😊
Good info, still wanting to plant my fig out of a 15 gallon container into the ground here in tropical Florida. Worried that the heat might be too much, so I want to plant it so it gets morning sun and then maybe some evening sun, but shaded during the heat of the day. Not much winter around here. It rains alot, so it's safer than keeping it in the pot.
Hi Ross, I’m in Minneapolis, a zone 4. Somehow, I’m successful in getting my 2021 small fig tree, the Chicago hardy, to 3 feet this summer and bearded 10 fruits. The first one was tasteless, the other other 9 all turned dark brown to black, and they tasted awesome! Now, my question is even inside my garage could have temp below 0 F when the polar vortex coming down. From what you described that I shouldn’t put it in the basement, but that’s the only option I have. What other options would you recommend in this case? After all, the plant needs some moist and can’t be let dry through the winter, right. Even the garage, not heated, would be below freezing, and the soil may freeze up, would that kill the roots and the plant too?
I have this same question. I have one turkey fig but would like to try some other varieties. He is saying - no basement. That is where mine is. In an unfinished basement near a window. I do put ice in the pot to water it periodically as if it were getting snow water. It survived the basement last year and thrived this summer. I did not have the problem of it budding early. I am 75 miles NW of Chicago on the Wisconsin border and we get cold here. Another fig friend told me he just puts his potted fig tree in the garage over winter. I did that last year with a Chicago fig and it died. Yes the pot froze, it's an unheated uninsulated metal butler building. So I'm perplexed. He didn't offer any solutions about where to move it to. ???
I bought a really root compacted Monrovia fignominal tree. It was very root bound and I opened it up and tried to tease the roots apart. I riped up some of the roots. Problem is I repotted it into a mix of mulch and mushroom compost soil I got from Lowe’s. Should I be worried about my new tree?
Hopefully the new soil is well broken down. Otherwise you'll see pale growth and nutritional deficiencies.
Thank you great video have two fig trees got from cuttings, but don't know what kind, can you help me. in the Shanindough Va area the trees did withstand 100 degree weather this summer. Also did report to larger containers this spring.
Absolutely. Send me photos of the ripe fruits cut open in half.
I'm new at taking care of the fig tree, I live in Texas zone 8a and I am growing my fig tree in a container and it's growing well. I was wondering when can I transfer my container fig tree to the ground?
I am in a constant drought in 100 - 118 degree heat in Southeast , Texas overwatering is basically impossible and when my fig plants produce the birds are always there before me on a ripe fig nd I mean every single time !
I bought 2 chicago hardy this past Spring and I live in Spring Grove PA. I don't have the ability to bring them inside the house for the winter. I do have a shed. I thought maybe I could wrap and insulate them very well and place them in the shed for the winter and water them once a month? 🤔 Also do you have any suggestions for other fig varieties for my area? Thankful to have found your channel
I live in NJ and planted a fig tree last year I covered it last fall. My question is what is the best way to keep the birds from eating the fruit? I used netting that was a pain to try to get the figs once they were ripe, can you suggest another method ?
Train your fig as a dwarf and keep it that way by pruning. When you net, make sure it goes down to the ground so that you can get in there to harvest. A more radical approach -especially costwise - would be to enclose your orchard area
I am in zone 7 and want to move my in-ground brown turkey fig to another sunnier spot in my yard. Is it too late? What fertilization does it need? Thank you!
I have an old fig tree growing in the backyard. Apparently at some point a shoot grew straight up the center and is now about 7 feet tall with a diameter of about 4 inches. Should I just leave my tree within the tree?
Hello Ross, new subscriber here and I'm very glad I found you. I'm in zone 7a (Arkansas) and have a large high tunnel (70ft long, 24 ft wide, 20ft high). In the center is a fig tree (I don't know the variety) that usually grows as tall as the roof each year and produces a ton of fruit. It also gets very wide , so I was told that it needed to be pruned back much more than I had been, so I did that this past February. Well, now it is out of control getting wider and wider and not getting taller at all. It does show some fruit. Please advise me on how to remedy this, and how to correctly prune. I have to do something now because it is heading towards other raised planters... help!!! And thank you!
That's the problem with fig trees. Prune them too hard and they get out of control! This video about halfway through will explain how to get fruit while also maintaining a good size: ua-cam.com/video/JnMsZB48t9M/v-deo.html
What kind of ground would you guys put a fig in regular soils ,a bit sandy ,mulchy???
After listening to your videos about pruning I am even more confused about how to prune. I give a lot of information about how and why and science but all it does is leave me confused. Since this is a video how about a show and tell???
Send me a picture of your tree with the reasoning why you want to prune. I'll tell you exactly how to prune it.
Thanks for the information! I almost prune my fig tree now that is waking up. It would have been a disaster! So, if I want to reduce it’s height, when is the best time to prune back without risking the harvest?
Brilliant thank you
Figs are delicious, so underrated
Decided to try a Violette de Bourdeaux here in Southern Nevada. Is this the right choice? I plan to keep it in a pot .What about heat intensity and too much light? Figs, I guess need 8 hours per day of light.
VdB is well adapted. It'll perform well just about everywhere.
The more light, the better. Mulch the soil in the desert.
@@RossRaddi ty
I have a fig tree question. I have 3 cedar trees on my property, I am in North Louisiana, I know that cedar will harm some fruit trees but will it harm figs? I have heard some kind of rust will happen.
I have a young Italian honey fig tree & I live in upstate NY in an apartment with a patio. Any suggestions for this variety . I will be putting it outside asap
My fig tree is only about two years old, when it budded out it was very top heavy with leaves
Wow you have a lot of fig trees. Let me ask, Do you have squirrels and birds to contend with? We live between Indianapolis and Louisville and would love to grow figs . I'm afraid the massive amount of squirrels we have would eat all the fruit as they do our apples and pears and berries and our flower bulbs.
Yes. I trap them.
Hello Ross, I live in Ohio zone 6b. I paid no attention to figs that are best for my area. Would you suggest to me the figs that grow best in my area?
Thanks
Hi! Ty for all these great videos. What kind of greenhouse would you recommend? You are in Philly? What do you use?
Here we have had over 30 days of 115 or more up to 119 in the phoenix area . My Fig tress is dieing and I dont kn ow if it is the heat of under or over water. I have a timer to give sprayed water for 10 mi nutes at 7:30pm but I raised it to 17 minutes today. But all but 10 % of the leaves dried up and fell, and all the tiny fruit has dried up and fall if you touch them. So can you tell me if it is the heat, over or underwatering please?
I live in st.pete.,fl. I'm having a problem with rust. I've been told to spray it with copper which I've done a couple of times. I would love to hear your thoughts on this problem. Thanks, jdb
I live in St pete too and spraying copper will make things worse... the roots use fungi to grow and copper will prevent your trees from growing
Whoa! Your internodes are so short, with so much fruit! 😱 The internodes on mine are around a food apart! Ugh…
I need to figure out how to turn my trees into bushes, then learn how to prune…
If you stop pruning, the internodes will be short next year.
Makes sense, but the growth i have now, exceeds any ladder I have. How to i get the growths under control so I don’t need to prune as much?
Bought a home with well established fig tree. What would you recommend for Ambrosia beetle problem? The tree is older, trunk about 10inches diameter and about 15 ft high. Sprayed tree last year, but there is bark coming off. Hate to cut it down. What would you do?
Clip and root health branches some can be cut down to the ground and grow back. Root some health clones.
I just bough a Chicago fig that will be grown in a greenhouse. The tag says it fruits better with a cross pollinator. What variety woud be good for a zone 5 that gets 20° sometimes end of May. I live in a northern Utah valley. I would also like to air layer some to see if they'll survive and fruit unprotected outside the greenhouse
Figs don't need pollination. You only need one variety.
The tiny wasps crawl into the fruit buds and do the pollination.
Great video Buddy!
Thank you!