Best Location

Figs require wide open spaces and sunshine all day. They grow very large and like to spread out, the roots often grow far beyond the canopy of the tree. They will cover anything growing near them over time. You can prune the small roots as well as a small portion of the branches, but if you prune them too often they will begin to fail in crop production. If you do prune branches from a fig tree, you should whitewash any exposed trunk area because the trunk is heat sensitive. They should always be grown in a warm area, especially in coastal climates. Look for sunny walls and areas that trap the heat in regions with short summers. When growing a fig in a container, a majority of the soil should be replaced every third year. The container should be kept shaded from direct sunlight and excessive heat.

Proper Irrigation

Fig trees require a lot of water. If the tree is in an arid location you can provide mulch around the tree to hold in more of the moisture. If a fig tree does not get enough water it will fail to produce fruit, drop leaves and eventually die. It is especially important to keep newly planted and young trees well watered.

Pruning Fig Trees

Pruning should be done with care and only during the beginning of it's lifetime. A fig tree should be pruned to provide the proper amount of fruit as well as accessibility to it. Figs are harvested from last years growth so if you cut too much, your tree will produce less fruit. You should prune immediately after harvest. If a lot of pruning is desired, prune half the first year and the remainder the following year. You should always whitewash the tree after heavy pruning.

Fertilization

You should fertilize a fig tree if the annual growth of the branches was less than a foot. It is usually not necessary to fertilize unless you are growing your fig in a pot or a sandy area. For proper fertilization use 1/8 to 1/4 pound of nitrogen four times during the year between late winter and July.

Frost Protection

You can grow figs outdoors in cooler climates if you provide adequate protection from frost. Brown Turkey, Brunswick and Blue Celeste are some good choices for cooler weather regions. Plant the fig beside a structure which provides plenty of heat by radiation. You can also have success from pruning the trunk low to the ground after the second year. For additional protection in the winter you can build a frame around the tree and surround it with heavy carpet. You should keep the roots as dry as possible especially when the snow begins to melt. Figs can be grown in the northern regions but potted figs do better here. They can be transferred to a warmer location until the weather becomes more suitable for them. You want to be sure to protect the trunk from cold and freezing weather. Dormant buds that come from the trunk stand a high chance of freezing in cold weather.

How To Propagate

Fig plants can be propagated from cuttings taken from 2 year old growth. The cuttings should be 1 foot pieces selected from dormant wood. They should be less than 1 inch diameter and the top can be newer as long as there is 2 year old wood at base. Use a rooting hormone to start the roots out well. Allow the cuttings to callus for a week in a warm damp place. They should be kept between 50 to 60° F during this time. If you are using summer cuttings, remove the leaves and refrigerate them for 2 to 3 weeks before potting them. If you are propagating leafy shoots, that will require a mist bed. Most rare cultivars can be propagated using one of several grafting methods to rootstocks as well as older trees. They can be topworked by either cleft, whip, or crown grafting them. Chip or patch budding can also be done successfully. Once rooted, the cuttings should be planted in an area of between 22 to 30 feet square. Young plants should never be disturbed or they may die.

Pests

Gophers enjoy the roots of a fig tree and they can kill a plant that is not protected. A good method of protection is to plant the fig tree in a large aviary wire basket. Birds love figs and can often cause a lot of damage. However, there is not a high risk of damage from deer because they don't like to eat them. Figs can become stunted by an attack on the roots from nematodes, especially in sandy soils. Mitadulid and Carpophilus dried fruit beetles can cause the fruit to rot and decay. It is common for them breed in citrus fruit that has fallen from the tree. It is advisable to grow figs away from citrus trees to help avoid this. Euryphid mites aren't much threat, but they may carry mosaic virus from infected trees to healthy figs.

Disease Protection

Mosaic virus may cause crop reduction although it was once considered benign. It acts like a potassium deficiency meaning the leaves become laced with yellow spots. The veins also become light in color. It is usually noticed in older trees that have become overheated or suffer from lack of water. The best prevention is to keep trees with these symptoms away from healthy trees, look for these symptoms when making a purchase as well. Botrytis can cause a blast of branch terminals, which dry out and become a charcoal like substance. This generally attacks immature fruits That have been damaged by the winter frost, it then progresses into the main stem in the form of a red dying region that spreads. The infection will generally stop on its own in the spring. Remove the damaged fruit to prevent the spreading. Branches can be lost from fig canker which is a bacterium that enters damaged areas of the trunk. It can also cause necrosis and girdling. This one reason that whitewashing is so important. Ciltivars with large openings at the eyes are susceptible to rhyzopus smut which results in a charcoal like substance in the interior of the fruit. The most common losses to ripe fruit are from Endosepsis (Fusarium) and Aspergillus rot which is brought on by insects. Infected fruit becomes inedible and a mucus like substance erupts from the eye or the fruit simply erupts. To control this, you should destroy all of your crop for a full year and eliminate the threat of insects by spreading diazanon at the base of the tree. Fruit that has been dried and stored can be attacked by penecillium fungus. Stored fruit should be kept dry or sulfured to help prevent this problem.

Harvesting Figs

Never harvest figs before they are fully ripe, they do not ripen off the tree. Figs are soft and pliable at the neck when they are fully ripe. Figs should be handled carefully because they bruise easily. Figs keep best when dried, you can sun dry them for about five days or dehydrate them for twelve hours. Dried figs can last for 6-8 months whereas fresh figs can only last a couple of days in the refrigerator.