As I wandered around the garden this afternoon I noticed our ‘Brown Turkey’ fig tree was starting to bud up and I figured I ought to check out what I needed to be doing to care for it at this point in time, given I have just ignored it till now.

I was very excited to buy it in July last year, in my post ‘Make Your Garden The Winner’ I said I had always wanted a fig tree. It seems such an exotic plant to have in the garden, from it’s huge fabulous leaves to the Mediterranean feeling it gives you, not to mention the yummy figs it fruits.

I was excited as mine bore four fruit but sadly, they weren’t ripe by the time I had to take them from the tree but hopefully, a year on, it’s bigger and starting to make itself established, we might have more success this year.

We re-potted it immediately after buying it as it was growing out of the pot we bought it in. It went into a large cut-down drum so it has plenty of space but apparently figs fruit better if you keep their roots restricted so that is where it will stay, certainly for the time being.

So, after a bit of hunting around my usual sources (Gardeners’ World and RHS) plus a new one to me, The Gluttonous Gardener; which is definitely worth a check out, I am armed with hopefully enough information to give my fig the care it needs.

Sources : The Gluttonous Gardener RHS Gardeners’ World

Planting

If like me you are putting yours into a pot, it is recommended that you repot them around March/April time every two to three years and move it into a pot one size larger than the one it is in, pop some stones or crocks in the bottom to allow for good drainage, not forgetting to leave an inch or so space at the top for watering.

For the first couple of years it is best if you can stake them securely in place as that helps with the growing trunk and root growth.

If you are putting your fig into the ground, now (March) is the time to transfer them. It gives the roots plenty of time to establish before we return to the cold weather next winter. It is also recommended that you try to restrict the roots by part filling the hole with manure and rubble or use old slabs to build a wall around the hole to help keep the roots from expanding too much.

Where to place it? Fig trees love a warm and bright location, slightly sheltered if possible.

Watering

Water thoroughly and regularly throughout summer while the fruit are growing. Potted figs will need more careful watering, as most potted fruit plants do, as they can dry out quickly in the hotter weather. Water sparingly through winter but if you move your pot inside for the winter, such as into the greenhouse, remember to keep the soil lightly moist.

Training

You can train the branches into a fan shape which is not only good to look at but also it ensures the fruit gets lots of sunshine to help with the ripening process.

Train against a wall using horizontal wires, creating a fan shape. If you pinch out half the tips growing on the main frame of the fan it encourages growth lower down, tying in your new shoots as they grow.

If you have left your fig tree to grow in a natural bush shape and change your mind, they are easy to train after pruning in winter.

Fruit

Once you see the fruits emerging, feed with a tomato feed every couple of weeks.

In the UK your fruit should be about ripe around September. You will know when they are ripe because the stems will bend and the fruits hang down. They might also have a drop of sugary water at the bottom. The skin is soft and squishy and may split when squeezed gently.

If you are lucky enough to have a good bumper crop of figs, you can dry them to continue eating over the winter months.

_{You can dry them out in an airing cupboard for a few weeks or in the oven; cut your figs in half and lay skin down onto a baking sheet. Leave them in the oven on it’s lowest setting for about 12 hours, keeping the door slightly ajar the whole time.}

Pruning

Late winter is the time to prune when the tree is dormant. You might want to get rid of any dead, crossing or long straggly branches, or cut them back to 5cm to create a better shape and keep the framework open. Also any branches that are pointing to the centre of the tree as these will not get enough sunlight. Prune back all but the main branches and leave six-ish buds on each stem.

Fig trees in pots are pruned similarly, remove dead and weak branches in late winter and new shoots in summer.

When your tree is the height you want it to be, you can cut back the main branches by approximately a third to ensure your tree doesn’t get too much taller.

An annual prune will help to keep your tree healthy.

Over Winter

Fig trees are actually quite hardy and readily grown in the UK. A mild cautionary act might be to cover your tree with fleece to protect from frost damage. Alternatively, if not too large to move with its pot, your tree can be kept in a sheltered position, such as a greenhouse.

If yours is trained against a wall, after your leaves have dropped, you can cover with fleece or pack straw around the branches.

Don’t Share Your Figs!

The birds and wasps will want to share your figs. Unless you’re feeling particuarly generous and have nothing else to offer them it is worth considering covering your figs with netting or hang a wasp trap from the tree. I have one of these that I haven’t yet tried out. Will let you know how that goes.

You may also want to harvest the fruits as soon as they ripen and don’t leave any dropped fruit on the ground so as not to encourage them.