15 Steps to Success for Proper Fig Tree Care: A Fig Checklist
Updated: Jan 12
Follow these 15 tips and tricks to properly care for your fig tree.
There is a lot of information on the internet. Let this be your sole guide to grow a great fig tree your neighbors can't help but envy. May I present to you, The 15 Steps to Success for Proper Fig Tree Care
My name is Ross Raddi and I've grown 1000s of fig trees and spent 1000s of dollars and 1000s of hours just so that I can learn everything I can about these oh-so-special Ficus trees. In this article, I'm going to share 15 tips I've learned along the way so that you can grow amazing fig trees.
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Fig Tree Sunlight Requirements
For proper fruit bud formation make sure that there is adequate light penetration into the canopy of your tree. Bend limbs and prune accordingly to open the canopy. Thin new shoots at bud break. Train figs as a tree form or as a cordon when possible. A bush should have no more than 3-6 trunks from the base. Trees with no more than 3-6 scaffolds.
Watering Fig Trees
Plant your tree in well-draining & consistently moist soil. When watering, put your hand in the soil to check if it's moist. Not soaking wet or bone dry. You want something in between. I prefer soil that's on average slightly drier than moist for optimal fruit quality.
Fertilizing Fig Trees
Applications of fertilizer should be applied to every container-grown fig tree annually. Especially at the beginning of the growing season. Cover all micro nutrients and trace elements and add calcium, magnesium, sulfur & silica in higher quantities. For fig trees that are planted in the ground, periodically request soil tests from your local extension service. Cover missing nutrients at their recommended rate immediately.
Weed Control
Remove weeds, unnecessary suckers, and any competition around your fig tree.
Pruning Fig Trees
Keep winter pruning to a minimum. Remove spindly weak growth, lower branches that are shaded & crisscrossing branches during dormancy. Remove diseased, damaged, or dead wood at any time.
I am in zone 9b or 10b depending on where you check. I have a Kadota that is super productive. But very often most don't quite ripen. What am I doing wrong? It's in ground and about 8 years old
Hi. I am an old guy trying to learn about growing figs. I live in Henderson, NV where temps are 118 and humidity is 5%. I currently am growing Violetta Bordeaux, Black Jack and a Mission fig tree but all are two years old with no significant fruit yet. Do you think that this Hative d'Argenteuil. which you wrote about would grow in this climate and where would I get a plant or cuttings? Thanks! I appreciate you posting this info!! Thanks for that.
Hi..Ross.
I m a new subscriber to your blog and also enjoyed watching your videos.
Just started to plant figs.
I m from Malaysia and here figs grow very well.
I need your favor if i can buy a few cuttings from you .Some of the varieties are hard to get.
Can i buy the Black Madeira cuttings from you.?
Pls let me know .
Thanks and hv a very good day.
Halim.