Fig trees (Ficus carica L.) are relatively small trees at only 10 to 30 feet tall, but they have such a broad spread, often as wide as the tree is tall, that they need plenty of room to grow. The plants can be pruned to a smaller, bushier shape for yards with less space, or grown in containers. The sun-loving fig grows best in Mediterranean climates, but do require some protection from heavy winds. More figs are grown in California than anywhere else in the country.
Flowers and Fruit
The fig's minuscule flowers are clustered inside the green fruits. Common fig's flowers are female and need no pollination. The caprifig is pollinated by a tiny wasp and in turn is used to provide cross-pollination for Smyrna figs. The San Pedro fig requires no pollination for its first crop, called the breba, but will not produce the second, main crop without pollination. Breba crops usually mature early and often produce fewer and smaller fruits than the main crop. The main crop ripens between June and October, depending on variety. The trees need less than 100 cold winter hours, called chill hours, to set fruit.
Several varieties of figs are suitable for growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 to 10, though some varieties, such as Kadota, can thrive as far south as USDA zone 11. Black mission fig is the most reliable choice for home orchards, according to the University of California Cooperative Extension website. This variety produces its breba crop in late June and the main crop from August to September. Brown Turkey is another common variety for home orchardists, with a small breba crop and a large crop with large fruit ripening in August. In cooler areas along the coast, Osborn and White Genoa are good choices. Calimyrna figs, a Smyrna fig variety, require cross-pollination by a male Caprifig tree.
Figs thrive in sandy, loamy, clay or limestone soils, as long as the area is well drained and has a pH level between 6.0 and 6.5. Fig roots grow well beyond the dripline of the tree canopy. For best fruiting, fig trees need good sunlight all day long, but whitewash the trunk if the tree is too exposed to direct sunlight. Newly planted trees need more water and no fertilizer. The next year and thereafter, you can lightly fertilize the area around the tree with ammonium sulfate while the tree is dormant.
Pests and Diseases
Beetles, earwigs, fruit flies, scales, nematodes and spider mites may attack fig trees. Tiny leafspots, chewed foliage and stunted growth may be the result of insect infestations. A hard jet of water from a garden hose can knock many pests off the tree, but some, such as nematodes and fruit flies, may require more vigorous control with pesticides or predatory insects suitable for use on food crops. Figs can contract canker disease, which may be treated with fungicides and pruning. Fig mosaic causes mottled leaves and fruit; damaged areas should be pruned away. Yellowing leaves or stunted growth, skimpy crops or deformed leaves are signs of trouble. Keep the tree healthy and monitor regularly for signs of insects, drought stress or symptoms of disease.
Your Planting Articles
- University of California at Davis: The California Backyard Home Orchard -- Selecting Fruit, Nut, and Berry Crops for Home Gardens in San Mateo and San Francisco Counties
- California Rare Fruit Growers: Fig
- Growing Temperate Tree Fruit and Nut Crops in the Home Garden and Landscape
- UC IPM Online: Pests in Gardens and Landscapes -- Fig
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