Fig Basics: Start Growing Figs

Figs are vigorous, forgiving plants, and you can grow them even where winters are too cold for an unprotected fig tree. The key is to understand dormancy, choose a growing method that fits your space, and give the plant enough heat and season length to ripen fruit.

A potted fig tree in Toronto. Growing in a container makes it easy to control the plant's size and move it to a protected place for winter.

Four things to understand first

1. Dormancy is your friend

Fig trees drop their leaves and go dormant as cold weather arrives. While dormant, they don't need light or much warmth, which is why a garage, cold cellar, shed, or other protected space can work for potted figs.

2. Pots and in-ground figs are different projects

A potted fig gives you control: you can move it, prune it to size, and protect it in winter. An in-ground fig can grow larger and need less summer watering, but winter protection may be more involved.

3. Winter survival isn't the whole story

A tree can survive winter beautifully and still fail to ripen much fruit. In short or cool summers, early-ripening varieties, warm microclimates, breba crops, and an early spring start matter.

4. Figs can give you two crops

Breba figs form on wood from the previous season and ripen first. Main-crop figs form on new growth and ripen later. In cool or short seasons, a generous breba crop can be valuable fig insurance.