Video: How to Grow Figs

If you think it's too cold to grow figs where you live, watch this video.

Maybe you can grow figs, even if they are not winter hardy in your area.

Fig trees are very forgiving plants that will take a lot of abuse.

In this video, I explain how to grow figs in places where they wouldn't normally survive the winter. It's not difficult! And you don't need a greenhouse to do it.

This is a talk I gave at Richter’s Herbs in 2013 about how to grow figs in cold climates.

As Steven Biggs puts it, "Growing figs shouldn't seem exotic; it should be straight forward stuff!" Indeed, a growing coterie of gardeners across Canada and ...

A-Frame for Winter Fig Protection

Last week, my boys and I stopped by Adriano's for a visit.

Adriano grows it as a multi-stemmed bush, cutting out stems that become too big and, therefore, less flexible.

His potted trees were outside; still dormant, but buds swelling nicely.

He showed me his in-ground Desert King fig that overwinters covered with an A-frame.

Alternative to Burying Your Fig

Thinking of growing an in-ground fig, but don't want to chop the roots and lay it flat?

The A-Frame method is another approach to overwintering figs if you're in zone that's too cold for figs to survive unprotected.

Uncovered for Spring

He says this big in-ground Desert King fig has been there for about 40 years.

He grows it as a multi-stemmed bush, cutting out stems that become too big and, therefore, less flexible.

When winter comes, he bends over the branches, and then places an insulated A-frame (made from wood and styrofoam) over the top.

Through Summer

It never fully stands upright, but instead is bent over, so that it looks as if it is praying!

Figs in Garden Making Magazine

Get the latest issue of Garden Making magazine, which has my article about growing figs in cold climates. The magazine is on shelves now, or you can order online. Visit the Garden Making website.