Fig Trees

Picking the right fig variety

Size first, flavour second. Brown Turkey is the biggest tree in the range at about 5m tall and 5m wide, a self fertile, heavy cropping workhorse that also copes with coastal salt and poor soil. Black Genoa is our best seller and matches it for vigour at 5m by 4m, though it is easily kept to 3m with winter pruning. Celeste carries small, sweet, purple brown figs on a 5m tree, and Preston Prolific is the heavy cropping white skinned choice at a similar size. If space is tight, Adam finishes at about 3.5m by 3m and White Genoa at 4m, and both take well to large pots.

Where fig trees thrive

Figs come from the Mediterranean and the Middle East, so they are built for hot dry summers and cool winters. Every variety here is frost hardy, heat tolerant and drought tolerant once established, and all perform in warm temperate, Mediterranean and cool temperate gardens. Most also handle the subtropics, while Brown Turkey, Adam and Celeste extend into arid and semi arid inland areas. In humid coastal districts give the tree full sun and open air movement so the fruit ripens cleanly. Alongside the other fruit trees in our range, figs are among the most forgiving of neglect.

Planting, spacing and those roots

Plant in full sun, at least six hours a day, into free draining soil. Dig the hole twice as wide as the pot and no deeper, water in well, and soak deeply twice a week through the first summer. If you are planting more than one tree, space them 4m to 5m apart. The one genuine caution: fig roots are vigorous and water seeking, so keep the tree at least 5m from pipes, paving, pools and tanks. Where that clearance does not exist, grow one in a large container instead, which restricts the roots and keeps the tree compact. Our guide to planting fruit trees through the seasons covers site preparation in more detail.

Care through the year

Prune in winter while the tree is bare, taking it back to a height you can pick from, usually 2.5m to 3m. Wear gloves, because the milky sap irritates skin. Feed once in early spring with a complete fertiliser, water while the fruit is swelling for a better crop, and net the tree as figs colour up or the birds will beat you to every one. Like all deciduous trees they drop their leaves in autumn, which is exactly why they shrug off frost in cooler areas.

Common questions

Do I need two fig trees to get fruit?

No. The common fig varieties grown in Australian gardens set fruit on their own, and Brown Turkey and Celeste in particular are noted heavy self fertile croppers. One tree is plenty for most households.

How long until a fig tree fruits?

Expect a first taste within two to three years of planting, with crops building each season after that. Figs are fast growing, so the wait is shorter than for most fruiting trees.

Can I grow a fig in a pot?

Yes, and it is the smart option near paving or pipes. Choose a container at least 50cm across with good drainage, use Adam, White Genoa or Preston Prolific, and prune each winter to hold the tree around 2m.

Why do fig trees lose their leaves?

They are deciduous. The leaves yellow and drop in autumn, the tree rests bare through winter, and new growth follows in spring. A leafless fig in July is healthy, not dying.