Guide to Growing Figs

Thinking of planting and growing figs in your garden?

Whether you're exploring their sensational health benefits or looking for a colourful addition to summer salads, figs make a wonderful choice. They have a distinct, delicate flavour and a soft yet chewy texture. Perhaps surprisingly, they can also be an easy fruit to grow in the UK.

Knowing how to grow figs gives you a secret ingredient. Beginners and experienced gardeners alike can indulge in these uniquely nutritious fruits' hardy and bountiful nature. Here's everything you need to know about growing figs in pots, polytunnels and gardens.

Yes! If you can provide a sunny, sheltered environment, growing figs in containers or planting them in the ground should be perfectly possible.

For best results, it's important to choose the right variety. The best fig to grow in the UK's mild, wet climate is known as the 'Brown Turkey' and it's one of the most commonly eaten varieties. It's delicious eaten on its own but also pairs beautifully with savoury foods like cheese and cured meat.

Fig trees can be planted either in the ground or in pots, but these must be at least 2ft deep and wide. If you're wondering how to grow a fig tree successfully, here are three of the most important steps:

Fig trees thrive when they get plenty of sunshine.

When planting fig trees in the soil, it's worth choosing a bright spot in a corner or leaning against a south-facing boundary. As the tree grows, its branches will naturally trail out into a fan shape. However, try to give each tree plenty of space if you're planting more than one.

Heat is necessary for any fruit tree to produce large, ripe fruit. You might choose to grow figs in a polytunnel if you're expecting a cooler summer – just remember to move them outside if they grow too tall!

Fig trees produce more fruit if you can restrict their root growth. We recommend planting either into a container in the ground or free-standing. Alternatively, you could dig a hole and line it with concrete paving slabs.

To restrict the roots, you'll need to:

• Dig a hole at least 2ft wide and deep.

• Line the sides vertically with paving slabs, forming an inch-high rim above the soil. This will prevent roots from climbing over the top.

• Add a layer of stones, gravel or rubble to the base of the hole, around 4-8in deep. This ensures good drainage while stopping the roots from escaping downwards.

• Refill the hole with soil.

Fig trees need careful maintenance to stay healthy. If you've already grown figs in containers, these will need repotting around once every two years. 

On a more regular basis, you'll need to keep on top of:

• Watering: Fig trees need to be watered frequently throughout warm weather, especially if they're in pots. If they dry out, there's a risk that your trees may shed their leaves or fruits. Pay close attention to newly planted fig trees, which need more water.

• Mulching: If you've planted figs at the base of a fence or wall, they might not get much rainfall. Make sure to give them extra water if the soil feels dry or apply a thick layer of mulch for extra moisture. This could be a nutritionally balanced garden compost or well-rotted manure. Just make sure to leave a small gap around the trunk base.

As they grow, you'll want your figs to get as much sunshine as possible. For this reason, it's best to plant figs in spring. This gives them a full season of the warmest weather to reach their maximum growing potential.

A fan-trained fig tree can be kept to around 11ft wide but will happily grow even more if it has enough space. They should be allowed to reach heights of at least 6ft.

Fig trees are relatively quick to grow, and most trees will produce their first fruit within two years. Without being fan-trained, they may keep on growing for many years.

Ripe figs are large, plump and soft to the touch. Their outer skin might be starting to split and it might look like they're dropping off the branch. They may be darker in colour and they will easily detach from their stem.

In the UK, harvesting figs only happens once a year. That's because our climate isn't warm enough to collect ripe fruit twice a year, unlike in some Mediterranean countries. You'll usually be able to harvest a crop in early to mid-autumn. 

When you see tiny, pea-sized figs forming on the branches in autumn, they will stay on the tree over winter and ripen the following year. Growing figs is a slow but highly rewarding process.

No matter how you're planning to eat your figs, there's nothing better than enjoying your first homegrown batch. Our fantastic selection of polytunnels and cloches will make planting figs a breeze and give you the best possible bounty.

To learn more about enhancing your gardening efforts with our specialist, top-quality equipment, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Call us on 01282 811250 or send us an email at info@premierpolytunnels.co.uk.