You never see a fig tree in bloom: its hundreds of tiny flowers sit hidden inside the hollow, fleshy receptacle that swells into the fig itself. Self-pollinating and astonishingly long-lived, the fig tree (Ficus carica) asks only for plenty of sun and fertile, well-drained soil — give it that and sweet crops follow, even in cooler regions.
The article names several varieties, each with its own cropping habit and ideal setting. Use the table below to match a fig tree to your climate and the space you have.
| Variety | Cropping | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ‘Bordeaux’ | Bears fruit early | Cooler climates |
| ‘Longue d’Aout’ | Two crops, July and end of August | Cooler climates |
| ‘Negronne’ | Two crops, first in July and again at the end of August | Cooler climates |
| ‘Dalmatie’ | Two crops in summer | Garden box, where garden space is lacking |
| ‘Brunswick’ | Two crops in summer | Garden box, doesn’t spread too much |
| ‘Golden’ | Two crops in summer | Garden box, doesn’t spread too much |
Whichever you choose, place it in full sun and, in cooler areas, against a south-facing wall.
Not a demanding plant, the fig tree is a long-living tree, it can live to more than 300 years!
To thrive, it requires a lot of sunlight and fertile, well drained soil (it tolerates acidic or slightly chalky soil). In cooler areas, set it near a south-facing wall (or south-west), and shelter it from cold winds. This is a tree that grows very well as a standalone, give it space to grow.
Planting is performed in March and April. In mild climates, it can also be planted in fall. Water it during the first summer and mulch. It should already know how to deal with drought on its own during the following summers.
Care is minimal: just add potassium-rich fertilizer in spring. Pruning isn’t necessary, but if you so wish, do it at the beginning of spring.
Smaller fig tree varieties can be grown in a garden box which is a good idea if you lack space in the garden. ‘Dalmatie’, ‘Brunswick’, ‘Golden’ are varieties that don’t spread too much, and provide for two crops in summer.
Set your fig tree in a large garden box filled with rich soil mix laid on a thick drainage layer.
Water regularly and bring it indoors out of the freezing cold in winter, when temperatures drop below 40°F (5°C). Repot every three years.
Add a potted olive tree or oleander, a garden box with thyme and rosemary, a sprig of lavender… and you’ll have recreated the Mediterranean on your balcony !
Laure Hamann
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