When should you uncover a fig tree?

Asked by: Michelle Allen

Are there any tips you can offer? DEAR JOY: Uncover your fig tree on a cloudy day just after the last average frost day, which is April 15.

How cold can a fig tree handle?

15° to 20°F

The plants are deciduous, going dormant over the winter in all but the warmest parts of North America. Fig trees tolerate more cold than many people realize. Mature, dormant plants can survive temperatures as low as 15° to 20°F—sometimes even colder—without damage.

Can you keep a fig tree indoors?

Can you grow a fig tree indoors? The short answer is no. Here’s why you wouldn’t want to: The edible fig (Ficus carica) needs full sun in the summer, which is almost impossible to get indoors. In autumn, the deciduous fig tree loses its leaves and goes into dormancy for the winter, when it doesn’t need any sun at all.

Will fig tree come back after frost?

A: Lots of fig trees suffered during the past winter, but the majority will recover. Start pruning those browned branches — clip a bit and then more until you find green tissue. If there is none, remove that branch completely. Then clip a few inches off all around if needed to shape up the tree.

Should I trim a fig tree back once leaves have fallen?

Prune your tree again during the tree’s first winter.



Late winter is the end of the tree’s dormant season and the best time to bring out your pruning shears. This will prompt new branches to sprout by early spring.

Should I cover my fig tree in winter?

Although some planting tricks (such as planting your fig against a south-facing wall) can help figs survive most winters without extra care, wrapping them in layers of burlap and fallen leaves in late autumn or early winter will keep them from dying back too severely during a cold winter.

How do you take care of a fig tree in the winter?

In some areas, fig trees will need protecting over winter, especially if the tree is young. When the leaves have dropped, cover with horticultural fleece, or if your tree is fan-trained, pack straw around the branches. Move pot grown fig trees into a cool shed, or covered area such as a greenhouse.

How do you care for a potted fig tree indoors?

Allow it to soak up as much moisture as it can, then remove the excess water after 10 minutes. Water the fig once per week or more, depending on how humid your area is. Allow the fig tree to dry out for a day or two between waterings. Place the plant in an area that receives medium to bright light.

Can you keep fig trees in pots?

A container suitable for planting fig trees in pots should be large. Half whiskey barrels are ideal, but any container large enough to accommodate the root ball plus some growing space is fine. You can always transplant the tree in later years as it outgrows the container.

How often should you water an indoor fig tree?

about once a week

Watering a Fiddle Leaf Fig



The number one way to kill a fiddle leaf fig is to overwater it or not allow for proper drainage. Water your plant about once a week or every 10 days.

What month do you prune fig trees?

‘Figs are best pruned in March or April after the worst frosts have passed, all dead and diseased wood should be removed.

What time of the year do you cut fig trees back?

After a fig tree is established, the best time when to prune a fig tree will be in the dormant (winter) season when the tree is not growing. Begin your fig tree pruning by removing any branches that are not growing out from your selected fruiting wood, as well as any dead or diseased wood.

How far back can you cut a fig tree?

Figs perform well with an annual maintenance pruning, although when a fig is cut back hard, it should be allowed to regrow without impediment or any other trimming for at least two seasons or until the tree is again consistently producing a good crop of fruit.

Why does my fig tree have no figs?

The most common reason for a fig tree not producing fruit is simply its age. Trees, like animals, need to reach a certain maturity before they can produce offspring. Fruit is how a fig tree creates seeds. If the fig tree is not old enough to produce seeds, it will also not produce fruit.

Do figs grow on old or new wood?

Figs produce fruit on 1 year old wood and the upcoming season’s growth. They require little specialized pruning; head back to keep tree to manageable size and thin to keep aerated.

How tall should a fig tree be?

15 to 30 feet tall

Mature fig trees can be 15 to 30 feet tall–space a bit apart so that you can really see the unique shape of the mature tree. There are several varieties that stay naturally small and fit nicely into large containers (see below).

How do you care for an outdoor fig tree?

Continued Fig Tree Care



The roots of a fig tree tend to grow close to the surface of the soil. Regular watering during the growing season is imperative. Mulching with straw or grass clippings can help keep the roots moist. Dry roots can lead to premature fruit drop.

Do fig trees like sun or shade?

Figs need two things to thrive: sunshine and elbow room. Select a spot that provides at least six hours of sun daily. In colder regions, help figs survive winter by giving them a southern exposure or placing them near a south-facing wall that will retain heat.

What time of year do figs bear fruit?

Fruits generally ripen from August – October depending on cultivar and climate. Some trees produce what is called a breba which are fig fruits that develop during the spring on the previous year’s shoot growth, followed by the main fig crop that develops on the new shoot growth and ripens in late summer or fall.

How tall is a 3 year old fig tree?

3-3.5 Ft

3-4 Year Old (Approx. 3-3.5 Ft) Celeste Fig Tree.

Do fig trees need a lot of water?

Figs don’t like wet feet, so don’t water too often. Allow the tree to dry a bit between watering. Remember to water slowly and deeply; just don’t overwater. Every 10 days to 2 weeks is sufficient.

How do you force a fig tree to fruit?

If your fig tree is putting too much of its energy into branch and leaf growth, rather than setting fruit, identify the new growth branches – they’ll be more flexible than old growth – and pinch off their tips. This setback will encourage them to set fruit, instead.

Is Miracle Grow good for fig trees?

Miracle-Gro is among the popular brands of fertilizers. For fig trees, Miracle-Gro All-Purpose Plant Food is the most suitable for fig trees. It is a 24-8-16 NPK fertilizer that comes in the form of water-soluble granules.

Are coffee grounds good for fig trees?

There are risks to using diluted coffee or coffee grounds on fiddle leaf figs. Directly applying coffee grounds to indoor plant soil can cause excessive moisture retention, fungal overgrowth, and impair plant growth due to over-acidifying the soil.

How can you tell if a fig tree is male or female?

Look for five stamens that stick out of the bottom of the fruit surrounded by petal-less, outward-facing bracts of tissue that’s similar to that of the fruit skin to identify a male caprifig. Stamens do not protrude out of the synconium on female trees.

Does every fig have a dead wasp?

No. While female wasps lay eggs within a fig fruit, the crunch you experience when eating a fig does not come from those eggs. All wasps have either exited the fig or their exoskeletons have been broken down and absorbed by the fruit.

What is the lifespan of a fig tree?

The Brown Turkey fig tree has to grow for three to five years before bearing fruit for the first time. Since this tree will outlive you (most Brown Turkey fig trees have a lifespan of about 200 years), you only have to worry about buying and planting this tree once.