fig tree

[bev and andy]

just bought a fig tree but over the couple of days have noticed the fruit is turning brown and looking kind of blighty? is this normal it was bought from a local garden centre. the tree is about 4ft.Would welcome as much info as poss. Do i keep it in the pot or do i plant it on the allot?

[bev and andy]

[AikenDrum]

There was a Fig tree in my garden when I moved here over 15 years ago, and sadly the fruit has never matured suffiffiently to be of any use for anything. It   ...... runs down the stairs to check  ..... never fruits to maturity, must be the climate here in Bedfodshire  :(  and has actually demolished the wall (brick) between me and my neighbour ! Resolved amicably over a bottle of wine or two I might add     {:¬)#

[plot51A]

Bought my fig tree 3 years ago and have it in a pot on my balcony. This summer 4 fruits ripened to edible stage - lovely treat.
Am thinking of transferring it to my plot - but - they do best against south or west facing wall I believe and my lottie plot can't provide that! But might try anyway. Also they do best with restricted root growth so if you plant out sink a container of some sort and plant in that - like you would with mint.

[jennym]

Figs - ah, figs!
Right, I have had so many bits of advice on these, it makes your head spin. The fruit isn't truly fruit, but that is irrelevant, except that they don't actually need pollinating to produce this 'fruit'.
If you prune mid summer, careful of the sap which can irritate. prune only half the branches. This provokes growth, which should harden off enough to produce fruit early the next season. They fruit on last years wood. You don't need to prune every year, and best not to. Any 'fruits' present at the end of the season are unlikely to ripen outside, best to take off as soon as you see them, and concentrate on ones produced early in spring, but if you can protect these from early frosts in some way, you will have a better chance. Don't feed unless in a pot, and you won't get fruit unless pot ones are kept well watered. Outside, they are best in full sun, aganst a wall. Restricting roots can be done simply - take a spade and dig a trench around them every couple of years, severing the fine roots you see. Fill it in afterwards. You don't need to lay slabs.
Best of luck!