Advice
RHS Help & Advice
Growing figs in containers
Growing figs in containers provides the root restriction necessary to achieve a balance of healthy and productive growth. Container growing also allows for fruits to be protected from frost in a cold greenhouse over winter and moved outside for the summer.
Cultivation
Choose a warm sunny location for plants in summer. Water plants freely during the growing season and feed weekly alternating a high potash liquid plant food with a balanced feed.
In winter bring plants into a frost-free greenhouse, conservatory, garage or shed. If this is not available wrap the pot in bubble polythene and place against a sheltered house wall. Pack round the branches with straw and cover with hessian or fleece. Remove after danger of frost is past but before bud burst.
Pot plants in early spring using a loam based John Innes No 3 compost. Ensure adequate drainage. Aim for a final container size of between 30-38cm (12-15in). Established plants may need repotting every two or three years. Remove loose compost and trim thicker roots before potting in the same or slightly larger container.
Pruning
Container-grown figs are best grown as a bush on a short stem. Purchase plants with three or four branches coming from the stem around 38cm (15in) from the ground, or cut back single stem plants to encourage branching. In late winter cut back these branches by half to develop a compact framework.
Spring: Remove crossing and frost damaged shoots to maintain an open centre. Prune back over-long and bare branches when necessary to 5cm (2in) to encourage new shoots to form.
Summer: Pinch out any new shoots at five or six leaves to encourage fruit formation.
Cropping
A single crop of fruits can be expected in summer from embryo figs formed the previous summer if protected from frost over winter. Figs are ready for picking when they turn soft, hang down and splits appear near the stalk end of the fruit.
Plants can be grown all year round under glass, where due to the longer growing season a further crop of figs formed in the spring may ripen in autumn. Pay careful attention to watering as dry conditions will result in poor fruit development.