Planting Fig Trees

I planted this fig tree about 30 years ago from a small one foot seedling in a neighbors deserted orchard. Once it got frozen back to the roots in zero degree temperatures which happen very rarely here. Now it has grown into a lovely tree that produces black figs. The first flush is ripe now and there are some huge figs coming on for later pickings.

When my grandchildren were here in July they loved climbing from the low branches up to the tallest and kept wanting to know when the figs would be ripe. Now I'm going to sun dry the ripe ones and send them to the grandkids for a treat and a reminder of the wealth and bounty of their grandmother's yard.

Figs can be raised from seed, by ground layering, or by cuttings. They grow well in a wide range of soils. My soil is fairly acid and the tree is prospering. They grow up to 30 feet high and their large lobed leaves are very attractive so that people often remark on my fig tree. The tree originated in Western Asia and spread throughout the Mediterrean. The tree produces several crops a year. My fig keeps ripening fruit up unitl the first frosts in October. You can also grow it as a container plant.

I'm not really fond of the fresh fruit, but love them roasted, with goat cheese in salads or as an appetizer. They are easy to dry and then make tasty snacks.

At Fig 'Black Mission' Tree Container Plant

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