I just harvested figs I grew myself in Indiana on a fig tree growing outside. You can grow figs too!
Whenever I harvest a bowl of figs I am tempted to arrange them in a lovely still life setting, suitable for a Renaissance-style painting. Even though I cannot off the top of my head recall such a painting.
Figs just look old-worldly to me.
Would you like to know my secrets for growing figs, Ficus carica, in the ground in Indiana, Zone 6a?
First, I chose varieties that are known for being a bit hardier than most. In my case I first planted ‘Brown Turkey’ and then added ‘Chicago Hardy’ a year later.
I planted them out on the edge of the vegetable garden. Neither gets much protection from winter winds, though ‘Chicago Hardy’ might get a little protection since it is planted closer to the fence.
In the late fall, I pile up shredded leaves around the base of the figs and wish them well. Then in late spring, I pull back the leaves and cut the branches back some but not all the way to the ground. I wait to see where they bud out in late spring and anything that didn’t bud out, I cut back then.
The plants grow all summer and become large shrubs, probably six feet tall by six feet wide. They bear fruit that is usually ready to harvest by late September into early October. They can survive a light frost but once we get a heavy frost, they are done and it is time to pile the leaves around their bases once again.
Of the two varieties—’Chicago Hardy’ and ‘Brown Turkey’—if I had to choose just one, I would choose ‘Brown Turkey’. It produces much larger figs and they tend to ripen sooner.
In fact, I gave the ‘Chicago Hardy’ a stern look earlier today to give it fair warning that if it doesn’t start ripening its fruit earlier and making it bigger, it won’t be around after next fall. One more year!
This picture from earlier this summer shows how big the fig plants get.
‘Brown Turkey’ is in the front and ‘Chicago Hardy’ is hiding behind it. There is a path between the two but they have taken it over and made it nearly impassable. The fence behind them is six feet tall, give or take.
Later in the fall, they look a little less sharp, but are still big plants.
In a few weeks, I’ll pile leaves up around the base of each fig to protect the roots again and plan for another season of ripe figs next year. In Indiana!
I have a fig plant grown by the cutting ,although I dont know the variety but it taste heavenly when completely ripened.It would be my pleasure if you join my link up party related to gardening here http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2020/10/garden-affair-fruit-harvest.html
Arun, I will check out your link up party. Thank you!
I have Chicago Hardy and it occasionally makes figs. They often don't ripen. I have thought it is because it doesn't get enough sun. I like the leaves tho so I let it grow. The rabbits also like this plant. They eat the bark off it so it is deformed. It is rather like a bush. After seeing yours maybe that is the way it grows?? As I say I like the shape of the leaves so it gets to stay here.
I would like to know what you do with your figs?? I don't know what to do with the ones I do get that ripen.
I usually just eat my figs fresh but maybe I'll try to make something with them this year? We'll see. If you have room, try 'Brown Turkey'. I think you would definitely get figs. My 'Chicago Hardy' gave me no figs before the freeze two mornings ago.
Hi Lisa. I have a 3 year old Chicago Hardy and a 3 year old Toscany italian fig. Last year I got 140 figs. They were great and delicious. You can eat them fresh and make jam if you have a lot. Enjoy your fig tree and their fruits. Best, Ylli .
Great! Outstanding that you can grow your own fresh figs!
I have 'Brown Turkey' as well and cut it back hard to keep it from getting too big. If you can't reach the fruit to pick it, no use it growing too large.
I cook the fruit and make homemade fig bars. Much yummier than store bought.
I might try cooking mine too as I had a pretty decent harvest. No reason to cut it back here until spring. It dies back to the ground!
I'm waiting for my lilac to die (it has shelf fungus) so I can put in a fig! My father had a tree near my playhouse when I was a little girl. My father's tree, my mother didn't like figs. She had her rose garden, the rest of the garden was his.
Funny how we sometimes actually want a plant to die so we have an excuse to get rid of it…
I planted a Chicago hardy in the Indy suburbs last year and am waiting to see if it survived winter. It grew well in year 1, putting on about 10 inches of growth and fruiting. So far no signs of growth as we approach the last frost date. When do yours start to show signs of life?
Krisina, It does take longer for the figs to show growth… I don’t worry too much about them until later in May.
Where do you recommend purchasing Brown Turkey fig seedlings from in Indiana?
Ask at any garden center to see if they can order one for you. I purchased mine at a garden center in Indianapolis.
Carol
Carol, we live in Nashville, TN and our best friends live in Indy. I would like to gift them with a fig tree as soon as I find out if they would like to have one. I’ve been propagating my Brown Turkeys for a few years simply by allowing the lowest hanging branches to come in touch with the dirt under them. A very simple and easy technique. I’ve been giving them away to neighbors and family. Plus I have been able to continually expand my fig trees since one branch that is rooted becomes a tree unto itself, perpetually renewing the fig’s life cycle. They taste great and make for some very tasty fig jam.
I love zone 6a in Indiana, I have a fig that grows fruit but I never get ripe fruit off of it. But it looks like your pictures above. At least I THINK it does. But it isn’t exactly what I’d say is a bush. It is more like canes. So there is a “root ball” at the bottom that individual canes or branches each grow from. Is this what yours are as well? It looks like it might be from your photo. My question is how far do I cut each “cane” looking branch back each spring and when in the spring?
Toni,
I wait in the spring until I see green shoots coming up from the lower branches, then cut off above that. Figs are pretty easy to root from cuttings so you do end up with some rooting where lower branches touch the ground, which tends to make the plant broader over time if given the room. Hope this helps!