Pot

• Repotting needs to be done while the fig tree is dormant before leaves start growing. This is safest for the tree.
• Do not use clay pot, they break and dry out the soil quickly. Plastic is fine with lighter colors preferable so the roots do not become heat stressed in the summer.
• The size of the pot should be appropriate for the top growth. Think the root system should be 1/2 as wide/deep as the portion of the tree above ground. 6-10 gallon pot bare minimum.
• Drainage. Most pots have one large hole in the center of the pot. Drill at least 8 more 1/2 holes it the base.
• Do not place the pot in a saucer or drainage dish. This will cause the roots to rot. Ideally one wants the pot lifted off the ground 1/2 inch so air can get to the bottom of the root system and so the roots do not rot.

Potting Mix

• Mix the soil in a wheelbarrow. Where gloves to prevent abrasion under your nails.
• Your soil should be at least 50% potting mix. Not potting soil or garden soil. Potting mix is lighter and allows for faster draining and root growth than soil. The remaining 25-35% should coarse Perlite (do not breath Perlite dust) to aid in aeration, root growth and drainage. 15-25% well composted material, worm casting, fish emulsion etc..
• Add 2 cups of pelletized limestone (dolomite) not lawn lime per 5 gallons of potting mix.  Moistened with water and mix in well.
• Add 1 cup of a slow release fertilizer (Osmocote Fruit/Vegetable) to the soil. Mix in well.
• Annually add the same amount of lime and fertilizer to the tree, add more soil as needed. Cut off 25% of the thicker root mass to encourage more root growth. The dinner roots are the ones that too all the work.
• Do not water heavily after repotting, you don’t want to drown the tree and the moistened soil is good because the tree is dormant still.

Fertilizer

• You can fertilize with MG or any other dissolvable fertilizer diluted at least 50% with water once a month after leaves form. Do not fertilize leaves, do not water leaves.

Spring

• Bring your tree out as soon as temperatures are above 50 degrees. Watch out for cold days or late freezes. You can just bring it back into the garage if its going to get cold. Use a dolly or hand truck to save your back if its heavy.

Watering

• Water when soil feels dry 2 inches below soil level. In a 6 gallon bucket in Spring and early summer you’ll need to do this weekly. As the Summer approaches and through Sept you may need to water daily. Do not water the leaves unless any bugs/spiders takes up residence there, you can blast them off.

Placement Outside

• Figs love sunshine but when bringing them out from their winter storage wean them into the sun over a few weeks. The driveway is great place as the tar really reflects heat to the leaves and ripens fruit well.

Pinching

• In Spring and through July you want to pinch the terminal apical buds off the ends of the branches. This encourages lateral branching and fruit growth and ripening. The apical bud is the tip of the brach. Count 5-7 leaves on each branch and pinch the tip with your thumbnail and first finger. Pinching is done weekly a

Fruiting

• Your tree can have 2 crops. A summer or first crop known as the Breba crop and a second September crop which is heavier know as your main crop. Th Breba crop grows on last years growth (1 year old wood) and your main crop grows on the new growth, this season’s wood that is green.
• At about half of the fruit ripening in September wean the watering schedule back a little if it has been rainy or not hot. This will help the fruit develop sugars and the skins not split. If the soil is very wet the skins will split and the figs will be bland or sour.
• It is not uncommon to give your fig tree an umbrella on a  rainy day.

Pruning

• Prune in Fall after leaves fall off. Take off 50% growth, look to make a shape of a martini glass so no branches are too high to reach and do not cross. Save the cuttings, you can make more fig trees out of them but removing the leaves, cutting them into 7 inch lengths with 3 nodes on them and placing them in potting soil.

Late Fall/Winter

• Don’t let your tree freeze.
• Your tree will require less watering in the winter while it is dormant so do not overwater.
• You can bring your tree into the house to continue growing and ripening figs late into the summer BUT you must let your fig tree go dormant in non freezing temperatures. It needs this time to rest and build its fine root system.