The fig tree has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. It’s mentioned in the Bible numerous times and has been a cherished delicacy by various ancient civilizations such as the Romans, Greeks, Phoenicians and ancient Egyptians. Today, it holds a significant place in our society, often intertwined with family stories of immigration and heritage. Many families, arriving to North America with very little, carried with them the hope for a better future and often a small fig tree or cutting hidden in their belongings. These trees were nurtured and cared for using wisdom passed down through generations, and they provided not only delicious fruit but also a deep connection to their roots. The tender care given to these fig trees symbolized the resilience, progress, and prosperity of these families in their new home. Those fortunate enough to have grown up around a thriving fig tree share a special bond with their ancestors.

Today, many people in Canada and around the world continue the tradition of cultivating fig trees, some preserving heirloom varieties that have been in their families for generations, while others seek out exotic varieties from distant corners of the world. The growing interest in this delectable fruit shows no signs of slowing down.

I am a fig grower located in Ontario, Canada, specifically in the greater Toronto Area, within USDA Zone 4. I maintain a small fig garden and I fall into the category of fig collector and grower. I have put together this guide for novice gardeners interested in growing fig trees. It offers simple, non-technical instructions based on my experiences in the northeast, as well as insights gathered from nurseries, commercial farmers, the internet, and fellow growers. While not exhaustive, the guide covers a broad range of topics in a concise manner. I recognize that some information may be tailored to the northeast, so I encourage you to adapt as needed and use common sense. Fig trees are hardy and can thrive for generations, fostering strong connections among family, friends, and places. With minimal care and understanding, you’ll discover that growing fig trees is straightforward and doesn’t require a too much of a green thumb.

Understanding the Fig Tree

The fig tree, known scientifically as Ficus Carica, is a semi-tropical tree primarily grown for its delicious fruit. It is native to the warm Mediterranean region, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. Although fig trees thrive in the warm and steady climate of the Mediterranean, they have also adapted to the North American climate, requiring only a hot summer to yield a bountiful harvest. In the northeast, where summers are hot and long enough, fig trees can flourish. These deciduous trees can grow to be 5 to 30 feet tall and produce beautiful, deeply lobed, spade-shaped leaves, which vary in texture and shape depending on the variety.

Fig tree biology is quite intricate, but for the purposes of this article, we will provide a brief overview of the types of fig trees and the fruits they produce. If you wish to delve deeper into fig tree biology, you can conduct a Google search or refer to the suggested books below.

Before we delve into the types of fig trees, let’s dispel a common myth. Many new fig growers often ask whether figs contain wasps. The answer is no. There was a misconception stemming from an article featuring images of wasps that led to widespread misinformation. Real fig wasps are tiny pollinators crucial to the fig tree’s life cycle, but they are not found in the northeastern United States. Therefore, there is no need to worry about finding wasps inside figs in this region.

There are three types of edible figs:

Common figs – being the most familiar variety in the northeast. Common figs, also known as Persistent figs, do not require pollination to bear fruit and produce two crops during the season: the breba crop and the main crop.

San Pedro figs – Will give you a first crop without pollination (This crop is called the breba crop). This fig type will require pollination for the second crop called the main Crop.

Smyrna Figs – This fig type will require pollination and can only produce fruit in a region that has the fig wasp.