Fig Tree in a Pot: How to Grow Figs in Containers

You can grow a fig tree in a pot in any USDA zone if you use a large container, give it full sun and shelter it from hard freezes in winter. Penn State Extension recommends pots at least 18 inches (45 cm) wide, filled with a sterile potting mix and compost. A pot also lets you move the tree to an unheated garage or shed in cold zones, which is how many northern gardeners keep a fig alive. A potted fig is an easy project. This guide expands on the container section of our fig tree guide with pot sizes, a soil recipe, pruning and a winter plan.

Which fig varieties suit a pot?

Choose by tree size and winter hardiness. A smaller tree is easier to manage in a pot.

• Chicago Hardy grows 10–15 ft tall in the ground, but Illinois Extension says it can be pruned and kept at 6 ft (1.8 m). It is also the most cold-tolerant fig, which gives you a margin in a cold snap.
• Brown Turkey and Celeste are described by the California Rare Fruit Growers as small trees, and UF/IFAS reports both as more cold hardy than many figs.
• Black Mission is a very large tree in the ground, but a Penn State Extension author keeps one in a 3-by-3-foot pot (about 90 cm) that stays outside and is protected as if it were in the ground.

Compare more in the fig varieties guide. Buy a plant from a regional nursery or an extension plant sale, and check the label for the variety name.

What size pot does a fig tree need?

Step up gradually. A pot that is too big for a small root system holds wet soil and invites root rot. Aim for a final pot at least 18 inches (45 cm) across, as Penn State recommends.

Every pot needs drainage holes. Fabric pots breathe, drain well and are lighter to move than ceramic. Put a big pot on a wheeled plant caddy, because a wet one can weigh well over 100 lb (45 kg). Once the tree reaches its final pot, slide it out every few years, shave an inch or two (2.5–5 cm) off the sides of the root ball and refresh the top third of the mix. That keeps the tree compact without a bigger pot.

What soil mix is best for a potted fig?

Penn State Extension recommends a sterile potting mix with compost or other organic matter. Use a free-draining mix, and cut regular potting soil with one-third pine bark fines or perlite if it stays soggy. Figs like slightly acidic soil, with a pH of 6.0–6.5 (Penn State).

How much sun does a potted fig need?

Figs perform best in full sun (UF/IFAS). Aim for 8 or more hours of direct light, and at least 6. Put the pot on a south- or west-facing patio, deck or against a wall that stores heat. Indoors, even a south window is dim for a fig, so keep the tree outside in summer for the sun it needs to fruit.

Watering and feeding a fig in a pot

How to prune a potted fig tree

Pruning keeps a potted fig to a size you can move and net. For most US gardeners, prune in late winter before growth starts, when the tree is dormant and easy to see. Sources disagree on timing: UF/IFAS and CRFG recommend pruning after harvest in late summer, while Clemson recommends winter. Whichever you choose, be light-handed on varieties that bear a breba crop, because brebas form on last year’s wood.

1. Cut out dead, crossing and weak branches first.
2. Shorten the tallest branches to hold the tree at a height you can reach. For Chicago Hardy that can be 6 ft (1.8 m).
3. Thin the center so light and air reach the fruit.
4. Wear gloves, because fig sap irritates some people’s skin.

How to overwinter a potted fig

Penn State Extension says to place containers in an insulated, unheated, preferably dark room, garage or cool basement. A fig is deciduous, so unlike an evergreen mango or citrus it does not need light while it rests. Check the soil every few weeks and water lightly if it is bone dry. Move the tree back outside after the hardest freezes pass, harden it off over a week, starting in shade, and cut away any dead wood once new growth shows. Our guide to overwintering a fig tree covers wrapping and mulching, and the ripe fig guide helps you pick your first crop at the right moment.