Figs Need Water to Produce Figs

Q. We're considering planting a fig tree grove in our school garden this year. How long typically does it take for them to produce figs ready for harvest?

12 year old fig tree kept small by pruning

A. Figs produce fruit very quickly after planting. You should start seeing fruit produced the year after planting in most varieties. Remember, figs produce fruit on the wood that grew last year as well as the wood actively growing.

            Figs can be very big trees if you allow them to grow. They can also be cut back to a much smaller size. You mentioned planting a grove of figs. Their planting distances apart should be the same as their maximum height. If you plant them 10 feet apart, don’t let them grow above 10 feet tall.

Figs with early Briba crop and later main crop growing together

            Remember that figs do great and desert climates, in desert soils, in the desert heat with low humidity. But they are heavy water users much like palm trees. Water them the same as you would any other fruit tree and don’t expect production if you don’t give them enough water. They will benefit from soil covered with woodchips simply because the woodchips keep the soil moist longer.