Fig
(Ficus carica)
Fortunately, figs are the perfect fruit to grow in containers! They are easy to care for, drought resistant, don't require a lot of fertilizers, are relatively pest free, grow quickly and respond well to pruning to keep their shape. Their foliage is attractive and tropical in appearance, and the trees do not require a lot of space; even fully grown fig trees are quite content growing within the confines of a large pot. In fact, when planted in the ground, figs focus their energy on developing roots, often causing them to take 8-10 years for them to get around to fruit production. Container grown figs occupy the root zone of their pots quickly, then spend their energy producing fruit - often quite precociously.
When the nights start getting cold and frost becomes a threat, you can simply move your container-grown fig tree into an unheated garage, shed, or other protected area where temperatures won't dip below 25°F. The figs will drop their leaves and go dormant. They will require an occasional watering, but can otherwise be forgotten about until spring. As the days get longer and warmer, you can move the fig tree out to the yard for a few hours every day to help it acclimate to the sunshine, taking it back indoors in the evenings. When the last frost date has passed for your area, you can move the fig tree back to a sunny spot outdoors for the rest of the summer. In no time, your healthy, vigorous tree will produce sweet and luscious fresh figs for your snacking, cooking, and drying pleasure.
For very thorough instructions from Stark Brothers on growing fig trees in pots, please click here.
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Desert King, Fig
An excellent variety for most regions of the Pacific Northwest, Desert King bears abundant crops of yellowish-green figs with sweet and richly flavorful, strawberry colored flesh. A great variety for gardeners in coastal, high elevation,and other cool regions. Hardy to 5 degrees or below (25 degrees if in a pot).
Self-fertile (can produce fruit on it's own).
Lattarulla, Fig
A reliable and productive variety, Lattarulla can bear a summer and then a fall crop of delicious, light-green fruit with honey-colored flesh. A naturally compact, attractive small tree with large, glossy-green foliage, Lattarulla is a good variety for container culture.
Negronne, Fig
This naturally compact variety bears sweet and flavorful, almost black fruit with dark red flesh. Negronne is well suited for container culture or confined spaces. Hardy to 5 degrees or below (25 degrees if in a pot).
Self-fertile (can produce fruit on it's own).
Neverella, Fig
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Very early ripening, Neverella is one of the best figs for the pacific northwest and other regions with cool summers. Neverella is prized for its large, juicy, sweet and flavorful, dark purple fruit. Hardy to 5 degrees or below (25 degrees if in a pot).
Self-fertile (can produce fruit on it's own).