Post by @simonakeroydgardener

A fig tree will produce lots more ripe fruit if it is either grown in a pot or is planted in a fig pit. This is because a fig needs to have its roots restricted. If a fig is allowed to grow directly in the soil, it produces lots of vegetative growth such as shoots and leaves and will only produce tiny little figlets which very often don’t ripen. By restricting the roots either by growing a fig in a container or planting it in a fig pit, the fig tree will panic and think it needs to reproduce because it can’t spread via its vigourous root system. So to ensure its survival over the years it will need to reproduce by producing lots of delicious ripe fruit to encourage creatures to eat it and help spread the seeds. . Apart from anything else it is usually just a good idea to restrict a fig’s roots anyway, because otherwise the tree can become very large, unwieldy and take over a garden. To build a fig pit, dig your hole in the ground and line all four sides with patio slabs. Fill the bottom of the hole with rubble. This will ensure that there is still good drainage but hopefully too impenetrable for the fig roots to escape into the soil. I also leave a little bit of a lip on my patio slabs just above the surface of the ground because sometimes the roots can spread over the surface of the soil and therefore escape that way. There are of course other reasons for figs not ripening such as incorrect pruning, lack of watering, spring frosts, not enough sun etc….but restricting the vigorous roots is the main cause for lack of ripe fruit, and ending up with lots of inedible, tiny, dry figlets. I hope you found that helpful, and happy gardening