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Fruits, Nuts & Perennial Crop CalendarsFig Calendar
A fig tree can bear a small early crop and a larger main crop, but only if winter lets it. Where winters are cold, the calendar is largely about protection.
Key points
- Some figs bear a breba and a main crop; many only bear the main crop.
- In cold areas, winter protection decides whether you get fruit.
- Prune after the worst cold, and know whether your variety needs old wood.
- Figs do not ripen after picking.
What are breba and main crops?
Some figs produce a breba crop in early summer on last year's wood, then a main crop later on new growth. Others only produce the main crop. In cold climates where wood is killed back to the ground, the breba crop is lost and only the main crop matters.
Check what your variety does and plan for the crop you can reasonably expect in your climate. Extension notes from Maryland, Penn State and Rutgers cover this for northern conditions.
Seasonal timing varies by climate. In mild regions a breba crop may ripen early in summer and the main crop later, and in cold regions you may only see fruit late in the season, if at all.
How do you protect figs through winter?
In cold regions, figs are often protected by wrapping, mulching heavily or even burying branches, and some gardeners grow them in large pots that move into an unheated shelter. Penn State and Rutgers extension publish winter protection guidance suited to their regions.
Timing follows the weather: protect after leaves drop and the tree has gone dormant, and unwrap gradually in spring as the hard freezes pass. Check local frost dates and forecasts.
One more option is growing figs in a large container and moving it into an unheated garage or shed for winter. Check that the container tree does not dry out completely, and bring it out gradually in spring.
- Wait for dormancy before wrapping
- Keep wraps dry and ventilated
- Unwrap in stages as the weather warms
When should you plant a fig?
Plant in spring after the last hard frost, which gives the roots a full season to establish before winter. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot with well drained soil. Planting near a south-facing wall can give a fig some added shelter from cold wind.
USDA hardiness zones describe winter minimums only. A zone number helps you judge whether a variety might survive, but local frost dates and winter swings matter as much.
Give a newly planted fig a few seasons before judging it. First-year trees often put energy into roots and may give little or no fruit.
When should you prune figs?
Prune in late winter or early spring, after the worst cold has passed, so you can see which wood survived. Remove dead, damaged and crossing wood, and thin crowded growth. In cold areas where the tree dies back, new shoots from the base become the main structure.
Know what your variety needs. If it depends on a breba crop, hard pruning removes that crop. Check variety notes before cutting.
Late summer is not a good time for heavy pruning, because new growth may not harden before cold arrives. Wait until the tree is dormant or nearly so.
How do you water and feed figs?
Figs like steady moisture during fruit development, but poor drainage invites root problems. Mulch helps hold moisture and moderates soil temperature. Container figs dry out quickly in summer and need regular checks.
Use a soil test for fertilizer decisions, and avoid heavy nitrogen late in the season that keeps growth soft going into winter. Nutrient management rules vary by state.
Mulch around the base but keep it a few inches from the trunk to avoid rot.
When are figs ripe?
Figs do not ripen after picking, so wait for the fruit to soften, droop on the stem and show full color for the variety. A ripe fig hangs down and gives slightly when pressed. Some varieties split or leak a drop of nectar at the eye.
Pick often, as figs ripen over several weeks, and refrigerate promptly. For drying or preserving, use tested procedures from the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Birds and wasps will tell you when figs are ripe, often sooner than you would like. Netting helps, and pick as soon as fruit softens.
What pests and problems affect figs?
Birds, fruit rots, nematodes and rust are common issues depending on region. Sour-smelling or split fruit attracts insects, so pick promptly and remove fallen fruit.
Ask extension for current management advice. This guide offers no product names or rates, and any product must be used according to its label, with pre-harvest intervals observed.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 2026. Educational information, ranges only. Confirm timing with your county extension office.