Growing a fig tree in a city garden

[PinkCamelias]

Do you have fig trees in small gardens? Is it necessary/advised to restrict the roots? I don’t think I like the look of a wall trained fig much, I’d prefer an actual tree. I’d like it for fruit, of course, but also because they’re beautiful. My concerns are that fig trees grow wide and take a lot of space, so I’m still trying to decide if it would be the right choice.

Yes, this was also the case with a relative who had a fig tree in the small front garden of a London terrace. The tree had to be removed as it was suspected to have contributed to subsidence.

I think the point of restricting the roots is to encourage fruiting. I don’t think the tree itself grows better.

Got one on an exposed west wall in SW Scotland. It's been there for 40 years; no issues with the roots. If it gets too big or shapeless it gets a heavy trim. I get loads of figs every year.

Restricting the roots helps it grow more fruit, as it puts its energy into those

Thank you @myplace! It looks great (love the plum tree too 😍); just the right size!

Doesn’t it help control the size if the tree as well? I suppose it won’t grow as big? My concern is not its height but the spread; my garden is not big enough for a huge tree.

Fair enough. I'm always astonished at how well mine grows with such a relatively small root space and no real TLC at all, and with a less than ideal aspect.

I've just realised I treat mine the same as my buddleia, cutting back any annoying branches as and when and then when it gets too unwieldy I cut it back to just above soil level.

If you want to restrict the size just grow it in a container. Start with a little pot when it’s a baby and each year repot into the next size up. Dont be tempted to go too big too soon - it’s always better to up-pot slowly so they don’t get waterlogged in too much soil, plus as already said restricting the roots is good for slowing growth and for encouraging fruiting production.

Mine are three years old and a couple of feet tall and I started with a tiny terracotta pot like you might use for a herb from the supermarket. The pots they’re in now aren’t much bigger.

I have a fig tree just growing in the ground, it's been there for many years. It's never got huge because I prune it hard every year - it reaches the first floor windows. The soil is heavy clay and it's against a south facing wall - on the south coast. It grows a lot of shoots from low down so it has never had a single trunk- it is like a big vigorous bush. Goodness knows where it gets its nourishment from because it never gets any manure or compost and about 6 inches down our clay soil looks and slices like red Leicester cheese!
It is a very unreliable cropper. Always has tons of tiny figs but usually no more than half a dozen grow and ripe. Then occasionally, including this year, we are inundated. I reckon it is a Brown Turkey. It was in the garden when we bought the house 40 years ago.
The main roots have never been a problem, though given half a chance it would take over the garden- any low branches which touch the ground soon grow roots!

I bought two small brown Turkey fig trees a few years ago, they were in the corner of Homebase in the reject pile. I gave one to a friend who also lives in a small terrace like myself.
Three years on,mine is in the ground at the end of the garden, lots of lovely small branches and healthy leaves and lots of figs. Lots still green too so will be ripe in September.
My friends is spindley and has no gigs. Needs a good feed I think or at least moving to a bigger pot. Felt really sorry for it.

I’ve just bought one - wish me luck!

There’s a very small fig tree called Little Miss Figgy, that sounds ideal. I’m thinking of getting a couple.

https://www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_/ficus-carica-little-miss-figgy-lmf01-pbr/classid.2000040198/