If plants don’t develop healthy fruits, several fig growing mistakes could be the cause: poor planting site or soil health, irregular watering or sunlight, improper pruning or a lack of temperature regulation. Where figs develop but drop, this may be stress from extended drought or insufficient watering. Water well in dry spells and add more to potted figs. However, waterlogging can stunt growth, so check soil is well draining. If you aren’t seeing figlets, plants may have received too much nitrogen, so figs develop foliage at the expense of crops (add phosphorus to counter this imbalance).
Excessive pruning is another possibility: you should only be removing old, damaged or intersecting branches. ‘If a fig refuses to fruit but produces long, unbranching stems, prune out a quarter of the longest stems per year in late winter, leaving bud-bearing stubs of 2-3in,’ says Anne. Finally, when growing figs, remember a young tree can take a few years to sustain a crop. So if your tree doesn’t produce figs in the first two years, don’t be despondent. Just give your tree a little boost in spring with some fertilizer. Keep protected from drafts or chills, hydrate as needed – and wait.