Can you grow figs in New York?

Posted by Debbie Kwiatoski Jan 10, 2008

Although I live in New York, I have always wanted to grow a fig tree. This quest began in when I realized how incredibly delicious – and expensive – fresh figs were to buy. The problem is, they are really far better suited to the Mediterranean or the Middle East than they are to Upstate New York.

It’s not the first plant I’ve tried to push to its hardiness limits. After a lot of research, I finally found one variety – the Brown Turkey Fig – that will grow in Zone 6, if care is taken to keep it away from the worst of the winter storms. There are other varieties, but I settled on the Brown Turkey, mainly because I actually found one at a local nursery.

So, with visions of fresh figs, and notes on all the recipes I could create out of them dancing in my head, I planted it out two years ago. I took care to plant it in a pot – as opposed to the ground- and to place it in a spot where it would get as much sun and warmth as our property gives.

It actually grew well that first summer, going so far as to even bring forth a single fig (which, of course, a passing deer ate one night).

As winter approached, we decided to bring it into my office for the winter – just in case. It wintered over well, but a surprise snow spring snowstorm froze it down to its roots when we put it back out into the garden too prematurely the next spring. Yet, a healthy sport sprang from its based the next year and has done well. This year, we left it in a sheltered location outside. We’ll see how it does this year.