My fig planting (those planted and those to be planted) consist of staggered rows with 14 feet on centers. Picture triangles with 14 feet legs all stacked up. I believe that will give me quite a few years worth of growth before it becomes a fig jungle. So my big question is what to do with the space in the middle. It will be years before I have to have it and even then I could do some pruning to buy a few more years. I'm thinking I need to double down and put a fig in between each of my triangular plantings.

Anyone have an opinion on this?

As the years go by I could do some transplanting and place the slow growers in these centers. These centers would be about 8 feet from the other three figs on the 14 foot centers.

My alternative to this is to plant in 45 gallon pots and bury them in the ground in the centers. I really don't think this is necessary as you can bare root a fig in the winter if needed to transplant.


What are your suggestions. By doing this I can increase my plantings by about ten. I realise that down the road I may have to let go of some but I think I can get ten years in.

Your idea oughta work.   Or you could plant in between your trees that are 14 feet apart like some of us are doing to create a hedge.   One member is planting 5 feet apart.  Mine are 6 to 8 feet apart.   So you can plant closer if you want to squeeze more trees in.    Do  a search here using "hedge" and/or "fig hedge."   There are lots of threads and posts on the topic.

I am planting 5' on center and my rational is I can plant more varieties this way....75 or so.  I know they won't all work out and down the road I can adjust the spacing with the varieties that do well here and that I like eventually to 10' spacing.  Given how easy it is to transplant a fairly large fig and that they take being ripped out and moved well it seemed a good solution.  Btw when I say easy to transplant I probably should mention I have a tractor with a front end loader.  This winter I hooked a tow strap  around the base of a 8 foot tall latrolla and tore it from the ground.  Moved it to it's new home, pruned it hard and it leafed out fine this spring fine showing no signs of distress.  They really are tough plants. 

Just buy another 25 acres.  You know you wanna.

If there was available land by me I would. As it is I have purchased a total of four lots to get what I have.

You could put something that creeps on the ground around them. Maybe pumpkins, melons or strawberries? If you want a dedicated fig area, I would keep them in pots. If you allow some to grow in between your layout in the interim years, you are going to have volunteers coming up from the roots forever.