Hello,
I just discovered this forum, what a great resource! I have a 25 gallon pot, 21"x20". Could I plant more than one fig tree in it, and if so how many? The figs are small, they are in 1 gallon containers. I would like to keep the figs in the container permanently, with the exception of root pruning and replacing the soilless mix...

Should I add anything to my Pro-Mix because of the size of the container? I'm a little worried about soil compaction.
Thanks,

John

Welcome to the forum, John! Personally, I would just put one in. No more than 2 but you will need to root-prune just about annually once they are bigger (and depending on the varieties, that may be a few years).

John...

Ruben is correct.  I've been growing in large containers since 2007.  Your four trees will quickly outgrow that small a container.  I would just plant one tree in each container, or you might limit the growth, and fruiting potential.  You will also have to root prune every few years, together with replacing growing medium.  To make life easier, and to avoid hernias, roll those trees around on dollies.  You will be able to keep your trees in this size container for years with root-pruning, and branch training.  My trees are now 5-7 ft tall, single stem, and produce all the figs I need. Growing in containers is a real pleasure.

Good luck.

Frank

EDIT:  John....welcome to this forum.  You will have a blast growing fig trees!  Just a suggestion:  ....Please let us know your location and climate zone.  This information will be vital for any suggestions a help that you might seek about growing figs, varieties, etc.   Also, let us know how you plant to overwinter your trees.

Thanks Ruben and Frank for the information and warm welcome! I'll update my profile, in the mean time, I'm in zone 6a.

Last year I over-wintered my fig trees in my cellar hatchway, and they did quite well. Though, I might need to find a different spot this winter since I have 40+ trees now that are all in 7 gallon containers...

Johnny....

40+ trees!  Wow...that's a lot of storing!  Good luck.

Check out a site called "Bill's Figs" for his method of container-growing...and for some photos on how he stores/overwinters his hundreds of trees, of various sizes.  Stacking the containers is an option to save space.

Enjoy.

Frank

Why do something when you can over due it...right? 

I was thinking of storing them as bareroot stock, that way I would maximize my precious storage space. Do you know has anyone tried it before? I've done it other fruits and its worked great.

John

Hello John and welcome. I am not knowing of bare root storage. If done this way, how would you stop the roots from drying out. I think the roots on fig trees are quite different then other fruit trees. I am glad you asked, now I'll wait to see what the experts have to say. Good luck and wait to hear more on this.


luke

Works for nurseries. However, you will be handicapping your trees every season. The larger roots will likely be fine (with proper protection). The feeder roots will likely be damaged. Good luck!

My thoughts, don't know for sure but...... I think bare root storage of 40+ trees would be alot of work every year, unpotting then repotting. I think it would be repeated damage to the roots year after year and stunting the trees causing them to fruit late with less figs.

I've always stored my bareroot plants in a moist mix of sawdust and sand, which keeps the roots from drying out. 

Ruben and Tony:
If root pruning is done to encourage growth, why do you think a few feeder roots getting damaged would negatively effect the fig tree? I'm not trying to argue against your point, I just dont understand why pruning off 1/4-1/3 of the root ball is considered good practice and doesnt stunt growth...  
 
Thanks,

John

John,

Welcome to the forum!  Many fig trees are sent bare root from nurseries, as well as other trees.  If I lived where it snowed, I'd be tempted to wrap them in damp sphangum moss in plastic with a blanket to keep them in the dark, and in a cold place until I was ready to bring them out and introduce them to spring.

This is a California native talking, who knows nothing about the necessity of storing figs in the winter, but I do know that figs and grapevines are so much alike, it's hard to separate them in my mind.  They both are determined to survive, they both ship bare root, they both go dormant, and in spring, they bless you with lush green growth and fruit which ripens in summr and fall.

We'll be moving over 100 vines and trees, some in containers, some in-ground to another property soon, and I know there will be set backs.  It is what it is. 

Good luck with your 40 trees! 
Suzi

I would also like to know what is the biggest size container that most of you stop at who have a lot of trees. My collection has grown and I need to pot up many to another size soon. I don't live in an area where I a need to store trees in the winter.

Thanks Suzi! 

John,

The difference is when you bare root, you will damage the fine to very fine feeder roots. Cutting away 50% of the roots and feeder roots still leaves 50% functional (not saying 50% is recommended). Do a comparison/contrast and see what happens.

Ruben,
That makes sense. I think I'll try it this winter with a few plants, and see what happens.

John