I am looking for tips on planting figs in the ground in Central Texas. I am in Canyon Lake. I have done some forum searching about in ground fig care and such, but was hoping for some help from people in at least a similar climate. My specific questions are: should I plant in full Sun areas? If possible should I plant against structure?(house or out building) How much mulch around the tree? And what varieties have done well in the ground? Also, opinions on whether or not planting in fall or spring is best? (I have read both)
Any help would be greatly appreciated! And any tips beyond these questions would be great! I am a newb at figs but this forum is a wealth of experience. Thanks.

In my opinion, based on some experience and mostly gut feeling, is that figs will do better in the full sun hoping you can keep up with watering when needed.

Figs are better planted in the ground in the spring in areas with cold winters to spread and establish good roots before winter as compared to other native or cold hardy trees which can be planted in the fall. Fig planting in the fall is risky where there is risk of ground freeze.

Start the mulch that can suppress the weeds and keep the root area cool and preserve the moisture. Observations will give you good idea later when the mulch is too little or too much.

Which variety is better for ground planting !!??  The question is usually asked to know which variety is good for pot culture. It is hard to say which variety is bad for ground planting unless there is specific known issue with the soil.

I don't have any tree in the ground so my opinion on this issue is just my general feelings.

Zone 8b should be good for most varieties, unprotected, I would think - at least for well established trees.  But then again I live on the east coast.  Full sun is always better for figs.  I think most varieties do well in ground.  I would plant in spring and feed the roots the first year to get the trees well established for winter.  Mulching is always good, I usually put down about 4 inches deep in a 4 ft circle.  It keeps moisture in and the weeds away.  There are many threads on cold hardy varieties you will find on this site as well.

You mentioned planting near structure - to protect from wind, cold both?  In NC coastal areas (actually the whole southeast coast) Root Knot Nematode is a problem.  But people say, " Figs like structure."  True, there they like structure in that area because the roots go under the structure and are protected from RKN.  If this is a concern in your area let me know, I have some advice for you.

I think there is more to consider.  In Granger (about 35 miles NNE of Austin), I have several problems with growing fig trees:

• Too many years of growing corn.  There is just not much left to the soil.
• Hardpan at >14" below ground level.
• No wind breaks.  The wind howls during the summer (think convection oven) and winter (think blast freezer).
• Warm weather and lots of sun right up to the first freeze.

Hi bigmike,
Figtrees are hardy in Zone8, but some protection will always help the fig trees.
For the variety, it all depends on your local weather, so just start with the easier: Brownturkey, Hardy chicago, celeste, Longue d'aout, Dalmatie/white greek family, unknown strains from your neighbors .
What is your dirt ? Full clay ? Full sand ? If so, then dig up a hole of 70cm*70cm*70 cm ( W*L*D) and mix some compost from the nurseries with your local ground.
Check for varmints : moles, voles, rabbits and the list goes on ... Try to keep them out of your orchard.
In Mediterranean countries, Fig tree do handle the sun and love it, so no problem for full sun exposure. You'll just have to water a bit more .
If you fear that full sun is too much, then plant another tree for half-shading purposes.
I myself planted other trees in the garden to act as wind barriers and cold barriers (peartrees, rose plants ,and hedge style bushes ).
You don't need to plant against a structure, but the spot should be sheltered.
Never forget to fertilize and water the tree. If your dirt is not enough draining, you should add compost from the nurseries.
The spot shouldn't have standing water for whatever a reason be it rain ... The water should flow away from the roots of the tree .

Thanks for the growing tips all! I have a few varieties and I would like to step it up this year. Want to only grow in containers if I have to.
James definitely concerned about dry winds! My only in ground fig was id here as kadota. The dry hot winds really affected it. I think I'm putting hardy Chicago in ground and have a couple local unknowns I am rooting. If they survive my newb propagating skills I think they will go in ground too.

James is correct.

It can also depend on your altitude, I know the Canyon area has a few taller hills kind of a contradiction, cold pockets in the low areas and colder hilltops with a brutal wind.

Hi Mike,

I'm smack on top of the largest hill for miles, we actually have one of those wind miles to generate electricity on our property.  So that will tell you how much wind we get up here. The wind is actually the worse element for my figs.  It's very hard on the leaves.  

I have about 30 plants in the ground and have lost none to our winters, they come back every year.  But, with the drought, my trees are not very big.  I don't have any issues with the sun and it may be because of the higher elevation and the wind keeping us a tad cooler than you folks in the lower plains.   I'm sitting on top of a limestone bed and use a jackhammer to dig the holes to plant my trees in.  Most people are amazed that our plants actually thrive up there.  We have layers of limestone that are about a foot thick and I think the roots grow in between those layers.  The thick rocks protect the roots from the hot summer, provides a weed barrier so nothing competes for the rainwater on top of the ground, plus the water runs through those layers.  Any way, that is what I think is going on.  But the figs are actually doing quite well with no protection.

Lordy Lordy, Cathy is back!  Hello Cathy, how are you?  Glad to see you posting again!  The wife and I were considering moving to the Houston/Spring Texas area last year!  But it was just a thought.  I think we are in the same zone, 8a.  I remember a few years back you were planting a lot of figs in the  ground.  Those in the ground are on a fat big bed of clay.  Over the years, I've been building up a lot of organic matter around them b/c I know fig root don't go deep only horizontal.  But figs should grow amazingly well anywhere in Texas.  Heck the entire fig orchard at UCD sits on nothing but clay!

Thanks Cathy and Dennis. I am pretty new to figs, but with how things go here I don't think that will last long:-) I am rooting what started as a couple cuttings and has grown to include quite a few varieties! I think based on everyones encouragement I am just gonna dive in, trial a bunch of varieties and see what thrives.