Growing fig
berry / bush fruit
Pollination
Common garden figs ('Brown Turkey', 'Celeste', 'Chicago Hardy') set fruit with no pollination at all.
Growing it
Zones 7-10 in the ground; grown in pots and overwintered indoors further north. Little pruning needed; wants heat and a hot wall.
Where fig grows best
Hardy in zones 7-10, and it needs enough winter cold - about 100-300 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.
Will you get enough chill?
Fig needs roughly 100–300 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does fig grow in?
Fig grows in USDA hardiness zones 7-10.
How many chill hours does fig need?
Roughly 100-300 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Is fig self-pollinating?
Self-fertile — one plant crops on its own. Common garden figs ('Brown Turkey', 'Celeste', 'Chicago Hardy') set fruit with no pollination at all.
Which states can grow fig?
Fig suits most of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and parts of 26 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.