Figs are easy to propagate yourself from seeds or cuttings. From a ripe fig or a fig tree you can grow a large number of fig trees, which can be transplanted into the garden after a growth period of two to three years.
Propagation by seeds
You can get fig seed from any commercially available or self-harvested fruit. Cut the ripe fig open, dry the tiny stone fruits well on kitchen paper and put them in potting soil. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and water well.
Warm, humid climate for rapid germination
In the warm, humid climate of a greenhouse for the windowsill, the small figs germinate particularly quickly. After two to three months and when they have grown to a height of about ten centimetres, the plants are pricked out. Always make sure there is enough moisture and an evenly warm climate, because cold and lack of watering can permanently damage the shoot.
In summer, a sheltered spot in the garden is ideal for propagating figs. In front of a sheltered house wall, the small fig trees grow quickly in a mild summer.
Propagation by cuttings
The propagation of figs is easy with:
- Cuttings taken from the previous year's woody shoot
- green shoots
- Head cuttings (cut shoot tip or stem parts without crown)
The best time for breeding is spring and early summer.
You can plant the freshly cut cuttings directly in a small pot or, alternatively, first let them develop roots in a glass of water. When propagating in glass, however, do not wait too long before moving. The shoot only forms water roots in the glass, which have to adapt to the soil when transplanted. This process robs the plant of strength and it thrives more slowly.
Propagation by cuttings is recommended in spring. Put the approximately 30 centimeter long cuttings, which you cut from an already woody branch below an eye, into a flower pot filled with a mixture of sand and earth. Seal the pot tightly with a clear plastic bag to allow the cutting to root in this warm and sheltered climate.
Cuttings often lose leaves. This alone is no reason to regard the cultivation as unsuccessful. However, if the trunk becomes shriveled and feels soft and slippery under the bark, the propagation has unfortunately not been successful.
A fig sprout - popular holiday memory
If you want to take a fig home with you from your holiday and cultivate it, remove the leaves from a fig cutting and wrap it in a damp handkerchief. Keep the cuttings in a water-filled, transparent drinking bottle that you screw on tightly. The seedlings thrive in their prison and both roots and first leaves appear after a short time. Transplant the cutting into a suitable container and dream of the most beautiful days of the year when you see the little plant.
tips and tricks
Cuttings should root particularly quickly if they are placed in a large potato and planted.