Yes, figs in pots do usually produce more fruit per yard of fig wood. Figs are produced at the nodes, and the nodes are spaced closer together when pot-bound. However, overall a fig tree/bush in the ground will usually produce more -- but it requires more space and requires a couple more years before it comes into production compared to the pot grown fig.

Cella Jane: My personal opinion is that the Fig grown in soil will always be the most Winter-hardy fig, since its roots are not confined, thereby allowing them to descend deep into the soil (below the freeze line) where they can take up moisture to replace that lost by above-ground Fig wood (due to dessication from Winter wind).

Just a little theory I have (that makes perfect sense, to me).

Figs are 'shallow' rooted trees, way above any normal
local freezing line! Potted figs are MUCH more 'subjected'
to COLD (exposed) weather (they stick UP in the air), and
should be somehow protected (e.g., in unheated garage - beats
covering the in-grounds up).

Cella,
I recently purchased 4 figs at a local garden center. 2 - Brown Turkey and 2 - Celeste (Celestial according to the tag). I planted 1 of each in the ground and they will get 3/4 day of full sun. 1 of each will remain in 5 gallon pots and will get the same 3/4 day full sun. I was not planning an experiment but as I am new to zone 8 (Gulf Coast of Florida) as well as figs, I am experimenting with different planting to acheive the best results. I will gladly share my results later in the season (Sept?).

gorgi: I mentioned in another post that I dug up a bunch of 2-year Figs that had sent tap roots 3 to 4 feet (1 meter to 1 1/3 meters) into the soil in that short period of time (2 growing seasons), from cuttings. Is that shallow?

No, 3 to 4 feet tap roots are not considered shallow.

And my point was that some part of those roots is always below any frozen surface soil, and therefore able to provide moisture to the tree that it may lose through the dessicating (drying) effects of Winter wind--making the tree more Winter hardy.

I have heard it stated that Fig wood dies of dehydration when it loses its moisture to the dessicating effects of Winter wind, and when its roots are frozen and cannot properly react to replace the lost moisture.

I don't know if that is factual, but it makes enough sense to me to consider it so.

Maybe some Figs are shallow-rooted; but I was given cuttings from a very Winter-hardy tree, and when I planted those cuttings to 4/5 of their depth in garden soil, they put down tap roots 3 to 4 feet in a period of two seasons. I know, because I dug them all this past Spring before they broke dormancy.

What a job; it took a month to dig 80 Figs. I had no idea they would be that deeply rooted.

Maybe that's the reason that this particular Fig is so hardy--it sends its roots deep into the soil, below any possible freeze line for my area, where it can still function to deliver necessary moisture to the tree in Winter--as opposed to a shallow-rooted tree that can't do the same.

About 4 years ago on this forum, a lady in Mississippi said that she was moving, and her son came over to dig up a favorite Fig tree that she wanted to take with her to her new location.

She said he dug for a week, and NEVER got to the bottom of the tap root, and ended up cutting it with an ax at about 9 feet, as I recall. She said he then cut the 9-foot section into three 3-foot sections, with his ax, and gave her one.

She said the 3-foot piece she planted was about as large as a man's bicep (in diameter), and from it, a Fig tree grew, at her new location.

That was the first time I had ever heard of a Fig root traveling that deeply into the ground--but I certainly had no reason to disbelieve her. She described the frustration her son felt at coming over each day after work and digging a little more on the root, until he finally just gave up and chopped it off with an ax.

Mojo,
I want a cutting of your DEEP tap rooted fig to try out!
In exchange, I have a big fig variety for you to choose
from. Email me for my list, if interested...

I DO have a young fig specimen that 'is not winter protected'
here in NJ. Have seen the mother tree, a BEAUTIFUL 'standard'
tree shaped specimen! Drawback - fruit touted as not the
best tasting? (I'll see for myself...).

My experience is the same as marylandmojo's. I dug up a 10ish year old fig tree in December. While most of the roots were on the surface (about 8 inches max), there were two rots that went down into the clay. Since my tree was going into a pot, I didn't check to see how deep it went. I cut it at about a foot. Also, I rooted about 30 cuttings in a raised bed planter last year as well. They also had the majority of their roots near the surface, but they all put at least one root down into the native soil under the planter. I clipped those as well. I think I still have a few more trees in the raised bed, I'll dig them up when I get home and take a few pics.

~james

Thanks for all the comments. Also am concerned about those vigorous 'unpotted' roots near the house wall as two feet down, is the 6"perimeter drain line. Seems to me that such vigorous growth would probably enlarge the slits and plug up the works. In our MD site, the fig was planted 6 feet above the drain line. Admittedly, at the time of planting, I never even thought of the rooty scenario..."as big as a man's biceps!" The only other sites I have for more figs are along this same wall...guess I'll pot them. Has anyone had success with an anti-dessicant? cella jane