Figs do like well drained soil, so maybe dig a really big hole (I know, hard to do in red clay), then put a layer of gravel at the bottom, and fill with soil mixed with turface, sand, perlite, etc. to give a good start to the tree. They will grow in clay, but slowly. You won't need to water much because clay does retain water.

Hardy Chicago is an excellent fig! It's very rich and sweet. You can't go wrong with it. You're in the Piedmont of SC which is pretty close to me. In our area, you see just about only Brown Turkey and Celeste. Brown Turkey figs are good.... you just have to get a good strain. Do not get the Monrovia strain! Those figs are very large, split badly and taste like a pair of rubber boots! Celeste figs are not rich but they are super hardy and very sweet. But Hardy Chicago beats them both in flavor and taste.

We have clay soil which isn't a bad thing. Fig roots will grow along the top of the clay. Just make you you have plenty of top soil and mulch heavily every year. The mulch will decompose over time and keep the roots moist and cool on hot summer days. Trust me...I've a ton of fig trees on my land in Charlotte.

Dennis in Charlotte, NC

Thanks guys. I was going to get the Monrovia Brown Turkey - so you saved me. I will get the Hardy Chicago instead. I only have room for one tree so I have to make it good. I will dig a big hole in the clay, no problem, I already finished a big drainage project. the drainage rock, pearlite and diatomaceous earth are good ideas. I will probably do all three. I have a compost pile aging from last year and it will probably be ready, already has lots of earth worms in it, mix it with some top soil.

So I will look for a small Hardy Chicago - do I need to do anything special to shape it into tree form? Just prune anything besides the main shoot?

Okyard

I am glad I could be of help.

Steve

If you are purchasing the tree from a nursery or big box store, it should already have a good shape. One thing to think about is picking the fruit. If you let it get too tall, it will be hard to reach the fruit. Figs often sucker, but the suckers aren't really bad. Some figs like to grow in a bush shape. If you want a big tree with a single trunk, just let it grow and remove ground suckers, then top it at about 6-8 feet. It will sprout lots of lateral branches. Keep everything pruned each year for as high as you want the tree. Figs are easy to keep in check, but will get huge if you don't. Good luck. That is one tasty fig!

OK I want to post a quick update - I got a Hardy Chicago from Edible Landscaping. It took a couple weeks but it came in good shape in a little quart pot. I dug a hole 4 feet across and 1 foot deep, filled it back with 1 part peat moss, 1 part sand, 1 part compost and 1 part original clay soil. Added some wood ash too. I did not really have a good reason for doing it the way I did hopefully it works!

I forgot to mention I put down drainage rock on the bottom like Suzi suggested.

You did it wright. It should grow well and since figs do very good in clay it will settle in nicely as it grows older

Hi fig gardners,

I dont know if this dicussion is too old to comment? Anyway my hardy chicago is doing OK but not growing this year. Last year it sent up a bunch of new branches. This year almost none. It does have a bunch of little green figs on it. It got a bit of frostbite this April, could that be causing it? Someone suggested I should trim the branches after last frost to encourage growth does that work?

I'm curious to hear how your fig has been doing 5-6 years later... I am in South Carolina as well and looking to plant a fig tree.

Fig is great, thanks let me know if uou have questions.

Argh it is refusing to work on my phone. Anyway I have to fertilise it twice a year, once in spring and once in mid summer. It also does not do well in drought or when it is oppressively hot. So if it doesn't rain for a couple weeks I get the hose out and give it a good soaking. But it does give a few lbs of fruit a year.