Cold-Hardy Figs in Canada
Even the hardiest fig needs help through a Canadian winter. Here is how growers keep them alive and fruiting.
Cold-hardy figs in Canada still need winter protection almost everywhere. Penn State Extension says even the most cold-resistant fig varieties only tolerate about −7 °C (20 °F) and suffer real winter damage below about −9 °C (15 °F), with Chicago Hardy as the exception.
The good news is that a fig can die back and still fruit. Penn State notes the main crop grows on the current year’s new wood and ripens in late summer to early fall, and a fig killed to the base regrows from the roots as a bushy plant.
Figs in Canada at a glance: In most of Canada, grow a fig in a large pot and move it to a cold, dark garage or basement after a hard frost; water it about once a month. In the mildest spots, a fig against a south-facing wall can stay in the ground if it is wrapped or buried each winter. Never wrap in plastic.
Looking for a fruit tree that needs no wrapping? See Growing Pawpaw in Canada for a native Canadian tree fruit hardy to Zone 5.
Frost Dates, City by City
A fig drops its leaves at the first hard frost, and the Rutgers Master Gardeners say early frosts of about −4 to −3 °C (25 to 27 °F) will do it. Protection goes on once the plant is dormant and comes off after the danger of frost has passed. Average dates from this site’s frost data:
| City | Canadian Zone | Average last frost | Average first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 8b | Mar 10 | Dec 15 |
| Vancouver | 8b | Mar 15 | Nov 30 |
| Kelowna | 6b | May 5 | Oct 15 |
| Windsor | 7a | Apr 20 | Oct 28 |
| Niagara Falls | 6b | Apr 28 | Oct 22 |
| Toronto | 6b | Apr 20 | Nov 1 |
| Halifax | 6a | May 10 | Oct 18 |
| Montreal | 5b | May 9 | Oct 7 |
| Ottawa | 5a | May 9 | Oct 12 |
| Winnipeg | 3a | May 25 | Sep 20 |
| Calgary | 3b | May 23 | Sep 21 |
Frost dates are averages from Environment and Climate Change Canada climate normals. A fig’s limit is the coldest night of winter, not the zone number, so treat the zone as a rough guide.
Figs in Pots: the Simplest Way
For most Canadian gardens a fig in a container is the realistic choice. The Rutgers Master Gardeners suggest a pot of at least 15 gallons (about 57 L) on casters, so you can move it.
Penn State’s routine: after a hard frost, strip any remaining leaves and unripe figs. Move the pot into an insulated but unheated, preferably dark room, garage or cool basement. Water about once a month, just enough that the roots do not dry out completely. Do not prune or fertilize until spring.
Do not keep it warm. Penn State says figs need at least 100 hours of chilling to fruit, so you want the plant dormant until spring. It brings its figs out in April in Pennsylvania; in Canada, wait until your last frost has passed.
Figs in the Ground: Wrap It
Where you try a fig outdoors, pick the warmest spot you have. Penn State and the Rutgers Master Gardeners both suggest the south side of a building, out of drying winter wind.
Penn State’s wrapping method: after a hard frost, remove leaves and unripe fruit, mulch the base 15 to 30 cm deep with leaves or straw, cut the branches back to a manageable height and tie them together. Wrap in a breathable material such as burlap, canvas or row cover, enclose it in cardboard loosely filled with straw, then add a tarp to keep rain out, leaving room at the bottom for air.
The Rutgers Master Gardeners describe a simpler version: a chicken-wire cage around the tree, filled with leaves or straw, with a tarp over the top to shed rain and snow.
Or Bury It
The oldest method is to bend the fig into a trench. Penn State describes tying the flexible branches together, digging a trench as long as the tree, cutting about 30 cm down around one side of the root ball so the tree can be laid over while staying rooted, and covering it. Put plywood or cardboard over it to keep out mice and voles, then mulch about 30 cm deep with soil and straw.
It is hard work, but Penn State calls it highly effective. It suits a younger, pliable tree; the Rutgers Master Gardeners note it may not be practical for large ones.
Two Mistakes to Avoid
Plastic. Both sources warn against it. Penn State found bubble wrap and pipe insulation kept the plant damp and led to fungal disease; straw, not hay, gives dry air pockets.
Giving up too soon. If the top dies, the Rutgers Master Gardeners say new shoots from the roots rarely ripen fruit the same season, and a badly injured plant can take two seasons to return to normal. A plant with little top damage still gives a modest crop the next summer.
Which Figs Are Hardiest?
The Rutgers Master Gardeners name Brown Turkey, Celeste and Hardy Chicago (also sold as Chicago Hardy) as cold-hardy choices. Penn State singles out Chicago Hardy as the one that tolerates colder than about −9 °C. Even so, none of them makes a fig hardy in a typical Canadian winter without protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you grow figs in Canada?
Yes, with winter protection. Most Canadian gardeners grow figs in large pots and store them in a cold garage or basement over winter. In the mildest areas a wrapped or buried fig can stay in the ground.
How cold can a fig tree survive?
Penn State Extension says even cold-resistant figs tolerate only about minus 7 degrees C and suffer real damage below about minus 9, except Chicago Hardy.
How do I overwinter a potted fig?
After a hard frost, remove the leaves and unripe figs and move the pot to an unheated, dark garage or cool basement. Water about once a month and bring it out after your last frost.
Should I keep my fig warm in winter?
No. Penn State says figs need at least 100 hours of chilling to fruit, so keep the plant cold and dormant.
What is the hardiest fig variety?
Penn State singles out Chicago Hardy. The Rutgers Master Gardeners also name Brown Turkey and Celeste.
Can I wrap a fig tree in plastic?
No. Plastic traps moisture and can cause fungal disease. Use burlap, canvas or row cover, with straw as insulation.
My fig died back to the ground. Is it dead?
Probably not. Penn State says figs regrow from the roots, and the main crop forms on new wood, though Rutgers notes new root shoots rarely ripen fruit the same season.
Sources
- Penn State Extension — Winterizing Your Fig Tree
- Rutgers Master Gardeners of Hunterdon County — Fig Tree Winter Protection
- Environment and Climate Change Canada — Canadian Climate Normals (the frost dates in the tables, read from this site’s frost data)