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Planting a fig tree out

Rosie BeeRosie Bee Posts: 32
in Plants
I've got a fig tree in a large ish (2.5'?) pot. It's probably about 8 years old and is now 4' X 4'.  I've kept it in the pot because I've heard figs will run rampant - and all the fig trees I've seen (including one at Wisley) are pretty unruly / enormous. But I feel a bit sorry for this fig - it's never fruited and has forced its tap root through its pots floor...and well I'm just a bit soft. It is generally pretty healthy looking. 

If I do plant it out will it be ok in a very clay-ey soil? And will it be survive if I have to lop it?
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  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    Someone here posted a photo of their fantastic fig in response to one of my posts, but I can't find it. It was in a huge pot against a brick wall, looked great. No need to put a fig in the ground... I think it might have been @B3. 
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Why thank you @strelitzia32😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited July 2020

    Here it is  . I don't  get any edible  figs, but I'm  not bothered  because  I  don't  like to eat  them. The container  is a lot bigger  than it looks  in the picture.  I am seriously  considering  getting  a bigger one next year maybe one of the containers they sell mature trees in.

    Remember when it used to be sunny?😐
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Rosie BeeRosie Bee Posts: 32
    B3, just how big is that pot? (Though, to be honest, thanks to Covid, I am rather skint so I'm thinking I'll have to plant it because I can't afford a big pot at the mo 😬)
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    Be very careful where you plant your tree if you plant it in the ground, Once it settles down and is happy its roots will go a long way and deep down. We have just removed a large old one as the roots had gone into our drainage system, which we have now renewed! 
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I'll measure it for you tomorrow. I think that, eventually, container -wise you have to decide that enough is enough. I thought I'd reached that  point, but maybe one more. If I get another, it's past yer normal  sizes and into expensive plus sizes
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • CloggieCloggie Posts: 1,457
    Here's an example of how big they CAN get if you plant it out.  That's my neighbour's washing for scale on a rotating washing line. There is a yew tree behind it but you can see the sprawl.  Difficult to mow under and keep the weeds down.  This year it has some large figs but we have not had any off it yet, wildlife eat them.

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    My present  container is about 50cm in diameter. Internal measurement 

    It is at least 8 or 9ft high. It's  grown a bit since the last photo!
    The jasmine is growing out of a crack in the patio - not the container.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    Cloggie said:
    Here's an example of how big they CAN get if you plant it out.  That's my neighbour's washing for scale on a rotating washing line.
    Me, just now: "That's not too big...wait, is that the washing line? That's the washing line!!??!!! What!!! That's goddamn enormous!!"

    Off to gaze appreciatively at my 4 foot fig that gives me about 15 figs a year...
  • Rosie BeeRosie Bee Posts: 32
    Right, that's it, it's staying in a pot! I'll just have to be on the look out for a cheap, BIG, pot! Thank you all for your help - I can never get over how friendly people are on this forum <3
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