Dwarf Fig Little Miss Figgy

A dwarf fig from America which won’t bring the house down and will give you luscious figs, Ficus carica Little Miss Figgy® is an upright, deciduous tree of average vigour, guaranteed to stay small (4’/1.2m x 4’/1.2m, if potted). Prolific crops of delicious, large, burgundy-coloured figs are produced in summer. The beautiful, typical fig leaves are deeply lobed and deep green, turning yellow in autumn. It’s self-fertile. It’s ideal as a patio plant in a large pot filled with soil-based compost; it can also be grown under cover. If grown in the soil, confine the roots to a large pot. Top-dress each spring (scrape off the top inch of compost, and top up with fresh compost with granular, slow-release fertiliser). Pinch out the tips of the stems in June to encourage branching; cut back any over-long stems in late winter. Remove all fruits larger than a pea in autumn – they won’t survive the winter. It’s best to keep it under-cover in winter in colder areas to preserve the tiny fruits.

Site: Sheltered, sunny site
Soil: Dry, light, well-drained soil
Position: Full sun
Pick: June, if under cover; later if not; pick when burgundy coloured and a drop of nectar appears at the base of the fruit
Keep: Does not keep
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Pollination: Self-fertile
Uses: Eating fresh, drying, cooking

Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash.