How to Grow Texas Everbearing Fig
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Texas Everbearing Fig
Ficus carica 'Texas Everbearing'
fruitTexas Everbearing is a productive fig cultivar known for its ability to produce fruit twice per year, with crops in early summer and late fall. This semi-dwarf tree grows 8-12 feet tall and produces sweet, amber-colored figs with a rich flavor. It is particularly well-suited to hot, dry climates and container growing.
When should you plant Texas Everbearing Fig in your zone?
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Example Texas Everbearing Fig timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Texas Everbearing Fig
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Texas Everbearing Fig
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Texas Everbearing Fig dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 8b-10a; hardier than many fig varieties
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Establishment
Year 1-2Young tree focuses on root and branch development with minimal fruiting.
Plant in early spring. Water regularly to establish deep roots. Prune to shape the canopy. Protect from hard freezes in zone 8.
Early Fruiting
Year 2-3Tree begins producing the first breba (spring) crop on old wood.
Apply balanced fertilizer in spring. Maintain consistent watering. Remove damaged or crossing branches.
Main Crop Production
Ongoing annuallyTree produces abundant figs in early summer (June-July) and fall (September-November).
Feed with low-nitrogen, higher potassium fertilizer to encourage fruiting rather than excessive vegetative growth. Thin branches if needed to improve air circulation.
Dormancy
December-FebruaryTree drops leaves and enters winter rest in cold climates.
Reduce watering significantly. In zone 8, mulch heavily or wrap young trees for cold protection. Light pruning after leaf drop acceptable.
Harvest
June-July and September-NovemberRipe figs are soft, deeply colored (amber to brown), and hang downward from branches.
Pick when slightly soft to touch. Handle gently as figs bruise easily. Harvest in morning after dew dries for best flavor and shelf life.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Handpick in early morning, use lightweight netting over fruits near ripening, encourage ground beetles
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Not harmful to non-caprifig varieties; wasps help pollinate. No control needed.
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Spray leaves with water to increase humidity, use neem oil if infestation is severe, ensure adequate watering
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Horticultural oil spray in dormant season, prune out heavily infested branches, inspect transplants before planting
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Yellow sticky traps, spray with insecticidal soap, improve air circulation
Uses
Fresh eating and desserts
CulinaryTexas Everbearing figs are prized for their sweet flavor and tender texture, perfect for eating fresh, adding to cheese boards, or using in jams, compotes, and baked goods. [source]
Drying and preservation
CulinaryFully ripe figs can be sun-dried to concentrate their natural sugars, creating a nutrient-dense dried fruit suitable for storing for months and using in trail mix, baking, and cooking. [source]
Digestive and laxative benefits
MedicinalFigs are traditionally used to support digestive health and relieve constipation due to their high fiber content and natural compounds. Both fresh and dried figs have been used in traditional medicine. [source]
Natural sweetener and cooking ingredient
HouseholdFig paste or fig syrup can be made from fresh or dried figs to use as a natural sweetener in beverages, oatmeal, yogurt, and sauces. [source]
Food source for birds and wildlife
WildlifeRipe figs attract birds and beneficial wildlife to the garden, providing natural food and supporting local ecosystems. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Figs are ripe when they change color from green to amber or deep brown, hang downward, and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Do not pick green figs—they will not ripen off the tree. Harvest in early morning when figs are cool. Use a gentle twisting motion or cut with pruning shears to avoid damaging branches. Fresh figs are best consumed immediately or refrigerated for 2-3 days. For drying, harvest fully ripe fruit and spread on screens in a warm, dry location.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Texas Everbearing figs produce two crops annually without requiring a pollinating fig wasp (parthenocarpic), making them self-fertile and productive in North America.
- 🌱 Figs are technically not fruits but inverted flowers—the edible part is a specialized stem tissue called a syconium that encloses hundreds of tiny flowers inside.
- 🌱 This cultivar is more cold-hardy than many fig varieties and can survive brief dips to 15°F (-9°C) if mature and well-established, making it one of the northernmost-growing commercial figs.
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