Peter's Honey Fig Tree

Light Needs

Full Sun

(6+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

1 Foot

Mature Spread

1 Foot

Growing Zones

7 to 9

Peter's Honey Fig, or Ficus carica ‘Peter's Honey’, is a beautiful tree with rugged, lush green, tropical-looking leaves with 3 to 5 indented lobes which cast a heavy, dense shade. The vigorous gray trunk and branch patterns of Peter’s Honey make it a lovely ornamental option, even in winter. The fruit has a firm, water-drop shaped, greenish-yellow skin with honey sweet, amber-colored flesh. Peter’s Honey is self-pollinating and typically bears two crops per annum. The first crop arrives in early summer on last year’s wood, and the second more abundant crop comes in early fall from the current year’s growth. Ripe figs, that range in size from 3 to 5 centimeters, should detach easily at the stem and yield 10 to 15 lbs of fruit per plant, 1 to 2 years after planting.

Peter's Honey Fig Tree Care

Peter’s Honey Fig is a small, low-branched tree with an outward spreading habit. Pruning your Peter’s Honey Fig is easy. In the winter, cut out dead and crossing branches, and any low-hanging branches. Pinch off runaway shoots in any season. Do not do any deep cultivation near your fig trees, as this can harm their delicate surface roots. Burrowing animals, especially gophers, love fig roots. You can plant your fig trees in wire baskets to avoid these critters. They may also need a protective net to stay clear of hungry birds.

Growing Peter's Honey Fig Trees

The best time to plant your Peter's Honey Fig is late winter or early spring. Fig trees can grow in many types of soil, so long as it has good-drainage. Do not plant in hot weather. Choose a planting locale where the fruit won’t make a mess. If you live in a mild climate, your Honey Fig will need extra warmth. In areas with more mild temperatures, the fig wood freezes back and the tree takes on the appearance of a large shrub.

Plant your fig tree near a south-facing wall or in a garden area with full sun. In-ground figs don’t need frost protection, so long as the temperature stays above 20 degrees. Prolonged high temperatures will give your fig tree the best chance of bearing good fruit. You may need to paint the trunks of newly planted figs with white wash or latex to prevent sunburn.

Native to Western Asia and the eastern Mediterranean, Peter's Honey Fig grows fairly fast to 12 to 15 feet tall and wide. It begins producing fruits after 1 or 2 years. Peter’s Honey Fig needs ample sunlight, at least eight hours a day, to produce high quality fruit.

Growing Peter's Honey Fig Trees in Containers

With proper pruning, your Peter’s Honey Fig can be held up to 10 feet in a large container, but should be covered at night or brought into a frost-free area if the weather is freezing.

Watering & Feeding Peter's Honey Fig Trees

Your Peter's Honey Fig should be watered deeply every two weeks during the growing season. It will need a balanced fertilizer in the spring just after growth begins. You should avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which will encourage leaf growth at the expense of fruit.

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