One tree that is popular for their sweet and delicious fruit is fig trees. They can be grown in warmer climates but also do well in colder areas if you give them proper protection. They can be grown in containers so that you can bring them in out of the extreme cold. There are several types of figs to chose from. Some produce green or golden figs that have mild flavor or purple, reddish or dark brown figs which have a bolder flavor.
You can propagate fig trees, which means you take a cutting from an area of new growth on an established tree. In order for the cutting to develop roots, you will need to take it in late winter when the tree is dormant. You will wrap the cuttings in a damp paper towel and place in the freezer for two weeks.
Now you will need to trim the edges at a slant and apply a rooting hormone, place in rich, well drained soil mix and keep moist until the roots appear. Another way to get the tree started is to get seedlings or a young tree from a garden center.
Now you will want to pick a location for your tree, be sure that the spot gets at least 8 hours of sun per day. Morning sun is most important so that the dew will dry quickly in the mornings, which will assist in preventing fungus and disease. Place fig trees at least ten feet apart. You will want to mix compost into the soil, but not manure. New trees must be kept moist, but once they are established only need be watered during prolonged dry periods. If you grow a fig tree in a container then transplant, it will need a bit more care, as the soil will dry more quickly.
Fig trees grown in colder climates require special care to protect against winter weather. Wrap the trees in burlap and place a layer of clear plastic over the burlap. This will help them not to get cold weather damage. Insulating the base of the fig trees with straw or old leaves is a good thing. Container grown fig trees can be moved to a garage or shed for the winter. They require little light and little water during the dormant period.
