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Planting fig tree in a pot in the ground

LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,034
in Plants
Hi all

Just wanted to check I had done this right. Fig came in a 3 litre pot, I've potted it into a 20L bell shaped pot, set into the ground. 

I drilled holes in the bottom of the pot and filled the bottom with stones then filled the pot with the soil dug out and planted the fig in that. I'm going to mulch it with compost.

Firstly, have I done this right? (🙈 Horse, stable, bolted!) and will I need to repot it into something larger at some point?

Thanks all
I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
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Posts

  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,034
    *bump*
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,101
    Ours is in a large pot on the terrace ...
    there’s lots of info here 
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-figs/ 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,034
    👍🏽 looks like I'm on the right track, thanks @Dovefromabove
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,517
    Are you putting it in a pot in the ground to restrict root growth? With the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot the roots will find a way out into the surrounding soil. I think you need to decide whether to plant it straight into the ground or keep it in a large pot on a terrace.
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,034
    edited June 2021
    @floralies would the tree not get totally waterlogged if there was no drainage?
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,395
    I think the idea is that you either keep it in a pot which is adequately drained and accept that you will need to repot eventually or you plant in the ground - if the latter, you need to make some sort of barrier around the plant to prevent suckering if or when you prune the top growth.
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,034
    @philippasmith2 is planting it in the ground, in a pot, not the same as creating a barrier around the roots as you suggest? I understand that I treat it as if it is in a pot on the patio as far as watering is concerned, but it just looks like it is in the ground rather than in a pot. 
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,517
    Can I ask the reason why you want to put the fig tree in a pot in the ground? @Latimer
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,326
    I don’t think there is anything wrong in principle with sinking a pot into the ground as, yes it will act as a root barrier to stop outward spread and I would’ve added good drainage too. If it came in a 3L pot it’s presumably a small specimen or a standard?

    20L is a fairly small pot though and fig roots vigorous so it will need excavating and potting on annually. In practice, this may mean digging a hole next it it to get at the bottom of the pot and chop off any roots growing out the bottom. Also, as the pot size gets bigger, it will be increasingly difficult to do this. I sunk a rose in a 40L pot in the ground to see if I/it liked it in a new position and it was an absolute b*gger to get out again.

    So back to floralies’ question really, why?
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,395
    Latimer said:
    @philippasmith2 is planting it in the ground, in a pot, not the same as creating a barrier around the roots as you suggest? I understand that I treat it as if it is in a pot on the patio as far as watering is concerned, but it just looks like it is in the ground rather than in a pot. 
    It is in one way but you can be far more flexible with a barrier than with a pot.
    Perhaps you may not even need a root barrier as such - Bays tend to sucker mostly when they are pruned so I'd say it depends on if/when you may do that.
    If you are prepared to lift the pot when the tree needs more root space, enlarge the hole and replace with a larger pot, then why not ?
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