When to Plant Fig in Perth, Mediterranean Guide
What this month normally looks like in Mediterranean
In October the Mediterranean zone normally runs 22°C by day and 10°C overnight, with about 38 mm of rain over 6 or 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 19 postcodes, SILO.
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This Fig guide is written for the Mediterranean zone, which takes in Perth, Adelaide and Bunbury. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Jun to Aug
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.0
One of the easiest fruit trees for Australian home gardens. Tough, drought-tolerant once established, and self-fertile (common fig varieties don't need pollination or a wasp).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Mediterranean
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant bare-root in winter. Many varieties give a small breba crop in late spring and the main crop from late summer to autumn.
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How to Grow Fig in Mediterranean Australia
- Soil
- Tolerates most soils including clay and limestone. Prefers well-drained but surprisingly adaptable. Restricting root space (against a wall, in a pot, or with buried barriers) can increase fruit production.
- Salt
- Moderately tolerant. Handles slightly salty water better than most veggies.
- pH Range
- 6.0-8.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun essential for sweetest fruit. At least 8 hours direct. Heat-loving. Benefits from reflected heat off walls and paving.
- Good companions
- Rue (traditional companion), Comfrey, Strawberry, Mint
- Keep away from
- Plumbing/foundations (aggressive root system), Other fruit trees it will shade
Mediterranean Growing Tips for Fig
Recommended Varieties
- Black Genoa
- Brown Turkey
- White Adriatic
- Preston Prolific
Key Challenges
- Mediterranean fruit fly in WA
- Minimal other issues
Pro Tips
- This is THE ideal fig climate. Exactly where figs evolved.
- Adelaide and Perth produce world-class figs.
- Every variety does well. Grow several for extended harvest.
Pests and problems for Fig in Mediterranean
- Queensland Fruit Fly Watch
- Fig Rust Open canopy for air circulation. Rake and remove ALL fallen leaves in autumn (spores overwinter on debris). Choose resistant varieties... Watch
- Fruit Souring Grow varieties with closed/small eye (e.g., Black Genoa has smaller eye than Brown Turkey). Harvest promptly. In humid areas, this is... Watch
- Mediterranean fruit fly Mediterranean fruit fly in WA Watch
Harvesting Fig
When ready: Neck droops (fruit hangs down instead of pointing up). Skin colour deepens (variety-specific). Slight softness when gently squeezed. Drop of nectar at the eye. Skin may crack slightly at base of neck.
How to harvest: Twist and pull gently upward. Ripe figs detach easily. Wear gloves. Fig sap (latex) irritates skin. Handle gently. Ripe figs bruise easily.
Storing and preserving fig
How to keep it
- Drying. Halve figs, place cut-side up on racks. Sun-dry (3-5 days in dry climate) or dehydrate at 55°C for 10-16 hours. Figs are naturally high in sugar and dry beautifully. Keeps: 6-12 months.
- Freezing. Halve or quarter. Freeze on tray then bag. Best for cooking/baking after thawing. Keeps: 6 months.
- Jam/Paste. Chop figs, cook with sugar (2:3 sugar to fig ratio), lemon juice, and optional spices (cinnamon, vanilla). Simmer until thick. Jar hot. Keeps: 12 months.
- Preserved in syrup. Pack whole small figs in sterilised jars. Cover with hot sugar syrup. Water bath process 30 minutes. Keeps: 12 months.
- Fig paste (for cheese). Cook figs with sugar, balsamic vinegar, walnuts. Reduce to thick paste. Set in lined tin. Slice when cool. Keeps: 3 months refrigerated.
What fig costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Fig
When do you plant fig in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jun
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jun to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to May, Aug to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Fig in Perth?
Plant bare-root in winter. Many varieties give a small breba crop in late spring and the main crop from late summer to autumn.
How do I know when Fig are ready to harvest?
Neck droops (fruit hangs down instead of pointing up). Skin colour deepens (variety-specific). Slight softness when gently squeezed. Drop of nectar at the eye. Skin may crack slightly at base of neck.
What are the best Fig varieties for Perth?
Recommended varieties for the Mediterranean zone include: Black Genoa, Brown Turkey, White Adriatic, Preston Prolific.
What grows well with Fig?
Good companion plants for Fig include: Rue, Comfrey, Strawberry, Mint.
Are fig salt tolerant?
Fairly. Fig are moderately tolerant of salt and handle slightly salty water better than most veggies.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.