No, most fig varieties sold for home gardens don't need fig wasp pollination at all. Figs grown in backyards across North America and Europe make fruit without any insect help. You can grow sweet figs without ever seeing a single wasp near your tree.
I've talked with dozens of new fig growers who panic after reading about fig wasps online. They worry their trees won't fruit without these tiny insects. The good news is that this concern applies to just one type of fig. Most home gardeners will never grow that type.
The science behind this involves a term called parthenocarpic figs. These varieties make fruit without any pollen or seeds inside. The tree produces figs through a process that skips the whole mating step. Breeders have built this trait into most garden varieties over many years.
Three main types of figs exist based on how they fruit. Common figs are parthenocarpic and need no help to set fruit. San Pedro types produce two crops per year. The first crop needs no pollen while the second crop does. Smyrna figs need wasp help to make any fruit at all.
Smyrna figs depend on a specific wasp called Blastophaga psenes. This tiny insect enters the fig through a small hole. It pollinates the flowers hidden inside the fruit. Without the wasp, Smyrna figs fall off the tree green. Growers don't sell these figs for home gardens in most areas.
You'll find self-pollinating fig varieties at local nurseries and garden shops. Brown Turkey, Chicago Hardy, Celeste, Black Mission, and Kadota all fruit without wasp help. These are the standard picks for backyard growing across most climate zones. They're easy to find and simple to grow.
I've grown Brown Turkey and Chicago Hardy for over six years now in my own yard. Both trees set heavy crops every summer. The figs taste sweet and ripen based on heat and water. I've never worried about wasps or pollination with either tree.
You can spot varieties that need wasps before you buy them. Check the plant tag or online listing for clues. Any fig labeled as common type or self-fruiting will work without wasps. Skip anything marked as Smyrna type. Those need a caprifig tree nearby for pollen.
Most mail-order nurseries stock common fig types. Local garden centers do too. Some specialty growers sell Smyrna figs for collectors. Stick to the popular names if you want easy growing. Brown Turkey and Celeste are safe picks for anyone starting out with figs.
The fig wasp myth keeps many people from trying figs at home. Don't let old stories scare you away. Pick a common variety from a trusted source and plant it with confidence. Your tree will make plenty of figs without any special help from insects.
One neighbor told me she waited three years to plant figs because she thought wasps were required. Now she has two trees loaded with fruit each summer. She laughs about all that wasted time. The right variety makes fig growing simple and wasp-free.
Read the full article: Growing Figs: Expert Advice for Thriving Trees
