Question
Hi , I have a small garden but would love to grow a fig tree that bears fruit.(I have just bought one) Could I grow it in a pot and how big would the pot have to be?  Thank you for your help. Yvonne

Answer
Yes, you can grow your fig in a container. The size of the container depends on the size of your tree. You will need to "pot up" as the tree grows. This is important, because if you put it in a container that is too large, the water will "wick" away from the roots to the outside of the container, and the tree will wilt and die. Also figs fruit better if they are a little root bound in their pot.
To get fruit, your fig needs some special care. There are about twenty pages of material about this care. I will try to reduce it to a simple "how to get figs on my tree".
Figs need as much sun as they can get. Up to eight full hours or more of direct sunlight. Less sun means fewer fruit that won't ripen as quickly.
Prolonged hot, dry weather can cause fruit to toughen, and fall prematurely. Supply adequate water, and move the tree to a cooler location with some shade when it gets too hot. But, move it back to the sun, when it cools down again.
Be sure the tree is dormant in winter. Actively growing trees can be damaged at 30 degrees, but dormant trees are hardy to 12 to 15 degrees.
Prune your tree to shape it. trim the long shoots to stimulate branching, there by increasing the amount of fruit baring wood. Keep in mind that since the fruit crop is produced on last year's wood, heavy pruning might reduce next years crop. Plan your pruning after the last frost, and before the spring growth starts.
Regular fertilization is necessary for potted figs, but don't over do it. Too much nitrogen encourages green growth at the expense of fruit production, and can cause improperly ripening fruit, light fruiting, fruit splitting, and souring. Nitrogen can promote succulent growth late in the growing season, a condition or problem that makes the tree susceptible to winter injury.
In conclusion: Give your tree plenty of sun, pot up only when needed, give it protection from extreme temperatures, use low nitrogen fertilizer, keep tree moist, but not wet, and be careful how, and when you prune it.