Have a look at this link

http://www.theallotmentgarden.co.uk/gardening-blog/2009/05/growing-a-fig-tree-in-uk/

mine hasnt done well the last couple of years so Im reading up on it! oops I took mine out of its pot and put it in the border!!

All I know about figs is that they do best with a restricted root run in a sheltered place. so if you should decide to plant it out put something in the ground that will confine the roots.

And try to heat up and extend the growing season as much as possible, say by putting it on the south or west face of a masonry wall, or on a southwest facing slope. That will encourage it to put on figs a little earlier, and ripen them faster, hopefully before fall.

Thats interesting St, how do commercial growers of figs restrict their growth?

Usually they don't, Denise. In the Mediterranean and subtropical climates where they are grown commercially, root restriction is unnecessary. Not really sure why it would be necessary in the UK, either, unless it is to keep the tree from outgrowing its shelter.

The figs I've seen growing in the ground in the UK weren't in positions that would have contained their roots and we growing just fine.

Thanks Tug and MG.

Well I've never grown them - but often seen advice that said restricting the roots gives more figs. RHS Encyclopedia of Gardening suggests planting in a brick (or similar) pit to restrict root growth where space is limited and keep the tree to a smaller size, so I don't suppose commercial growers would have that problem - and we don't have many in this country!

I meant commercial growers abroad ST.

I realised that Drc - and I haven't the faintest idea of the answer, except to say that I'm pretty sure they don't - not the ones I've seen anyway. Tug has the answer - to keep them a reasonable size where necessary. So I shouldn't have said they do best like that, just that it might be a good idea if you only have a smallish space.