Ronde de Bordeaux
Fig in the UK

You're looking at sowing fig seeds from about March through to May, best done indoors where it's warm and cosy. Pop 'em about 1cm deep in small pots of good compost, give 'em a drink and keep 'em on a sunny windowsill or in a propagator. They need a steady temperature, ideally around 18-21°C, to get going properly. Takes a while for 'em to germinate, so be patient, like. You won't find plug plants for these generally, it's a seed job or buying a young plant.

Once your seedlings are big enough to handle, prick 'em out carefully into individual 9cm pots. Let 'em grow on in a bright, frost-free spot. When the risk of frost has well and truly passed – that's usually mid to late May up here, a bit earlier further south – you can start hardening them off. Plant 'em into big pots, at least 45-60cm across, or a lined pit in the ground to restrict their roots; that's key for getting proper fruit.