Figs are one of the easiest, most problem-free fruits you can grow. They're a great choice for organic gardeners as the few problems they do encounter can always be overcome without the use of chemicals.

Figs come in a wide array of flavors, textures and ripening seasons. Some have thin skins with delicate, juicy centers reminscent of maple syrup. These are perfect for eating fresh from the tree. Whilst others have a natural rich, sweet texture that lends itself well to drying or for making preserves.

When choosing a fig tree, pick at least one variety from the fall ripening group to help extend the season and to have some of the most interesting flavors. All figs are self-pollinating.

SOIL

Although one of the easiest fruits to grow, the one weak link of a fig is that they are susceptible to nematode damage. Easy ways to combat this problem include planting in large holes filled with rotting manures and mulching with a thick layer of rotting organic material. I like manured leaves or hay. Also, planting next to a building works as the roots will seek shelter in the nematode-free zone under the building.

ORCHARD SANITATION

In the hot, humid climate of the South, Fig Rust seems to be a common problem. Although with good health, most trees continue to thrive and bear fruit throughout their life with a mild case of this fungus, it is unsightly and can be controlled easily with a copper spray in mid-July. It's also good to rake and burn the fallen leaves once a year.

FIG EYES

Figs can't see, but they do have eyes. The eye of a fig is an opening at the apex of the fruit where the skin comes together. Closed eyes prevent bacteria, fungi and insects from getting inside the fig and causing souring. We sell mostly closed eye figs for this very reason.

BIRDS

If birds are a problem in your area, select the light-skinned fig varieties. Birds have a built-in notion that ripe figs are supposed to be dark. They think the yellow-skinned fruits aren't ripe yet and leave them alone.

ALMA A Texas A&M University release, highly resistant to fruit rots. The fruit is a beautiful light yellowish green. Inside, a halo of white meat with a light strawberry center. A good drying variety with a high sugar content and excellent flavor. Continous cropper. Ripens mid-July `til frost. Zones 7-10. $26.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

BLACK JACK This semi-dwarf fig tree is a heavy producer of large, sweet, long purple figs with strawberry red flesh. Black Jack is a great choice for small areas or a pot as it is easily kept to 6-8 ft with pruning. Ripens June to September. Zones 7-10. $29.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

BROWN TURKEY Old-fashion fig that's the standard most folks grew up eating. Large, rich purplish-brown fruit with strawberry-pink center. Very popular in the South because of its dependable crops. Ripens late July to mid August. Zones 7-10. $26.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

LARGE BROWN TURKEY Even larger, rich purplish-brown fruit with delicious strawberry-pink flesh. One of our loyal Wakulla County customers gave us the cuttings. Great improvement on an old favorite with dependable crops. Ripens late July to mid August. Zones 7-10. $26.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

CELESTE Known as the "sugar fig", Celeste produces medium sized fruit with light brown to violet skin, and strawberry pink flesh. One of the best varieties for drying and preserves. Tight eye resists rots. Ripens mid July to mid August. Zones 7-10. $26.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

CHAMPAGNE Developed by LSU, Champagne is a small fig with purple-brown skin and golden flesh, ripening in late May to mid-June. Champagne has a closed “eye” and it's an excellent flavored fig good for both fresh eating and for preserving. Very productive, very cold hardy. Zones 7-10. $29.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

CONADRIA A fig bred by the leading California fig breeder, Ira Condit. The name is a combination of his name and the drying fig Adriatic from which it was bred. The tree is vigorous and the fruit is 2 1/2 inches wide with a light greenish-yellow skin and sweet, juicy strawberry- pink flesh. Ripens mid July to mid August. Zones 8B-10. $26.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

DOMINICO'S WHITE ITALIAN Mrs. Toni Vattovaz's father, Dominico, is responsible for transporting this lovely fig to America from Italy. This one is a white Italian fig, actually a pale lemony yellow. Toni says it's very large, with a pale pink interior. More or less everbearing, it has two successive crops, the first ripening in June and the second in late fall. The old tree at Toni's place is a very interesting architectural, gnarly-trunked one. Toni thinks this is probably actually a Kadota fig, also known as a lemon fig. Ripe June and September. Zones 8B-10. $29.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

GREEN ISCHIA High quality green fig with a strawberry center and a closed eye to deter souring. Birds miss these ripe green figs! Zones 8B-10. $26.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

HOLLIER LSU release. Dependable producer of medium to large sweet figs. Ripens August-September. Zones 8B-10. $26.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

HUNT Very cold resistant, large, long-necked violet brown fruit. Long ripening season. Very dependable. Rich sweet flavor. Ripe July. Zones 7-10. $26.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

JELLY SYN: Mary Lane and Seedless A medium to large yellow fig. As the name implies, this fig is virtually seedless. Yellow pulp is very jucy and sweet. Well adapted to all fig growing areas. Trees are rampant growers, spreading to 15 feet. Ripens late August to mid September. Zones 8B-10. $26.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

LSU GOLD LSU release with great resistance to splitting. Fast grower and heavy producer of large, light yellow, very sweet figs. Ripens July-August. Zones 8B-10. $29.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

LSU SCOTT'S BLACK Very little information is available about this fig, but apparently it's an LSU release, like so many of the most successful figs for the Southeast. Large and black with bright red pulp, and ripens late. One crop. Zones 8B-10. $29.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

MISS HALL It's a small small world, after all. In trying to track down the late Mrs. Ethel Hall's story, we spoke to her friend Shirley Snell, who used to sell wildflowers next to Mrs. Hall at the Timberlake farmer's market in Tallahassee. Mrs. Snell told us that Mrs. Hall was a Gainey before she was a Hall, and her people came from up near the Georgia line. See our Gainey pomegranates for the connection - she might be kin! Mrs. Hall passed away in the summer of 2008, after a productive 90-some years of gardening. Mrs. Hall grew these fabulous great black, red-fleshed sweet and tasty figs up near the Miccosukee community area for many years. Mrs. Snell recalled that it was mid-July when they were at their peak of perfection and sold at the market. Ripens mid July. Zones 8B-10. $29.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

MISSION Several hundred years ago the mission fathers brought this fig to California and planted it along the coast. It's famous for its distinctive, mildly honey-sweet flavor. Deep purple skin darkens to a rich black when dried. Reddish flesh. Produces two abundant crops of very good quality, on a tree that will be large. Perhaps the single best all-round variety for south, north, coast, and interior. Ripens June-August. Zones 7-9. $26.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

NERO Cold hardy variety that produces large, purple-black fruits with a beautiful purplish pulp. Sweet, rich flavor. Great for southern climates. Ripens in July. Zones 7-10. $29.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

O'ROURKE LSU took a great Celeste and improved the yield and fruit size. Light brown to violet skin, and strawberry pink flesh. One of the best varieties for drying and preserves. Tight eye resists rots. Ripens mid July to August. Zones 7-10. $29.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

PANACHEE They rave over the flavor of this fig in California. Green fruit with yellow stripes produces a fall crop. Needs a long, warm growing season. Ripens in August. Zones 8B-10. $29.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

SMITH Figs for Florida, but this one is an heirloom from Louisiana. Superb older variety, large flat yellow fig with a deep red center. Tight eye resists splitting and souring. Very sweet. Ripe July-August. Zones 8B-10. $26.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

ST. PETER'S We have Mrs. Toni Vattovaz, an avid fruit-grower in Tallahassee, to thank for this old Italian fig. Its original home was within sight of Mont Vesuvius and Mont Blanc, near the Volturno River in the Abruzzo area of Italy. Toni's father, Dominico dePaolo, brought the fig to America back in about 1989, and it grew for years in one half of a wine keg in Illinois, where it lived out the winters in the garage. Finally it made its way to sunny Florida where it has been much happier. She describes it as a big brownish-green fig blushed with mauve, with a pink interior. It was Toni's grandfather who called it St. Peter's fig, although she doesn't know why it was called that. Toni said it ripens beginning around her birthday, June 13, and continues fruiting through the summer. Ripe mid June-August. Zones 8B-10. $29.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

TEXAS EVERBEARING Medium-large mahogany brown fruit with deep burgundy pulp. Bears young with two good crops, one ripening in May and the second beginning in late June and on thru the summer. Ideal for fresh eating or preserves. Cold hardy and well adapted to many areas, it's a favorite in central Texas. Ripens late June-August. Zones 8B-10. $29.99 3 gal (2-3ft).

TIGER This beauty was given to us by a fig fancier and it is worth fancying. Another LSU release, Tiger produces large sized fruit with light brown to violet skin and strawberry pink flesh. Great for drying, preserves and fresh eating. Tiger is also an excellent fig for local market growers as LSU studies show it holds better in storage than other varieties. Tight eye resists rots. Ripens mid July to mid August. Zones 7-10. $29.99 3 gal (2-3ft).





Just the Facts
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