Figs ! There's so much you can do with figs -- you can snack on them raw, serve them over ice cream with chips, or make delicious fig preserves! Personally, I love the fig preserves. Especially if it's made from the super sweet Celeste!
We offer the ever popular vigorous growing Brown Turkey Fig and the smaller, sweeter Celeste fig. Brown Turkey is a large fruit with a very distinct figgy taste, somewhat similar to the Black Mission. Mature height is approximately 12-14' tall and sprawling. Celeste is decidedly sweeter, and a smaller, bite sized fruit. Celeste trees will remain compact and smaller, growing to about 8-10 feet maximum.
We also offer the Chicago Hardy, a fig larger than Celeste, smaller and sweeter than Brown Turkey, and stands up to both our hot summers and our surprisingly cold winters.
Each are incredibly easy to grow here in zone 8b / 9a. All figs that grow in our area are self fertile.
Other Varieties
Black Mission is the variety most often used in fig newtons. It does very well in California, but sometimes gets temperamental in Florida's rainy summers.
LSU Purple is a purply-dark colored fig with its own distinctive syrupy fig taste. Not quite as vigorous as the Brown Turkey in Florida, but worth the effort if you have just the right environment for it.
Raw fresh and tasty fig fruits from south of italy
Italian Letizia is an heirloom type fig, native to Italy. It produces sweet, dark purple, medium sized figs. The longer it stays on the tree, the sweeter it gets.
Letizia is quite cold hardy (to zone 7 at least) and abundantly self fertile. Mature trees are about 8' tall.
Somewhat similiar to Chicago Hardy.
Order figs here:
Please make certain your selection is in stock this season before you place your order: unless you're willing to wait.
Fig fruits often form in clusters.
Growing conditions for figs
The fig tree requires very little nurturing to thrive in our climate, but care must be taken to plant in the right soil.
Figs like an alkaline environment -- closer to 7 pH is best. Add dolomitic lime to the soil to alkalize, and never plant a fig next to a pine tree or an oak. They do not like the tannins from oaks and pines.
Figs benefit greatly from the addition of organic soil amendments such as found in our Magic Soil Formula -- organic composted chicken manure, greensand, Dr Iron, etc.
Water your young fig tree every day as with all fruit trees, except during the rainy season. Older more mature trees will be more established and less sensitive to going without water for a few days.
Pruning Figs
Fig trees should be pruned periodically to keep them short enough so you can reach the figs -- 8-10 feet is a good size. Pruning will also encourage a heavier crop.
Heavy pruning is best done in January and February, before the stems start to form new leaves, to avoid cutting off the fresh new growth. But light pruning can be done most anytime you see the need to shape your tree.
