Another summer growing season is in the books. We had our first light frost about a week ago, and the tree shuffle has begun. Citrus trees don’t tolerate temps below 40 degrees too well. So we brought the limes, lemons and oranges inside the garage to protect them until the temperature rises (and it will) and the fruits ripen. They are almost there. We also covered or sheltered a few other frost-sensitive plants like roselle, avocado, peppers and house plants. Although we have a number of one-gallon figs to consider as it gets colder, we left all of the figs outside and took inventory. One hundred twenty-three. That’s how many individual fig plants we have. Of those, there are 66 different varieties. I know that sounds wild, but growing figs is an addictive hobby. Once you grow and experience the unique characteristics of each plant, it is difficult to turn back. When you think about figs, Brown Turkey most immediately comes to mind. This is the reddish-brown fig that many of us remember from our backyards when we were growing up. In my case, it was our neighbor up the street who had a giant fig tree that filled his entire back yard. I don’t think there was anything else back there except an old shed and that gigantic tree. What I remember most is hiding beneath those huge limbs and leaves that draped the ground like a humongous hoop skirt. There were many late summer evenings that I filled up on fig fuel until my belly ached. It seemed as if we picked figs from that tree all summer long. He generously shared his treasures with the ladies who came to my mother’s beauty salon right next door. I used to think these were the only figs in existence until I jumped into this quest to fill our yard with food year-round. Boy was I wrong! I’ve learned so much from mentors all over the globe about the hundreds of thousands of fig varieties that exist, their origins in different countries and the types that grow well in our climate. There are also figs to cover early and late season to extend your crop depending upon your growing zone. Our mild South Carolina climate allows us to take advantage of some of these benefits. For starters, unless you live on the West Coast (or other Mediterranean-type climates), you will need to invest in common fig varieties. There are figs that require a fig wasp that only lives in certain climates. The fig fruit is actually a flower that blooms inside out. Wasps enter the fig through the ostiole or eye, which is a circular opening on the underside of the fruit. Once the wasp pollinates the fruit, the fig explodes with flavor. But all figs do not require this extra step to produce an appetizing flavor. Common varieties do not require a fig wasp at all to produce fruit or flavor. You simply need to find the varieties that perform best in your climate. Clemson extension offers a few of the basics you can likely pick up at your local nursery. Celeste, Brown Turkey and Chicago Hardy are quite common and represent what comes to mind for most when they think of figs. Small, plump, bulb-like purplish fruit with a burst of sugary sweet when you pop it into your mouth. I’ll share a little about those and a few other common varieties that you simply can’t go wrong with when adding them to your landscape. These are easy-to-find, easy-to-grow varieties. Celeste Very reliable. A very early sugar fig that begins ripening a breba crop as early as mid-July here in South Carolina. The breba is a small crop of figs that grows on last season’s wood. The current season’s figs will emerge from new growth. Celestes may ripen from August through September. LSU Purple Reviews are mixed on this variety from Louisiana State University. The fruit are elongated purple tear-drops with an amber-colored interior. Some really love the flavor, while others believe it is far less intriguing than the other LSU varieties and less impressive of figs in general. Ischia Green Ischia Green is another fairly easy tree to grow. Producing a medium to large green fig with bright, strawberry-colored interior, it boasts a berry flavor that many love. The trees we grow were sourced by a North Carolina fig enthusiast, and it takes on a sprawling growth habit that bushes out. Violette de Bordeaux Considered a berry-like fig, this plump, purple spotted fig is very easy to find at your local plant nursery. They start out in a dimpled squat-like manner that grows slowly. Then it expands, fat and round, just before harvest. If you want to grow your knowledge about figs, there are many groups and forums online that can help you.
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AuthorI'm a wife, mother, daughter, educator, writer and hobby farmer. Welcome to my world of simply living. Archives
December 2023
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