The fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is a fruit-bearing, tall tree thought to have originated in western Asia. The fig tree is commonly grown in warmer, drier climates and is hardy down to about 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit when dormant. Club regent casino new years eve. A deciduous tree, the fig usually grows to 30 feet tall but can reach a height of 50 feet. The fig tree’s branches are wide-spreading with weak wood and are self-pollinating. These large trees must grow in full sunlight in order to produce fruit.
About Black Jack Fig Tree. The Black Jack Fig Tree is a large, long, purplish fruit with a strawberry red flesh. When you buy a fig tree such as this one, you will notice it is a very sweet, juicy, and heavy producer. The tree is naturally semi-dwarf and can be kept under 6-8 ft. Tall with pruning. Otherwise, it can reach 12-15 ft. Brown Turkey Fig Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey' Sku #3678. An attractive deciduous tree with an intriguing winter silhouette. Produces very tasty, brownish purple fruit in late spring and again in late summer. Highly adaptable, and often root hardy and prolific in zones 5 and 6 if planted in a sheltered location. A beautiful specimen for garden.
General Fig Tree Identification
Identify the fig tree by inspecting its leaves, which should be large, singular and lobed. The bright-green leaves of the fig tree will have hairs on the surfaces and can grow up to 12 inches long.
Look for twisted, muscular branches with trunk bark that contains large nodules.
Study the flowers to identify the fig tree. The fig tree’s tiny flowers are clustered inside of the green fig fruits cases, which form in the spring and develop on the previous season’s growth.
Identify the fig tree by studying its fruits, which are green, brown or purple at maturity. The figs have a tough outer peel with a white rind, inside of which is gelatinous flesh and seed mass.
Identify Specific Fig Varieties
Identify the Black Jack fig tree by its dark-blue, bulbous fruits. The Italian Everbearing fig tree also has bluish-purple fruits, but they’re lighter in color with reddish-pink flesh inside.
Identify the Black Mission fig tree’s fruits by their pear-like shape and dark brown color. The Texas Everbearing fig tree also has brownish-colored fruits, but they have slight “necks” at the tops that are a lighter color.
Spot the Brown Turkey fig tree by looking for its dark-colored, teardrop-shaped fruits that have hints of deep red on the exterior. The Celestial fig, however, has more elongated and lighter purplish-brown fruits with pink fleshy interiors.
Decipher between the Conadria and White Kadota fig trees, which both have fruits with green peels. The Condadria’s fruits are pear-shaped, while the White Kadota’s fruits are rounder and have a slightly striped exterior.
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Dwarf fig trees (Ficus carica) grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, even though figs will produce fruit in colder climates if grown with winter protection. Fig trees are considered borderline temperate fruit trees because they have a low chilling time of less than 300 hours of temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit in order to bear fruit. Dwarf fig trees grow well in containers and in areas with limited space.
Where Do Dwarf Fig Trees Come From?
Fig trees originate from western Asia where hot, dry summers and cool, mild winters occur. By 5,000 B.C., this fruit tree was distributed throughout the Mediterranean area by traders. The fruit is common in the Middle East as well. Some wild varieties tend to grow slowly and stay short naturally. Plant hybridizers have taken advantage of this tendency and developed dwarf forms that still produce full-sized figs.
How Large Will My Dwarf Fig Get?
Fig trees grow to a variety of heights depending on the type. Many dwarf fig trees reach up to 10 feet tall and wide like the “Celestial” fig tree (Ficus carica “Celestial”). This dwarf fig grows well in USDA zones 7 through 11, producing small sweet figs, which ripen in the middle of June. Semi-dwarf trees like “Black Jack” fig trees (Ficus carica “Black Jack”), in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 9, reach up to 15 feet, but they produce well when kept at 6 feet tall by annual pruning. Standard trees like “Brown Turkey” fig trees (Ficus carica “Brown Turkey”) grow to 25 feet tall and wide in USDA zones 7 through 9.
Do I Need to Prune My Dwarf Fig Tree?
Dwarf fig trees require pruning only when they are young and need shaping. Take only a little of the growth off a few of the branches each year until the tree is the desired shape. Heavy pruning contributes to fruit loss since figs develop on last year’s growth. What is the uk gambling industry worth. If heavy pruning is needed, cut only half the branches the first summer and trim the other half of the branches the next summer. Always whitewash the tree if severely pruned. This prevents damage from exposure from the hot summer sun. After the first crop of figs of the year, remove dead and broken branches.
When Do I Pick Figs From My Dwarf Fig Tree?
Several varieties of dwarf fig trees produce two crops of figs a year. The spring crop matures anywhere from late spring to mid-summer. The second, or main crop, ripens in the late summer or early fall. Look for fruits that are beginning to bend at the neck and whose skin is slightly soft to the touch. Many varieties change color and develop cracks in the skin when ripe. Do not pick the figs when they are still immature. Figs do not ripen after picking like tomatoes do. Fresh figs keep only two to three days in the refrigerator, while dried figs store up to eight months.
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About the Author
Karen Carter spent three years as a technology specialist in the public school system and her writing has appeared in the 'Willapa Harbor Herald' and the 'Rogue College Byline.' She has an Associate of Arts from Rogue Community College with a certificate in computer information systems.
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