Fig Trees

History: The origins of Beer's Black are a mystery, but the excellent fruit proves why it continues to be a popular variety today!

Why We Grow It: Beer's Black produces medium figs with dark violet skin and magenta flesh that are quite sweet. They are excellent for eating fresh or drying! 

History: We have a collective of Franciscan missionaries to thank for this variety, when they started it in San Diego in 1768. Over the years, it became the favored fig to grow in California, including sweeping through the commercial orchards. 

Why We Grow It: Excellent quality fig, with good production! Black skin, sweet strawberry-red flesh, with distinct flavour.

History: Some sources claim this fig hails from 1980's Chicago, however it seems more likely to have originated in Mount Etna, Italy. In any case, due to it's hardy nature it's become one of the most common varieties grown in North America. 

Why We Grow It: Chicago Hardy is considered one of the most reliably hardy figs for North America. Add to that their excellent sweet, juicy flavour and it's a no-brainer why these figs have become so popular. Skin is purply-blue-bronze, with soft jammy flesh and a sweet flavour with notes of honey. These figs are medium in size, weighing around 35g.

Photos used with permission from http://planetfig.com/cultivars/fcveng8623.html.

History: Fignomenal originated as a spontaneous mutation on a Chicago Hardy fig. It likely originated in Italy although exact details are uncertain. 

Why We Grow It: Fignomenal is a compact and relatively low maintenance variety which makes it ideal for indoor/container growing. It produces an abundant crop of medium-sized figs with deep brown skin and pink flesh that are quite sweet. 

History: Although we do not know for sure, it is likely we carry the Green or White Ischia fig (there has historically been a lot of confusion between the two!). Ischia figs were introduced to the English-speaking world by Philip Miller in his book The Gardeners Dictionary (note: it uses the old English spelling "ifchia"), the first edition of which was published in 1731. He allegedly claimed that several fig varieties he brought to England were from the Italian island Ischia although some say he may have lost or destroyed the original labels on some Italian figs and simply named them after different islands. Regardless, the Ischia figs have been popular in Europe for centuries and are still grown today. 

Why We Grow It: Ischia has greenish-yellow skin which makes it less appealing to birds while on the tree! Despite its rather unassuming exterior, these figs contain vibrant red flesh with an excellent, rich flavour - try peeling it and adding it to all manner of salads! It is known to be a very productive variety and due to its compact growth it is ideal for container growing. 

History: Aka Italian Honey fig.

Why We Grow It: Very large, sweet, yellow figs with a long neck and honey coloured flesh. When picked at peak ripeness, the flavour and texture are unsurpassed. Not only does this variety have an exquisite flavour, it's compact growth (container friendly), strong breba cropping habit, and adaptability to cool or warm summers make it an excellent choice for the backyard grower.

History: Discovered in Olympia, Washington by Denny McGaughy in 2014, this variety doesn't match any of the 200+ registered varieties in the Department of Agriculture's National Clonal Germplasm Repository, making Olympian figs true age unknown, and quite possibly heirloom despite its recent popularity.

Why We Grow It: Large purple-red figs have excellent flavour, reminiscent of peaches! Very vigorous and productive, producing a strong breba crop on the pervious seasons growth. 

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

History: We have a collective of Franciscan missionaries to thank for this variety, when they started it in San Diego in 1768. Over the years, it became the favored fig to grow in California, including sweeping through the commercial orchards. 

Why We Grow It: Excellent quality fig, with good production! Black skin, sweet strawberry-red flesh, with distinct flavour.

History: Texas Everbearing figs were likely developed in Texas in the 1950s although there are little details available regarding their origin. It is most likely named for its two sizable crops and state of origin.

Why We Grow It: Texas Everbearing produces large, brownish-yellow, bell-shaped figs with sweet seedless flesh the colour of strawberries. This is a good option for cooler areas, it tends to produce well even in a cooler, shorter summer and it is said to fruit again the same year it is frozen to the ground. It produces two crops, a sizable first crop and larger breba crop that matures early.    

History: Discovered around the 1680s in Versailles, France, though thought to originate in Spain.

Why We Grow It: Deep purple-black skin over dark red, with very rich sweet flesh - one of the best tasting varieties around! The flavour intensifies if let to dry/shrivel slightly on the tree. Adaptable, excellent cropper and flavour, and a great choice for backyard growers.