Tropic Of Canada
Bareroot Ischia Fig
Bareroot Ischia Fig
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.
Note on Sizing: This year we are offering three year fig plants that are 80cm+ above the roots! Some plants may start bearing fruit the same year you receive them.
Growing in a pot:
Growing in a pot:
For most reliable cropping, we recommend keeping figs in large pots and moving them inside during the winter months. Figs require only 100 hours of chill time (at 1-4C), then are ready to begin growing again! This means after your figs fruit in the fall (bring them inside your house if the fruit hasn't ripened), and once it's cold enough outside, you can leave your figs in a garage/shed hovering between 1 to 4 degrees Celsius for a week (typically ~Dec). Prune them now if needed. Then bring back into the warmth to start them growing again. Once it's warm enough to set your figs outside again, be sure to harden the plant off, as the tender green leaves won't handle freezing or strong direct sun after being inside.
Fruit Specs
Fruit Specs
Skin Colour: Yellow
Recommended Use: Fresh eating, preserves, dried; leaves make an interesting seasoning dried (optionally toasted) and powdered, and can be used in tea and canning too.
Fruit Size: Medium
Storage: Best enjoyed within 2-3 days
Harvest: July - September
Growing Specs
Growing Specs
Canadian Hardiness Zone: 5-6 if given sufficient winter protection
Soil Preference: Sandy loam and loam, plenty or organic material. Prefers well-drained soils.
Flowering Time:
Bloom Colour:
Pollination Requirements: Self-pollinating
Sun/Shade Requirements:
Full sun (approx. 8-10 hours of sun daily)
General Growth Habits:
Compact growth habit, skin tends to be a little tougher, making it less prone to cracking and becoming infested with ants. The skin also blends in more with the plant, making it less eye-catching/attractive than purple/black skinned varieties. Good rot resistance (closed eye).
Shipping vs. Pick Up
Shipping vs. Pick Up
CLICK HERE to see how shipping compares to pick up.
Shipping: Every year we ship thousands of trees across Canada (except BC due to CFIA regulations). We carefully bag roots in damp sawdust, then box them and send them out via courrier. CLICK HERE to see our shipping policy.
Pick-up: We also have thousands of trees picked up from our nursery each year. The pick-up options is free, though you must wait until you have been emailed a confirmation that your order is ready to pick up, which will have further information such as hours, locations, etc. We really appreciate if you can make an appointment to pick up, then we can be as organized as possible during our busy season.
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