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The Mighty Fig
April 12, 2011
The History
The Common Fig (Ficus carica) is a fruit that many people have heard of but little have tried more frequent than the occasional Fig Newton. But the rich history of fig use stretches far back, past the time of Ancient Rome. Biblical texts claim that Adam and Eve were even garbed with fig leaves after eating the “forbidden fruit”. There is even a chapter named after the fig tree in the Qur’an and Buddha was said to have gained enlightenment from underneath a Ficus religilosa. Even the national tree of India is a species of Fig!
The “Fruit”
The edible part of the fig is it’s fruits or rather the false fruit. The part that’s eaten is actually a hollowed stem which contains a cluster of flowers. The flower is not visible, as it blooms inside the fruit. The small orifice visible on the middle of the fruit is a narrow passage, which allows a very specialized wasp, the fig wasp, to enter the fruit and pollinate the flower, whereafter the fruit grows seeds
There are basically three varieties of common figs:
- Caducous (or Smyrna) figs require pollination by the fig wasp and caprifigs to develop crops. Some cultivars are Calimyrna, Marabout, and Zidi.
- Persistent (or Common) figs do not need pollination; fruit develop through parthenocarpic means. This is the variety of fig most commonly grown by home gardeners. Adriatic, Black Mission, Brown Turkey, Brunswick, and Celeste are some representative cultivars.
- Intermediate (or San Pedro) figs do not need pollination to set the breva crop, but do need pollination, at least in some regions, for the main crop. Examples are Lampeira, King, and San Pedro.
They “fruit is also a huge source of both calcium and antioxidants, but can produce a laxative effect if great quantities are eaten.
How to grow it
Zones: 7-11
Height: 10-30 ft
Extremely Drought Tolerant
Full Sun
Small Tree/Shrub
The common fig is an extremely diverse and adaptable plant being able to cover a wide range of climates. Varieties such as the Celeste can even handle down to -5F! The soil should be rich and well-draining as too much standing water can be detrimental to the health of the plant. Because of this, they can do well in drier areas such as the Southern US. The plants are frequently propagated by hardwood stem cuttings rather than seed or grafting. For the best results in your area, check with your local nurseries and see which variety is most adapted to your environment, as there are MANY.
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