Rising fig timber in Virginia was a goal of mine. Ever since I tasted my first present figs, I’ve needed my very private fig vegetation. Correct proper right here’s what I chosen so as in order so as to add to my Virginia, zone 6B yard.
Rising Fig Crops
Fig vegetation (Ficus) are surprisingly straightforward to develop contained in the yard so long as you meet two circumstances. First, they want eight hours of vivid, direct daylight on day by day foundation. Secondly, most varieties can not tolerate winter temperatures beneath 10 ranges F. In case your area of the nation usually experiences extended durations of chilly native climate, you’ll ought to wrap your fig tree up (extra on that later) to guard it from the winter’s chilly.
To develop good fig timber, you’ll want:
- Shiny, direct daylight, typically 8 hours or extra per day.
- Temperate or widespread winter temperatures.
- Good well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 – 6.5
I choose to counsel planting fig timber in giant containers at first after which deciding if you wish to plant them contained in the yard. Containers could also be moved correct proper right into a storage or shed within the midst of the winter to guard the youthful timber from the chilly. After the timber are various years earlier, for people who select to, you may plant them instantly contained in the yard.
Do You Want Additional Than One Fig Plant for Fruit?
Fig varieties bought all by way of the USA are self-pollinating, which suggests you don’t want two vegetation to supply fruit. One will do. Italian and utterly completely different Mediterranean fig varieties require a pollinator, which suggests that you must plant two fig timber of varied varieties. These figs are pollinated by a selected native wasp. Choosing the proper fig tree varieties to your area of the world and your native local weather means so much a lot much less particular care and a bigger likelihood of shopping for the candy, brown fruit.
Fig Tree Varieties for Virginia
Brown Turkey Fig
Certainly one of many essential commonplace fig tree varieties for Virginia is “Brown Turkey.” It’s exhausting in zones 7 by the use of 10 with none particular care and may be very low repairs. Brown Turkey produces two crops of figs per yr and is self pollinating. The figs are about 4 inches extended and as shortly as a result of the timber flip into established, they produce plentiful fruit.
Chicago Hardy Fig
My variety of fig timber for my Virginia yard is “Chicago Hardy.” On account of the title suggests, it’s imagined to be hardy to zone 7. My space is a 6b, so near 7, and a few books tips it as hardy to zone 6, so it’s borderline hardy with out safety. And, with the phrase “Chicago” contained in the title, I determine it’s most likely very exhausting. Ultimately, these Chicago winters could also be very chilly!
Why Did I Add Figs to My Virginia Yard?
I blame an individual named Anthony. Anthony labored with me at a monetary suppliers company in New York Metropolis contained in the Nineties. He lived in Queens, New York.
Inside the event you’ve ever pushed by the use of Queens neighborhoods contained in the wintertime you’ll uncover “mummies” on the small entrance lawns of the rows of hooked up homes. These “mummies” are literally Italian fig timber bundled and wrapped in burlap. To guard the fragile timber from the chilly New York Metropolis winters, householders reduce off the principle branches and wrap the timber in burlap and twine. Burlap — not plastic — acts as a chilly defend, and the timber survive the winter. Due to they develop fruit on new progress wooden, chopping them as soon as extra so drastically helps them produce extra fruit.
Anthony lived in his Italian’s grandfather’s residence that he had purchased from his grandpa. And, on the doorway yard, like so many homes in his neighborhood, was an excellent attempting fig tree.
Nonetheless in distinction to utterly completely different figs, this one was over 40 years earlier — and it optimistic did produce fruit! It was an “Italian Honey” fig tree with giant, inexperienced skinned figs and the sweetest fruit potential. Anthony would usher in giant plastic containers of figs present from the tree and depart buckets of them all through the workplace. My coworkers and I’d gorge on present figs. I fell in love with fig timber on account of Anthony sharing the figs, and I vowed ever since that I would want fig timber as shortly as I moved into my very personal residence. Fortunately, that point is now!
Rising fig timber in Virginia is now a dream come true for me.
First written April 2018. Up to date Might 19, 2021 with present textual content material materials, newly up to date information, and new graphics.
