Cooperative Living October 2016 - 30

GardenMuse | Story and Photos by Paula Steers Brown, Contributing Columnist
Fall for Fabulous Figs
Plant a fig tree; its big exotic leaves will make your patch of land seem like a paradise.
S
tart your own little Garden of Eden
by planting a fig tree. The fig is one
of the easiest fruit trees to grow, and
you only need one plant to produce
enough fruit for a whole family, since most
fig trees are self-pollinating.
A Mediterranean plant, the fig (Ficus
pumila) lends a bit of an exotic, tropical
look to the home garden. The fig's large,
dark green, lobed leaves are rugged and
handsome, so this fruit tree's distinctive
branching beauty is a bonus.
Figs grow well in zones 8-10, but the
sturdy cultivar " Chicago Hardy " is reputed
to survive winters even in zone 5 with
protection. " Brown Turkey, " with its
purple skin and red flesh, and " Celeste "
(often called the sugar fig in the South) do
well in the southeast. " LSU Purple " is a
newer variety, nematode resistant, that
reliably produces two crops of figs, an
early and a late crop, in the southeast.
" LSU Gold " is another new variety with
yellow-skinned fruits. Figs are also great
to grow in pots and can be stored in a
cool garage or basement where the
temperatures stay between 20 and 50
degrees F. The smaller varieties such as
" Peter's Honey " or " Black Jack " are good
for pots, although any variety will stay
smaller if grown in a container.
Old-timers say fig trees enjoy the
company of people - you almost always
see them planted near the home. Growing
them in a protected spot keeps them safe
from the cold winds, and heat from
reflected walls or bricks simulates their
warmer native climate. Close proximity, of
course, means easy picking.
Figs can grow from 10 to 30 feet,
depending on the variety. Consider their
eventual width when planting, and site
them 15 to 20 feet from the house. Figs
need full sun, heat and regular moisture.
Once established, though, the fig tree
becomes drought tolerant. Dig the hole
28 | Cooperative Living | October 2016
The fig's large, dark green, lobed leaves are rugged and handsome.
2½ times the size of the root ball, enrich
with organic matter, and mix in slowrelease
fertilizer (5-5-5).
The tree appreciates regular fertilization,
but don't apply fertilizer after August
because it will stimulate new growth that
might be injured in winter. Fig trees like
being pruned (in late winter), so trim your
trees each year to about 8 feet so you don't
have to climb a ladder to get the fruit. One
tree produces many figs, but they have to
ripen on the tree to achieve their delicious
flavor, so be patient and give them time.
Figs can be eaten fresh, dried or used in
cooking, so branch out beyond the Fig
Newton to a culinary paradise. Once figs
begin to ripen on the tree, they need to be
picked so as not to attract insects. Fresh
figs will keep in the fridge for two or three
days, so serve them in a variety of ways
then dry or preserve the rest of your
harvest. For breakfast, try them in oatmeal
with maple syrup. As hors d'oeuvres, top
fresh figs with warm cheese and drizzle
with honey. Or wrap fresh figs stuffed with
goat cheese and walnuts in bacon. Add
quartered figs to a salad of mixed greens
with walnuts and shaved Parmesan cheese.
Serve them with poultry, glazed with a
balsamic reduction. Poach figs in juice or
red wine and drizzle over yogurt or frozen
desserts. Sliced figs make beautiful tarts,
luscious and sweet when baked; their
tiny seeds add a nice crunch. And what
could be more perfect for the holidays?
After all, the second verse of " We wish you
a Merry Christmas " is " Oh bring us some
figgy pudding. "
The health benefits of figs are expansive.
They are a good source of potassium, a
mineral that helps to lower blood pressure.
An excellent source of dietary fiber, they
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Cooperative Living October 2016

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