Main varieties of fig trees

The fig tree is a deciduous fruit tree whose fruits ripen in mid- to late summer (August or September in the Northern Hemisphere). They have an exquisite, fresh flavor, perfect for ending the hottest season of the year on a sweet note. They also tolerate drought very well and require little care. But did you know that there are many varieties of fig trees?

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Key features

The fig tree, known by the scientific name of ficus carica, it is a tree that grows to 4-5 meters. It is native to Southwest Asia, although today it has become naturalized in the Mediterranean Region. It is often used to decorate gardens and orchards that are in places where rainfall is rather scarce, since it not only produces delicious fruits, but it can also provide a lot of shade if it is pruned (leaving the trunk clean and forming a parasol glass).

As we said, there are many varieties of fig trees, which differ mainly in the color of the fig's skin, as well as their flavor (more or less sweet). They all require the same care, so you'll just have to choose the one you're most interested in when you go to a nursery.

The fig tree was originally a monoecious species, although it is currently dioecious. A monoecious species means it has flowers of both sexes on the same plant, while a dioecious species has flowers of each sex on separate plants. Among the plants with male flowers are male fig trees, while those that are cultivated are those with female flowers. All fig tree varieties currently sold in our country are usually self-fertile. This means they can fertilize themselves. In other countries, other plants are required for fertilization to occur and the fruit to ripen.

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The fertilization technique used is called caprification. This technique consists of carrying both branches with some male fruits on the branches of female plants. We know that small figs carry a small hymenopteran that contributes to pollination. Therefore, thanks to the maturity they achieve, they can make their fruits grow, since otherwise they would drop the fruits prematurely.

Varieties of fig trees in Spain

The varieties sold in Spain do not require the aforementioned caprification technique. This is because they are self-fertile. If we want to purchase a fig tree, the first thing we should do is obtain a catalog of retailers specializing in the subject. Currently, this market is not very extensive, as there are few professionals dedicated exclusively to the reproduction and purchase and sale of different varieties of fig trees.

We might see this as a disadvantage, but it's quite the opposite. Thanks to this specialization, we can have a garden at home with different varieties of fig trees planted that guarantee excellent production. Although the higher or lower productivity and production periods differ among some varieties, the overall productivity will be much better.

The most common fig tree varieties in Spain are classified into two groups. This classification refers to those that only produce one harvest per year, commonly called common fig trees. This harvest is typically centered between the months of August and September. On the other hand, we have biferous fig trees. This variety is also known by the common name "brevales" (brevales) because they have the unique characteristic of producing two harvests per year. The first begins in June and July, and they produce brevas (figs) instead of figs. The second harvest takes place between August and October and is called figs.

Among all these trees, we see that some figs are very late and do not ripen well in the fall. This means they are well preserved throughout the winter and fully ripen again the following summer. Figs are highly prized for their sweet flavor. This makes them there are harvests and tastings before the fall season.

The best known varieties of fig trees

Common fig trees

They are the ones that grow spontaneously in the Mediterranean. These trees bear only figs, from August to October in the Northern Hemisphere. The main varieties of Spain are:

• True: yields green figs. They ripen late, so you can taste them until November. Of course, you should know that autumn rains can spoil many fruits.
• BlancaFigs are white in color, and you can keep them dry.
• hard hideFigs are black in color, with tough skin, and ripen in early autumn.
• Kadota Fig: This variety comes from Italy and is known by the name of Dotato. Here the figs have a greenish-yellow skin color and the flesh is purple in color.
• Variety of celestial fig: It comes from Mexico and California and the fruit turns purple while its flesh turns pink with a sweet flavor.

Breval figs or bacoreras

They are the most appreciated. They are larger than figs, and can also be kept dry. The main varieties that you will find in Spain are:

• Strain: figs are black, and have a rounded shape. They have a tendency to scratch and crack.
• goina: Figs are black but with a slightly redder neck. They fall easily from the tree.
• Noral: the figs are somewhat greenish, of lower quality than the previous ones. In fact, they are practically not planted.
• BrownTurkey: its fruits are pear-shaped and grown mainly in Israel, Italy and California. The skin here of the figs is dark reddish and their flesh purple. It is a fairly sweet and juicy variety.

As you can see, there are a few varieties of fig trees, so you can enjoy different flavors if you wish.