Top 5 Fig Varieties in Our Garden - Over the years
We have a large selection of figs in our garden and have the same level of care and appreciation for each. Nonetheless, some of the trees have earned a special place due to their unique attributes. Some varieties are remarkable in terms of productivity, resistance to rain, consistency, flavor, texture, and ease of maintenance.
If we look at a single attribute such as flavor and texture, there is little argument for which are the top fig varieties. The list is clear and ranking in one way or another would have these five figs: black Madeira, Italian 258, Coll de Dame Blanc, Campaniere, and Smith. However, when you factor out the effort and a year’s worth of anticipation, we have to be more selective and perhaps evaluate them in terms of more realistic metrics such as productivity, rain resistance, and consistency. Let’s leave hype aside for a second, ignore rare varieties with exorbitant and unrealistic prices. We are going to focus on a cluster of fig varieties that are known and affordable.
Assume a simple scale ranging from 1 (not that great maybe mediocre) to 5 (outstanding). Then, score varieties based on productivity, consistency, split resistance, ease of maintenance, texture, and flavor. Here productivity is how many figs you get for the size of the tree. Some growers might have limited space or could only accommodate moving a small tree. Consistency relates to how successful of a harvest has the tree produced for the last 3 years. Split resistance gauges whether a little shower would ruin the fig. Maintenance describes if the tree needs a specific placement in the garden (really sunny area), tons of fertilizer, and babysitting the watering habits.
The top 10 varieties in our garden in no specific order includes Italian 258, Smith, Coll de Dama Blanc, Campaniere, Blanche de Deux Saisons, Del Sem Jaume Gran, Sao Miguel Roxo, Byadi, Valoze, and Petite Negri. The table below shows our Top 10 Fig Varieties with ranking based on the attributes we summarized above.
Score matrix for our Top 10 Fig Varieties scored on broader metrics.
Looking at the table above was initially surprising. The Top 5 Varieties included figs with very different flavor profiles and overall characteristics. Some were complex berry, honey, and Adriatic types. This strengthens the value of having access to diverse fig types with varying ripening timeframes.
Top 5 Fig Varieties Details
Petite Negri which is an often-overlooked variety performs very well in most categories. It is a dwarf tree and yet it produces a large number of figs on each branch. Each year the production is consistent for such a small tree. It is split resistance; light showers do little to its flavor and quality. The figs can shrink in the branch and gain a fruit leather quality. The flavor is complex with berry, some red wine, and brown sugar tones.
Smith is second. The tree is a vigorous grower but also produces a lot of figs. The tree is on the consistent side, but cold spells have affected it in the past. The figs are somewhat resistance to light showers. The tree is very easy to maintain. The flavor is excellent, rich berry and figgy taste with nectar in the inside. What an amazing variety this is.
Valoze is third. It is a red fig with red pulp, it looks like a Mount Etna type, but it has unique attributes. For one, Valoze figs look bruised with dark spots. The flavor is intense berry with noticeable figgy flavor. The tree is very productive and very consistent, each year we get a consistent harvest for the size of the tree. Light showers do not split the figs but do lessen their flavor.
The next trees are all tied, these are outstanding fig trees on their own. Byadi, Sao Miguel Roxo and Blanche de Deux Saisons have different flavor profiles, yet they rank high.
Byadi is a honey type fig. The tree is a vigorous grower and produces a large number of figs. The figs start to ripen early on the season, in most years late July. The crop extends all the way to mid-September. The flavor is so unique, its pulp is sweet like honey with noticeable floral tones. The texture is juicy. This is one exquisite fig with unique flavor. The tree does not require much maintenance, however, excess water can dilute and lessen the flavor and quality of the fig.
Sao Miguel Roxo is a respected fig variety. The tree is a slow grower, but it is very productive with a large amount of small sized figs in all branches. The tree produces some seriously exquisite figs, rich berry and figgy flavors. The figs can dry in the tree which intensifies the berry tones and produces a dry fruit texture that is outstanding. One of the few issues is the rain, the figs can be ruined with just some light showers.
Blanche de Deux Saisons is a green fig with bright red interior. The taste and pulp resemble strawberry jam. The figs ripen late in the season but somehow the colder temperatures do not diminish the quality of the taste. The fig produces two crops, both of excellent quality. It is an average grower with great productivity. There could be some issues with splitting on rainy days, specially on younger trees.
Concluding Remarks
The analysis presented here is based for our garden, weather, and growing conditions in Upstate NY. It is likely that the top varieties in your location would end up being different. Nonetheless, I encourage you to broaden how you evaluate your figs trees and prioritize additional attributes aside from flavor and texture. Look for other characteristics in your fig trees that reward your hard work and dedication. Ignore the hype of some “unicorn” figs and give a chance to the humble figs.
