Identity card
While the Egyptians saw a “tree of Paradise” in the fig tree, with fruit (called sycones) supposed to nourish the dead in the afterlife, the Romans preferred to force-feed their geese with figs to obtain the famous “jectur ficatum” (fattened goose liver with fig oil). The common fig tree (ficus carica, moraceae family, named after a province in Asia Minor, one of the regions where the fig tree originated) can grow up to 10 m high and live for about 300 years. Its decorative alternate deciduous leaves (10 to 20 cm long) are deep green, with three to seven lobes separated by deep, broad sinuses. The male fig tree (caprifigs) produces inedible figs while the female fig tree (domestic fig tree) produces edible figs. The pollination of female fig trees requires a male fig tree (having male and female flowers) and a fig wasp.
The latter lives in the reproductive organs of male fig tree flowers and, loaded with pollen, it then pollinates the flowers of nearby female plants nearby. However, some so-called common varieties (including Madeleine des 2 Saisons, Ronde de Bordeaux, Marseillaise) are self-pollinating and do not need insects.
We make a distinction between uniferous fig trees that bear fruit once a year (August to October) and biferous fig trees that produce fruit twice a year (June-July and August-October).
The principal varieties (about 700), include Violette de Solliès (or Bourjassotte noire, AOC, produced at Solliès-Pont in the Var department, plump uniferous fruit, 60% of the production), Madeleine des 2 saisons (medium sized fig, golden yellow skin, juicy pink flesh), Pastilière (small, downy purple to black skin, sweet flesh), and Ronde de Bordeaux (small, fine black fig, sweet, red flesh).
Cultivation and care
The fig tree does well in sunny setting although it also tolerates the cold. The wood may freeze fully, but it will grow again as long as the roots are intact.
It is sturdy and needs few treatments, but its main enemies are moths, mealy bugs, cankers and flies.
It is advisable to plant early in autumn or in spring and to avoid periods that are too cold (frost hazard) or too hot because it will then require much more care. (Sources: Pépinières Baud, Plantassistance)
At Rungis Market
As Mr Olivier Bennato (Plantassistance GIE) says: “With the current fashion for Mediterranean plants, the fig tree is selling very well (in small shoots, half-stems or long stems) and it does very well in the cold, contrary to popular belief. All sizes included, we sell 250 to 300 a year, including the new variety Ice Crystal with its highly serrated foliage.”
