Three Cold-Tolerant Fig Varieties To Grow In The Northeast
Posted on: 4 February 2015
Figs are a unique fruit to grow in your backyard. Like all fruit trees, fig trees require a substantial amount of care. You'll need to have them pruned regularly so that the branches don't become too entangled and weighed down with fruit, and you'll want to have them sprayed to keep insects and disease at bay, too. If you live in the Northeast, you need to be careful of the variety of figs you choose to grow. Some varieties will not tolerate a cold spell, and all of your hard work will go to waste when your figs shrivel and die after a chilly day.
Here are several cold-resistant fig varieties to consider:
Florea
Florea figs are an early-ripening variety that will set fruit in the mid-summer. If you want a continual fig harvest, consider planting a tree of this variety along with a later-ripening fig tree, such as Aybad. Flora figs will survive the chilliest of winters, and you don't have to worry about a late spring frost damaging their fruit. The trees grow quickly, so you do have to be careful to keep up with pruning during the first several growing seasons, especially. Florea figs are known for being large and juicy.
Aybad
Originating in Syria, this fig variety can now be found in the United States. It tolerates cold temperatures and is a very vigorous grower. The trees themselves tend to be bushier and wider than many other fig varieties, making the Aybad a good choice if you have space to fill in a large garden bed or along a fence. The fruits of the Aybad fig tree are light green in color and are known for their sweetness.
Black Bethlehem
Another variety originating in the Middle East, black Bethlehem figs are very common in the Northeast because of their cold tolerance. They still produce a very early crop, even when a spring frost hits. The figs themselves have a classic purple-brown skin and a rich, red center. They are known for their supreme sweetness, which makes them good for eating fresh.
Hardy Chicago Fig
If this fig can withstand the brutal winters of the Chicago area, it can withstand anything. It originated in Sicily and is becoming more common in the Northeast, thanks to its ability to re-grow after being damaged. Hardy Chicago figs have dark skin and flesh that ranges from amber to deep red In color. They are not overly sweet, but have plenty of flavor.
Whether you plan on eating your figs when fresh or dehydrating them for later use, growing your own figs allows you to enjoy this sweet fruit to the fullest. Choose one of the cold-hardy varieties above and remember to care for it well, and you'll have a good crop even after the most brutal winters. Talk to places like Troyer Tree Service Inc for more information and tips.
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