Fig Tree (Ficus carica) MADELEINE DES DEUX SAISONS

Common Fig - Variety 'Madeleine des Deux Saisons'

'Madeleine des Deux Saisons' is a noble French variety that brings a piece of true royal history and aesthetic perfection to your garden. This cold-hardy and heavily fruiting fig is known worldwide for its beautiful, golden-brown striped fruits and bright red flesh. It is the ideal choice for growers looking for perfect harmony between the visual beauty of the tree, top-quality fruit, and reliable harvests even in cooler climates.

Common Fig (Ficus carica) 'Madeleine des Deux Saisons'

The variety originates from the historic French region of Anjou. It enjoyed immense favor at the French court, where King Louis XIV had it grown extensively right in the gardens of Versailles. It is also known by the synonym "Angélique" (Angelic) thanks to its divine taste and toughness in cooler climates. The name "Madeleine" itself refers to the famous French sponge cake, which King Louis XV named after the excellent cook Madeleine Paulmier. The attribute "des Deux Saisons" highlights its ability to produce a crop twice a year.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Attractive appearance: Beautiful golden-brown striped fruits with bright red flesh.
• Excellent taste: Intensely sweet and fresh fruity flavor.
• Double crop: Bears fruit twice a year (Bifère) with a very early summer wave.
• High cold hardiness: Mature wood can withstand frosts down to -15 °C, excellently adapted to cooler climates.
• Self-fertility: The variety is parthenocarpic and highly productive.
• Historical value: Royal heritage straight from the gardens of Versailles.

Detailed variety description: Plant

• Growth and habit: The tree is of medium to vigorous growth. Unlike many spreading figs, it naturally has an upright growth habit. In the open ground, it reaches a height of 2.5 – 4 meters.
• Shaping: Responds very well to spring thinning pruning and shaping the canopy into the desired form.

Fruits and flavor profile

• 1st crop (Summer / Breba): Belongs to the very early summer figs, ripening from early August on last year's wood. The fruits are large, plump, and round (100 – 120 g). The glossy skin has a creamy-pink color with golden-brown striping. The bright red flesh has an intensely sweet and fresh fruity flavor.
• 2nd crop (Main autumn): Ripens from mid-September to October on new shoots. The fruits are slightly smaller (70 – 80 g), more flattened, and without a pronounced neck. This wave is usually significantly richer and very concentrated in flavor.

Growing characteristics and agrotechnics

• Pollination: The variety is parthenocarpic (self-fertile) and belongs to the Adriatic botanical group. Fruits develop without the need for pollination by the fig wasp.
• Resistance and requirements:
  • Cold hardiness and planting: High (down to -15 °C). Plant 2 to 3-year-old trees in the open ground. In cooler locations, protect the trunk and crown with fleece until the trunk reaches a thickness of 6 – 7 cm.
  • Health: Shows excellent overall vitality, robust health of wood and leaves, and does not suffer from common pests.
• Agrotechnics and pruning (Tip for upright varieties): Due to its naturally upright growth, summer pinching of young green shoots in June is highly recommended. This simple intervention forces the tree to stop growing upwards, the canopy branches out sideways, and energy is redirected into ripening the fruit.

Disadvantages of the variety:

• Shaping requirements: Upright growth requires regular summer pinching, otherwise the tree will "escape" upwards at the expense of lateral branching and fruit production.
• Winter protection: Young plants require thorough winter protection in the first years after planting in the open ground.