Figs - Part 3: From a Reliable Classic to an Adriatic Treasure

Do you dream of your own harvest of sweet figs, straight from your garden or balcony? With so many available varieties, it can be hard to choose the right one. I have prepared an overview of the last four proven varieties that differ in taste, color, fruit size, and growing method.

Author's Note (MP Edition):
All four varieties presented in this article belong to my personal selection. This means I have tested them long-term, either personally in my garden, with family, or with friends. These are varieties for whose quality and reliability I can vouch.

So let's look at their characteristics and find out which one would best fit your plans.

1. Brown Turkey: The Workhorse of the Fig World

Probably one of the best-known and most widespread varieties in the world. It is an absolute classic whose exact origin is lost in history, but its reliability and adaptability have made it a cornerstone of many gardens in Europe and America.

  • Growth Habit: Grows vigorously and vitally, forming large, spreading trees or shrubs. It is ideal for planting in the ground where it can show its full potential. It grows to a height of 3-5 m.
  • Fruits: Medium-sized, pear-shaped. The skin has a typical brownish-purple color with a copper hue. The weight of the summer fruits (breba) is 60-80 g; the autumn fruits are slightly smaller, around 40-50 g.
  • Pulp and Taste: Light amber to pale pink. The taste is sweet, pleasant, and mild, without complex flavors. It's simply an honest and tasty fig, great for fresh eating and processing.
  • Harvest: A very reliable twice-bearing variety. It produces a decent summer crop in August and a rich main autumn crop that ripens from the end of September.

Quick Facts: Brown Turkey

  • Crop Type: 2x per year (Bifere)
  • Frost Hardiness: down to -20 °C
  • Best For: In-ground planting
  • Key Feature: Extreme reliability and hardiness

2. Dalmatie: The Adriatic Treasure for Gourmets

As the name suggests, this treasure comes from the Croatian coast of Dalmatia. It is a gourmet variety renowned especially for its gigantic and exceptionally tasty fruits from the first, summer harvest.

  • Growth Habit: Grows moderately vigorously, rather compact, making it very suitable for growing in large containers. Its leaves are large, deeply lobed, and exceptionally decorative. It grows to a height of 2.5-3 m.
  • Fruits: The summer harvest (breba) is phenomenal – the fruits are huge, elongated, pear-shaped, and commonly reach a weight of 120-150 g. The skin is greenish-yellow. The autumn fruits are significantly smaller but still very tasty.
  • Pulp and Taste: It has a beautiful strawberry-red color. It is dense, juicy, and ranks among the top in taste – very sweet, rich, with a strawberry flavor.
  • Harvest: A twice-bearing variety. It is valued mainly for the huge summer breba crop that ripens in July. The autumn harvest arrives in September.

Quick Facts: Dalmatie

  • Crop Type: 2x per year (Bifere)
  • Frost Hardiness: down to -15 °C
  • Best For: Containers or in-ground
  • Key Feature: Huge and extremely tasty summer fruits

3. Ronde de Bordeaux: The French Delicacy

This top-tier variety comes from the Bordeaux region of France. It is considered one of the best figs ever, thanks to a perfect combination of three qualities: excellent frost hardiness, earliness, and gourmet flavor.

  • Growth Habit: A very vigorous and fast-growing variety that quickly forms a large, upright tree. It is best suited for planting in the ground. It grows to a height of 3-4.5 m.
  • Fruits: Small to medium-sized (35-45 g), almost perfectly round. The skin is thin, dark purple to black.
  • Pulp and Taste: Rich, dark red, jam-like. The taste is its greatest asset – it is intensely sweet and complex, with strong notes of berries and raspberries.
  • Harvest: A once-bearing variety. It does not produce a summer crop, but its main crop is very early and abundant. It starts ripening in early August, which is exceptional for such a high-quality fig.

Quick Facts: Ronde de Bordeaux

  • Crop Type: 1x per year (Unifere)
  • Frost Hardiness: down to -17 °C
  • Best For: In-ground planting
  • Key Feature: Gourmet flavor and extreme earliness of the main crop

4. Tena: A Reliable Harvest for Any Weather

Tena is a proven and reliable variety that was bred in California. Its main advantage, for which it is valued by growers worldwide, is its extraordinary resistance to fruit cracking due to rain.

  • Growth Habit: Grows moderately vigorously, forming a nice, well-shaped, and compact tree. It is suitable for growing in the ground as well as in larger containers. It grows to a height of 3.5-4.5 m.
  • Fruits: Medium to large, roundish-pear-shaped. The skin is attractive, light green to yellowish. The summer fruits weigh 50-60 g, the autumn fruits 35-45 g.
  • Pulp and Taste: Light, amber to pale pinkish. The taste is very pleasant, aromatic, sweet, with clean honey notes.
  • Harvest: A twice-bearing variety. It yields a very reliable and abundant crop. The first crop ripens from July, the second from late August to October.

Quick Facts: Tena

  • Crop Type: 2x per year (Bifere)
  • Frost Hardiness: down to -15 °C
  • Best For: In-ground or container
  • Key Feature: Extreme resistance of fruits to cracking in rain

Final Summary

Whether you choose the proven and reliable classic Brown Turkey, the Adriatic treasure with giant fruits of the Dalmatie variety, the early and hardy delicacy Ronde de Bordeaux, or the unshakable certainty named Tena, each of these figs offers a unique experience.

Consider your space, climatic conditions, and taste preferences. Choose the fig tree that will suit you best. All four varieties are absolutely trouble-free with basic care.

P.S. from the author: I wouldn't dare to guess what is sold under the name 'Brown Turkey' these days. The fact is, if you are looking for a fig for colder regions, to be grown in the ground, and are content with only the breba crop, there is nothing better than the loved/hated Brown Turkey.

Do you have a favorite or a question about growing? Share it with us in the comments and don't forget to visit our e-shop, where you can choose from a variety of figs and other exotic fruits!