This is the fig tree that we have...
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| Texas Everbearing Fig bush |
...well, it's more like a fig bush. It was planted a few years ago but always struggled. Now all of a sudden this year, it's finally covered in small figs!
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| Figs on the tree |
It is a "Texas Everbearing Fig" or also known as a "Brown Turkey Fig". They actually say they look best when left as a bush but can be trained into a tree. We think we'll leave it as a bush. I just need to clean it up a bit when the time of year is right of course.
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| Fresh figs |
The first "harvest" was this: EIGHT oops SEVEN figs. I may or may not have eaten one right off the bush, ha. They are so good. 2nd Man is not a huge fig fan but I intend to convert him.
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| Expensive figs |
And at $6 for NINE at the local grocery store, yeah, we're gonna eat these figs!
Anyone with fig experience?
Growing and/or eating?
Brown Turkey is a great variety for this area. I have several of them. I think one of the reasons that yours is growing and producing well this year is that it has been a wet year and figs love plenty of water. I have discovered that the fig trees that I planted in the lower areas of my yard do better than the ones in the higher areas, due to the increased moisture. If we don’t get enough rain, they will need watering once a week in order to produce well. They can reach a height of about 15 - 20 feet but you can prune it to keep it within easier picking height.
ReplyDeleteJust as my grandmas and parents did, I make fig preserves every year. My friends and family love jars of it as gifts.
They are great not only on toast, pancakes, and French toast, they are also good as a meat glaze especially over pork, an ice cream sauce, warmed and drizzled over pound cake, a dip by spooning jam over cream cheese, with cheese on an assorted cheese plate, mixed with yogurt. There is also a fig cake which is very moist.
One more thing - they will sour if not refrigerated. If not eaten or used within a few days, it is best to freeze them. I have been able to keep fresh figs for about a week in the frig by placing them loosely in a single layer in a shallow cardboard box and loosely covered with a paper towel.
DeleteThanks for the tips. You know I stopped watering it because I didn't think it would make it (and at the time it was far from the water faucet). This year I started watering again plus we've had the wet season. It's really perked up. I don't think I've ever had fig preserves but they sound wonderful. Maybe next year I'll get enough to make a batch, at least one or two jars, ha. This one is still very slow growing. Of course it's in clay soil so it's taking it's time. Maybe now it's established. Hmm, I wonder if cuttings will grow new ones? Maybe I'll have to try some elsewhere, ha.
DeleteYes, they will grow from cuttings. The ones I have came from cuttings from a tree that also came from a cutting that my local nurseryman took from his grandma's Brown Turkey fig tree.
DeleteI am not a huge fan of fresh figs, but dried figs are the bomb and so easy to do on an abundant fig year. Since you are now in the orchard business you might want to consider getting a dehydrator. Apple or peach pies and cobblers in the dead of winter made from rehydrated fruits are scrumptious.
ReplyDeleteGood point! We had one at one point but honestly Im not sure where it is. Maybe storage unit. I'll do some checking, thanks!!
DeleteYou can make fig cookies!
ReplyDeleteHey there!!! Like fig newtons or an actual fig cookie recipe? I'll have to do some googling, Thank!!
DeleteCongratulations on that first fig harvest! It's always exciting to get those firsts. I don't know what kind ours are but they're pretty bland. So I can them with cinnamon sticks and use them to make jam. Orange fig and cranberry fig are both good jam combinations! I keep meaning to try homemade fig newtons, but that still remains on my to-try list.
ReplyDeleteThese are very sweet and delicious. I guess we got lucky. I'm going to look into how to propagate them. Orange fig and cranberry? YUM!!! Thanks!!!
DeleteYum.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
Thank you!!
DeleteMy friend gave me a gallon of figs. I left her home in the country, 7 miles from me, and started eating them before I left the driveway. By the time I was home, I had eaten a quart. I did not feel well after that. I think I ate too many.
ReplyDeleteA gallon of figs? Wonderful!!! Meh, eat what makes you happy. :-)
Deletei had them and they were prolific for years and then died after a harsh winter. i don't think there is anything quite as good as a sun warmed just picked fig.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I will have to check and see how cold tolerant this variety is. And yes, I plucked off one and started to put it in the basket I had and I thought "what the hell, let me try it" I checked for bugs, blew on it (because that fixes everything) and ate it right there. Warm. OMG it was incredible. I couldn't have eaten them all. I hope that someday it's prolific and we can enjoy many like that with more leftover for other things, ha.
DeleteI am laughing at the "blew on it" My theory exactly, especially with a just picked cherry tomato
DeleteNot really a big fan of figs.
ReplyDeleteNormally after the 3rd year of planting anything is when plants, trees, shrubs, etc. really start to take off and some things may take longer before they finally decide to take off in growing.
Congratulations of your first fig pick'n. (you can eat my share)
Not a fig fan? Ha! This is probably the 5th year in ground for this fig tree but hey, it's growing in clay soil so it took longer. Had I to do it over, I'd do the raised bed (with open bottoms of course) like I did for the other fruit trees. They've grown like gangbusters in two years. Next year is third year for them.
DeleteNever had a fresh fig. Fig newtons are about my style.
ReplyDeleteI understand. And yes, Fig Newtons are SO good.
DeleteServe fig preserves with manchego cheese.
ReplyDeleteMy dh loved fig jam which I used to make with freebies from neighbours.
ReplyDeleteMind you that was over 40 years ago!
Oh how great!!! I would love to grow figs, don't know if my weather will allow it though. One day I dream of a year round heated greenhouse so I can grow lemons, limes, peaches and figs too! :)
ReplyDeleteMy MawMaw used too make fig preserves; they were something we looked forward to when visiting each year. It's been a long time since I've eaten any fig related foodstuffs .
ReplyDeleteSo far this year we have harvested 23 lbs of figs from one tree. Have made fig preserves and honey-fig spread as usual and this year made fig chutney for the first time. Oh my goodness, we think its wonderful! Wishing you much future success with your figs.
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