Gene’s Vashon Fig Tree
Possibly and likely a rename of some variant of Brown Turkey, we keep the name we received this fig as because it does seem different and unique enough to warrant it. The story is that this was grown on Vashon Island in the Puget Sound, a place with very little heat that can usually only ripen breba figs, and is an incredibly productive breba producer and also a very delicious one too. Gene’s Vashon also has a very pronounced long neck which gives it a unique look and differentiates it from some other similar varieties. Also sometimes referred to as Vashon Violet.
One of the easiest fruits to grow, and a true gourmet delight, you should not live your life without feasting on this sweet, delectable fruit. To fully enjoy fresh figs, you must grow your own. When fully ripe and at their most tender, shipping them long distances is virtually impossible. Another plus for Figs – deer don’t like them (most of the time)!
Click here to read our Fig Growing Guide.
Latin Name: Ficus carica
Site and Soil: Figs do well in a variety of soils, but require at least 8 hours of sunlight during the growing season.
Pollination Requirements: Self-figful.
Hardiness: Hardy to at least 0°F, and reports of it surviving below that
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting.
Size at Maturity: 10-20 ft in height, smaller with pruning.
Taste: Sweet fig berry
Fruit Skin: Green ripening to purple
Fruit Flesh: Amber to red
Bloom Time: Flowers are not noticeable as they are inside the fig.
Ripening Time: Breba in July-August, main crop starting in September
Yield: 10-15 lbs. or more per plant
Pests & Diseases: Figs are not bothered by pests or diseases in our region. Cover plants with netting if birds are a problem. Fig Mosaic Virus is a benign virus that exists in all cultivated fig trees. Yellow spotting of the leaves is a cosmetic symptom that shows more in container culture, but is quickly outgrown once trees are planted in the ground. The presence of FMV in all cultivated figs has become widely accepted, as even the national germplasm repository for figs maintained by the USDA has Fig Mosaic Virus. If the presence of FMV is a concern, then purchasing fig trees may not be the best option for you.
USDA Zone: 7a
Sunset Western Zone: 4-9, 12-24
Sunset Northeast Zone: 31, 32