Hâtive d’Argenteuil Fig Tree
One of our favorites from the USDA’s collection of figs, Hâtive d’Argenteuil is a unifera fig with a very early main crop. It has quickly become one of our favorite figs at the nursery and successfully ripens its figs even in our coolest and shortest summers. The flavor on these is exquisite and the color of the skin and flesh is also unique. Named for a suburb of Paris, Argenteuil, where it was historically grown and hâtive means early in French.
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 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-fruitful.
Hardiness: Hardy to between 0° & 5° F.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting.
Size at Maturity: 10-20 ft in height, smaller with pruning.
Taste: the perfect fig
Fruit Skin: purple over green, but kind of grey too
Fruit Flesh: Bright red
Bloom Time: Flowers are not noticeable as they are inside the fig.
Ripening Time: Late August-October
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: 7b
Sunset Western Zone: 4-9, 12-24
Sunset Northeast Zone: 31, 32