Hunt Fig Tree
The Hunt Fig Tree was bred in the 1920’s in Georgia and is one of the most cold hardy varieties for Southeastern growers. Hunt requires a long, hot season to ripen so it’s recommended for warmer climates but even growers in the Northwest will receive decent crops of this incredibly delicious fig. Figs are long-necked with violet brown skin and a beautiful light red flesh. Flavor is richly sweet and amazing for fresh eating though fruits must be perfectly ripe for best flavor at which point it has some of the highest sugar content of any fig variety. Hunt figs will produce a small breba crop and large main crops and is particularly resistant to spoiling in humid climates.
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.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting.
Bloom Time: Flowers are not noticeable as they are inside the fig.
Size at Maturity: 10-15 ft. in height, smaller with pruning.
Taste: Richly sweet
Fruit Skin: Violet-brown
Fruit Flesh: Light red
Ripening Time: September
Yield: 30-50 lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Figs are not bothered by pests 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: 6