I-258 Fig Tree
I-258, short for Italian 258, is an outstanding fig selected out of a number of varieties brought from Italy to the United States in the 1980’s. I-258 is beloved by collectors and growers for being extremely productive, incredibly delicious, early ripening and easy to grow. Often rated as one of the most delicious figs, and while many of the top flavored figs can be late ripening, I-258 reliably ripens a breba crop and a fairly early main crop in cooler climates. A fantastic fig and one that should be much more widely planted.
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-figful
Hardiness: Hardy to 0° F.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting.
Size at Maturity: 8-15 ft in height, smaller with pruning.
Taste: Deep dark figgy deliciousness
Fruit Skin: Brown to purplish black or even irridescent blue
Fruit Flesh: light to bright red
Bloom Time: Flowers are not noticeable as they are inside the fig.
Ripening Time: Late September – December
Yield: 10-15 lbs. or more per plant
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: 7a