LSU Red Fig Tree
One of the many unofficial LSU fig breeding program releases that have been widely circulated due to their usefulness in humid climates and great flavor. LSU Red produces small figs similar in size to Celeste, (one of the parents in many of the LSU crosses), but with a red skin. Very prolific and resistant to splitting and cracking in areas of high humidity or rainfall. Ripens mid-season and best suited to warmer 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.
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: Sweet
Fruit Skin: Red to brownish red
Fruit Flesh: Strawberry red
Bloom Time: Flowers are not noticeable as they are inside the fig.
Ripening Time: Breba starting in July, and main crop mid to late 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: 7
Sunset Western Zone: 4-9, 12-24
Sunset Northeast Zone: 31, 32