Negra d’Agde Fig Tree
Discovered in the town of Agde, France, Negra d’Agde is a really fantastic, new-to-us variety that has become the people’s champion of greenhouse-ripened figs. With its thick skin, chewy texture and stubborn refusal to split even under the most humid conditions, and ability to dry on the tree even in humid greenhouses, Negra d’Agde has proven itself a real winner for us and we’d guess growers in more naturally humid climates will find it to be an extremely valuable variety as well. It certainly does not require a greenhouse to ripen as it is a fairly early variety, around early September in Portland. The flavor isn’t as extreme as some varieties but it sure is delicious and addicting. Big Steve calls it the Twizzlers fig for its flavor resemblance to the famous candy. And now it’s hard to taste anything else since he said that…
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: 8-10 ft in height, smaller with pruning.
Taste: Sweet
Fruit Skin: Dark, almost black
Fruit Flesh: Dark red
Bloom Time: Flowers are not noticeable as they are inside the fig.
Ripening Time: Late July – early August
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: 7