Takoma Violet Fig Tree
Takoma Violet is a real workhorse fig and a superb selection for cold climate growers who sometimes have trouble overwintering figs outdoors. We first came across this variety many years ago in Vermont. It was not being grown outdoors in their very cold climate, but they were successfully overwintering them indoors and getting to ripen in the short but sweet Green Mountain summers! A Mt. Etna type similar to Chicago Hardy but arguably even tastier and producing a decent sized breba crop. We planted one of these in our back alley years ago and it has thrived on neglect and produces boat loads of figs every year.
A true gourmet delight, you should not live your life without feasting on this sweet, delectable fruit. One of the easiest fruits to grow, figs are happy outdoors in the Maritime Northwest and, with winter protection, in ports or in the ground in colder climates. To fully enjoy fresh Figs you must grow your own. When fully ripe and at their tender best, shipping them long distances is virtually impossible. While many fig varieties are not suitable for the Northwest, our varieties have been chosen for their ability to ripen in our climate. Another plus for Figs – deer don’t like them (most of the time)!
Growing Info:
Latin Name: Ficus carica
Site and Soil: Figs like 1/2 day to full sun and well-drained soil.
Pollination Requirements: Self fig-ful
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: well rounded, jammy and delicious
Fruit Skin: Violet
Fruit Flesh: Bright red
Bloom Time: Flowers are not noticeable as they are inside the fruit
Ripening Time: late August-September
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