Teramo Fig Tree

Teramo Fig Tree

Always on the hunt for early ripening main crop figs, we tried this newly rediscovered variety after a friend shared scion with us and touted its early ripening, and it has not disappointed! Teramo ripens its main crop around the same time as Ronde de Bordeaux and Improved Celeste, as well as making a small breba crop. It has an interesting story behind how it was found as well. You can read about it here. Many growers refer to this as Teramo Unknown but it appears it isn’t synonymous with any other variety being widely circulated. It has a very unique teardrop shape with its elongated neck, and a very pleasing berry and honey flavor. We haven’t been able to test its cold hardiness in our Zone 8b climate, but the reports of its winter hardiness are incredible.

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 most 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 well draining soils, and require at least 8 hours of sunlight during the growing season, ideally in a very hot location.
Pollination Requirements: Self-figful.
Hardiness: Black Bethlehem is reportedly hardy to between -10° F. possibly lower from the roots as this one was re-discovered growing on the East Coast
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting.
Size at Maturity: 8-15 ft in height, smaller with pruning.
Taste: intense strawberry
Fruit Skin: Purple-black
Fruit Flesh: Red
Bloom Time: Flowers are not noticeable as they are inside the fig.
Ripening Time: August – October
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, maybe even Zone 6?