Ficus Carica
‘Ficus Carica’ is a fig tree and can be recognised by its pronounced, decorative leaves and edible fruit. The fig is one of the oldest fruits cultivated by man. The Egyptians, Phoenicians and Romans saw figs as food, a commodity or a remedy for constipation. The fig has no flowers; in fact, the fruit is also the flower. The leaves of the fig tree are in the shape of a hand. The fig tree likes warm conditions and can grow very fast, up to 1 metre a year. It grows best against a wall, gazebo or sheltered from the south. You can expect two harvests, but only one will ripen. The ripe fruits appear in the previous year and overwinter on the tree as green peas. If this fruit survives the cold, it develops into a ripe fig in September. The second harvest develops during the growing season, but the fruits are still green in the autumn. They should then be removed so that the energy is focused on the development of the peas. The figs are dark green and pear-shaped at first, and they turn violet or black when they ripen. The flesh is white-pink to dark red in colour. You can eat the figs directly from the tree or dry them. In the open ground the fig tree can withstand frost reasonably well. When the fig tree is in a pot, it is best to bring it inside in the winter.
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Description Ficus Carica
‘Ficus Carica’ is a fig tree and can be recognised by its pronounced, decorative leaves and edible fruit. The fig is one of the oldest fruits cultivated by man. The Egyptians, Phoenicians and Romans saw figs as food, a commodity or a remedy for constipation. The fig has no flowers; in fact, the fruit is also the flower. The leaves of the fig tree are in the shape of a hand. The fig tree likes warm conditions and can grow very fast, up to 1 metre a year. It grows best against a wall, garden shed or sheltered from the south.
Edible
Deciduous
Large grey/green leaves
