 Backyard Farming in the River Valley Podcast
December 2, 2009
Figs (3:15 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Dustin Blakey, County Extension Agent - Agriculture
[Title slide - Backyard Farming in the River Valley, with Dustin Blakey and
Jesse Bocksnick, Figs, University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture. Drawing of a person carrying a basket of apples in an apple
orchard.]
[Dustin Blakey] Some fruits like apples have a reputation for being hard to
grow, but that's not necessarily the case will all fruits. If you're beginner,
your
interested in trying your hand at raising fruits, you may not have to look any
farther than figs.
Hi, this is Dustin Blakey with the U of A Division of
Agriculture. Today I hope to whet your appetite for figs. Figs are among the easiest to
grow of fruits in Arkansas. The humid summers and cold winters of this area make
commercial fig production a difficult proposition, but for a home gardener,
there is arguably no better fruit to grow.
[Picture of a fig tree] In Mediterranean climates, figs grow into small trees, but here our winters
occasionally get cold enough to freeze them back to the ground. As a result,
figs are more like shrubs than trees in Arkansas.
[Picture of an unripe and ripe fig on a shrub] In order to use figs, they must be allowed to ripen completely on the bush.
When ripe, figs do not ship well, so it is rare to find them in stores. All the
more reason to grow your own!
[Pictures showing sliced figs in a salad, fig jam, and a picture of sliced
figs.] Figs taste great in salads and stews. You can also make all sorts of gourmet
spreads and jams, but I like them best just fresh of the plant. Unlike most
things I enjoy eating, figs are very good for you and have a lot of fiber.
[Pictures of a fig trees] To grow figs, you need to pick a suitable variety and plant it green-side-up
in spring. They don't need a lot of fertilizer, pruning, and watering like other
fruits. [Picture of a fig trees covered with netting] In fact the hardest part of growing figs is keeping birds and June
beetles away.
[Slide - Figs for Arkansas: Brown Turkey, Celeste, Chicago Hardy] Statewide there are 3 fig varieties that you can plant: Brown Turkey,
Celeste, and Chicago Hardy. Of these, Celeste is probably the best tasting.
[Pictures of Marseilles and Latturula figs] If you are in the River Valley and south, you have a lot more options.
'Marseilles,' which is sometimes called Lemon, and the variety usually sold as
'Italian Honey' are very well adapted in the River Valley.
[Pictures of Violet de Bordeaux and Mission figs] It may freeze out in really bad winters, but my favorite fig for eating in
this climate is 'Bordeaux'. It is a deep purple fig with ruby-color flesh. And
it tastes as good as the 'Mission' figs that grow all over California.
[Dustin Blakey] There are many other fig varieties that are worth trying and experimenting
with for fun, but if you want a sure-fire success, plant Celeste.
I've found that the key to growing figs in Arkansas it to plant them as soon
as all frost has past in spring. They seem to appreciate mulch as much as
landscape plants. For its first year or two in late fall, after the plant is
dormant, rake up some leaves from around the yard and protect the crown with
them by piling them up about 12" high. In the spring, when the plant leafs out,
remove these leaves and if you want, you can prune off any parts that died in
winter from cold.
[Picture of sliced figs] I think figs are wonderful, but they're not for everyone.
[Picture of two boys playing with balloons] If you have a latex
allergy, you won't want to handle the plants, and you may have a reaction to the
fruit. The proteins that cause latex allergies can be found in many fruits,
including figs.
[Dustin Blakey] Any gardeners with a sunny spot looking for an easy fruit to
try might
consider growing figs. For more information about figs or other fruits, contact your county
Extension office.
[Slide - For more information about figs or gardening contact your
local Extension Office, dblakey@uaex.edu. U of A University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture]
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