Figs are a delicious, nutritious fruit that have been cultivated in the Mediterranean region for centuries. There are over 800 species of figs, but only a few varieties are suitable for growing in South Africa.
The second flush of figs ripens from late January to May. The main flush is usually in February to March.
Both the first and second flushes are of good quality and often have a strong flavour. Figs are harvested by cutting the stem at a point just above an eye or bud on the fruit, leaving it attached to its mother branch.
The fig season in South Africa starts with the harvesting of breba figs in November to about mid-December. Breba figs are figs that develop on the previous season’s shoots. Varieties that produce these early figs are ‘Adam’, ‘White Genoa’ and ‘Brown Turkey’. The main crop usually starts from January to May and varieties that produce these include ‘Black Genoa’, ‘Violette de Sollies’ and ‘Conadria’. “Lattarula” is a good variety for making jam as it produces small black fruit which makes up for the smaller size of its fruits when compared to other varieties such as “Black Genoa.”
