Organic Fig Tree Rouge de Bordeaux - Ficus carica

The Organic 'Bordeaux Red' Ficus carica, also known as Pastilière or Hirta from Japan, is an early variety with modest growth, ideal for container cultivation and small gardens. It produces beautiful figs with purple skin that enclose sweet and fragrant red flesh. Almost all of its fruit ripens. It is a self-fertile variety with good cold resistance. It is uniform, meaning it bears fruit once a year, in early August. The Fig Tree is a deciduous, hardy tree that thrives in sunny locations. Planting is recommended in the autumn or winter, frost-free. Plants from Organic Agriculture. 

The Organic 'Bordeaux Red' Fig Tree allows this beautiful Mediterranean fruit tree to be grown in many gardens. Figs are used in sweet dishes (tarts, clafoutis, compotes...) or savoury dishes paired with goat cheese, dry-cured ham or foie gras. After harvesting, refrigeration is not recommended as it alters the fig's aromas and the skin can suffer from humidity and condensation. The best way to enjoy them is at the table, under the tree, to fully experience their honey-like fragrance.

Among the varieties of Fig Trees, there are:

- Unifere varieties, which produce a single harvest per year, quite abundant, at the beginning of autumn

- Biferous varieties, which bear fruit twice a year, producing figs called 'flower figs' in early summer, appearing on the previous year's wood, and autumn figs, developing on the branches of the current year.

The 'Bordeaux Red' variety is a unifere variety, bearing fruit from early August. The harvest will take place in several stages, as the figs ripen. This variety is self-fertile and parthenocarpic, allowing fruit to be obtained without fertilization. It does not require other Fig Tree plants and does not rely on the intervention of the blastophagus, the only pollinating insect of the fig tree, which is too sensitive to survive in cold climates.

Originally from Turkey and Asia Minor, the Fig Tree (Ficus carica) belongs to the Moraceae family. It is a small, vigorous deciduous tree with a rounded and erect habit, often with a twisted trunk, reaching 2 to 3m (7 to 10ft) in height and 3 to 4m (10 to 13ft) in width for this variety. The leaves are rough, bright green turning yellow in autumn, finely velvety, relatively large (sometimes 20cm (8in) long) and have a long petiole. The lamina is deeply divided into three to seven lobes with serrated edges (most often five) of varying shapes, with a velvety underside and prominent veins. The wood is soft and spongy, the bark is grey and smooth. The root system of this small tree is strong and spreads in all directions. The Fig Tree is often considered one of the most beautiful fruit trees. Its unique foliage adds an ornamental touch and provides a beautiful shaded space, which is very pleasant during the summer heat. Plant the Fig Tree sheltered by a wall that will protect it from the cold during harsh winters, with a southern or southwestern exposure, alongside the Pomegranate, White Mulberry and Japanese Medlar in the regions of the southern half of our country. In the north, it can be associated with the Quince, Akebia quinata and Feijoa, which are also hardy and exotic. Take into account its dimensions when fully grown to determine the distance at which you will plant it. Although the roots do not cause damage to modern constructions, they can cause damage to dry stone walls or walls built with weak mortars, in the old-fashioned way.