I have not quite exhausted my fig fest of love and wish to offer up one more fine fig in the August lineup: Violette du Bordeaux (or Negronne as it’s often called). I just picked this fig today, three days later than I picked it last year. (How’s that for consistent ripening.) If you’re thinking about growing one in cool coastal climate like the Pacific Northwest, you will likely be well-rewarded. Though only a three-year-old tree, mine has produced figs the last two years on a robust, problem-free tree.
Covering a succulent and sweet flesh, the fig’s skin is so richly dark that in some light it looks black and in others a dreamy dark violet. If I only had two fig trees to plant, I would to plant a Peter’s Honey fig and Violette du Bordeaux fig (Negronne). No matter what moniker is used, I call them all delicious.
My young Negronne Fig Tree is branching out nicely; more branches, more figs.
What I was blogging about a year ago (not surprisingly): Spotlight on Summer’s First Fig
36 responses so far ↓
1 brion // Aug 26, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Gosh Tom, Two days and no comments. I thought I might get things kicked off here a few remarks. 1) beautiful snaps as always, 2) so that is what a fig of biblical fame looks like, wow who’d of thought, 3) is there a reason we only see them dried up and nasty looking in the supermarket?
2 Tom // Aug 26, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Figs like this or so soft and delicate that they don’t ship well. My friend John, who is the sage of produce at Pike Place Market, said they were paying $1 a piece wholesale for quality fresh figs. Even with special care, he said half of the local shipment was too damaged to sell. As for the dried figs, soak those puppies in some brandy and it elevates their status post-haste!
3 Kitchen Butterfly // Aug 31, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I’m a bit unsure about figs. I think I’d like them roasted with a bit of red wine…but I know little about them except they taste great in a jam…
4 Tom // Aug 31, 2009 at 10:22 pm
It is wise to approach the fig cautiously. Once you’re hooked on the fresh fig and its unique texture and flavor, there’s no turning back. Here’s a primer of fig recipes you might enjoy: http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/seasonalcooking/summer/cooknow_figs
5 Jon // Sep 4, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I found some fresh figs at Trader Joes in Tacoma this week, but as with all fruit, home grown is often best…that being said the dried fig w/brandy sounds interesting…how do you prep & serve?
6 Tom // Sep 18, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Jon, I’d just add half brandy and half water to dried figs and let them plump up, add sugar to taste and then sautee figs and all until syrupy liquid state and then spoon figs and sauce over ice cream, or pound cake or both!
7 Shane // Nov 3, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Thanks for the post. If you don’t mind I have a few questions:
How tall does this variety grow? If it is above say 5 or 6 feet are you able to keep it short with pruning? Are there other dwarf varieties that stall smaller than 6 feet?
I was reading in “The Self-Sufficient Gardener” by John Seymour that you can pour a concrete box in the ground to confine the fig tree’s roots. He does this because the root network is so large if you don’t it take too much energy to get the nutrients to the fruit. Have you ever tried this? Would this help in restricting it’s height?
If it isn’t too much trouble, can you post a photo of the tree itself when you get a chance. Thanks so much and I look forward to reading more of your blog.
-Shane
ps, I am considering planting it in Portland, OR
8 tom | tall clover farm // Nov 4, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Hi Shane, to answer your questions:
1. How tall does this variety grow? I’d say if left unpruned, about 10-15 feet at maturity.
2. Can you keep it short with pruning? Yes, fig trees are quite easy to prune (soft wood) and to keep at a manageable height. Just remember, that next year’s fig is grown on last year’s growth, so prune prudently.
3. Are there dwarf varieties? Yes, some stay naturally small, like the Petit Negri. In Portland, you have a warmer summer so it would like that, as opposed to the Seattle area.
4. Creating a concrete box around the roots? This seems like a lot of a effort for little payoff. If the art of Bonsai can keep a 300 ft. Sequoia at 3 feet, I think a little pruning can keep your tree at the right height for your garden.I don’t think too many nutrients are ever a problem in growing a fig. I wouldn’t starve it.
5. Can I post a photo of the tree? Sure, in the next day or two I will and unfortunately it’s branches only, but you’ll see how I prune it to be multi-stemmed for greater fruit production. I would not prune it so it has only a central leader. Good luck!
9 Elizabeth // Nov 27, 2009 at 6:13 pm
If you were to plant only 1 fig tree, however, which would you plant? I don’t have enough space for two, but I adore fresh figs.
10 tom | tall clover farm // Nov 28, 2009 at 2:54 am
Elizabeth, I’d go with the Negronne a.k.a. Violette du Bordeaux. It’s a pretty, compact tree, reliable producer of beautiful figs richly colored inside and out.
11 Sustainable Eats // Feb 16, 2010 at 2:43 am
Hi Tom,
So I have my negronne in a pot in the garage and it’s beginning to leaf out. The garage is very dark. When do I bring it outside and how cold can it get at night without hurting it? I’m counting on you to hold my hand here, buddy.
12 Tom // Feb 16, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Annette, bring your Negronne fig out ASAP, in full sun where the rain will hit too. These guys are pretty hardy and should not be adversely affected by frosts or freezes.
13 Sustainable Eats // Feb 17, 2010 at 1:51 am
Oops – did I not need to put it in the garage over winter?
14 Tom // Feb 17, 2010 at 4:42 am
Hi Annette, I’d say in our zone 8 you really don’t need to put it in the garage, even if potted. So you can save your back and find a nice sunny place to keep you fig outside year round.
15 Sustainable Eats // Feb 17, 2010 at 6:44 pm
That will make my husband very happy. He’s the large pot mover who wants that garage space next to his workout bench!
16 Fred // May 3, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Hi !. I am on east coast..N.C. Zone 7b. Please advise what frost zone do you have your Negronne? Thanks.. Enjoy life, Fred
17 Tom // May 3, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Hi Fred, I’m in Zone 8, but from what I’ve read the Negronne fig is viable in Zone 7. We have cool summers and winters with a few weeks under 20 degrees, though this last year we had a long stretch in the teens and Negronne seems to be doing fine. Good luck! -TC
18 LiseG // May 12, 2010 at 4:16 am
This is great info. The best I’ve found. My family bought me a Negronne fig for Mother’s Day (lots of hints). It’s about 3 feet tall with one little fig. Thanks for you’re insight. I’m looking forward to our first harvest – Lise
19 Tom // May 12, 2010 at 5:00 am
Thanks Lise, it really is a great fig for me. I found it took about three years to take off, as gardeners say, sleep, creep and third year-leap. Oh and Happy Mother’s Day to you!
20 Holly // Jun 2, 2010 at 3:01 am
Hi there, I’m debating on planting a fig tree in my yard. I’ve found a place with Negronne dwarf variety. Is the taste similar to Mission Figs? That’s my favorite thus far but I can’t find a dwarf version.
21 Tom // Jun 2, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Hi Holly, I’d go with the Negronne, especially with your hotter weather in Oregon. I think it tastes very much like a mission fig, just juicier. I don’t know anyone growing mission figs here. It needs some serious heat to produce well, more at home in California.
22 Debra // Aug 6, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Hello,
I have a negronne that I acquired in Oregon, and it fruited well for me; it is about 6 years old now. I moved down to TX Aug of 2008; had it in the back of my truck as I travelled thru the desert – it was compromised. It came back last year, but did not fruit – it was still healing.
Now, this year, lots of new growth (LOTS), but no fruit. I am in Zone 5, will this tree fruit for me next year? When I pruned it, I got several starts.
Also I heard that this type is a dwarf, and can stay in a pot. Is that true? My tree has been in the same pot for quite a while. Fertilized this year with bat guano. The tree LOOKS great, but where is the fruit?
Thanks,
Debra
23 Tom // Aug 6, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Hi Debra, I love that you trucked a little bit of Oregon to Texas.
Here’s my two cents and hopefully some answers to your questions.
1. Fig trees produce fruit on last year’s growth. So, 2011 should be a good year for you if the tree is protected and there in no limb die-off from cold temps.
2. Zone 5 is too cold for most figs (and me, too), especially Negronne growing in a pot. Protect your tree in a garage or out building that doesn’t have freezing temperatures. Don’t bring it into your heated home. The tree needs to go dormant and have a chill period.
3. Your fig tree should do fine in a pot if given ample sun, water, fertilizer, drainage and winter protection.
4. Here’s the site of a gentleman in the Boston area who grows cold hardy figs; check out Joe Morle’s site: http://www.figtrees.net/
He has a lot of good info and cold-hardy fig varieties.
Good luck to your (and your fig tree) in the the Lonestar State!
–Tom
24 Nichole // Aug 24, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Hello. I came across your website when I was surfing through gardening forums about fig trees. I live in Seattle and I have a cute back yard and I am insistent on bringing in a fig tree. I was thinking about the osborne prolific until I read your posts about the fig trees you’re growing right here in the same climate as me.
Space is limited, and I’d like to grow it in a (large) container if possible. If you could pick just one fig tree to plant and love, which would you pick? Thanks
25 Tom // Aug 25, 2010 at 4:35 am
Hi Nichole, you’re right, I’ve never had huge luck with Osborne Prolific. Figs do adapt to pot culture, but require good light, fertilizing and ample watering.
I’ll give you three options that should grow well in a pot in Seattle.
1. Desert King Fig: This is the most reliable fig to grow in Seattle, hands down. More info: http://tallcloverfarm.com/desert-king-fig-at-home-in-the-pacific-northwest/
2. Negronne Fig: my favorite black fig, sweet, flavorful and easy to grow.
3. Peter’s Honey Fig: my favorite ‘green’ fig. As good as Negronne, just different: http://tallcloverfarm.com/peters-honey-my-new-favorite-fig/
I really recommend planting them in the ground though as they’ll produce more fruit and are less susceptible to winter freezes. You can maintain the size you like, quite easily with pruning the soft wood.
Good Luck!
26 Nichole // Aug 25, 2010 at 5:21 am
I would love to grow them (and everything else) in the ground. Unfortunately my small yard has a severe problem – long story short – morning glory. I won’t bore you with the details. I suppose I could put it in the middle of one of my raised vegetable beds (4 x 4′). You suppose that would be adequate?
Thanks for the response. Now there are three fig trees I want. Oh choices.
27 Tom // Aug 25, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Nichole, don’t let me desuade from growing a fig in a pot. You just get more figs if you grow it in the ground. Your raised bed would be great, but you won’t be able to grow much else in it.
How about this. Try growing the fig in a pot first and if that’s not satisfactory, plant it in the yard or raised bed a year or two later.
28 How to Know When a Fig Is Ripe and Ready to Pick // Aug 30, 2010 at 10:02 pm
[...] Ripeness has less to do with color and more with how they’re hanging. Varieties above are Negronne (a.k.a. Violette du Bordeaux) and Dessert King and photos below show Peter’s Honey [...]
29 Vern’s Brown Turkey Fig: Nice Fig Vern // Sep 8, 2010 at 4:47 pm
[...] Negronne Fig (a.k.a. Violette du Bordeaux) [...]
30 richard // Dec 9, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Hello,
I have a fig that may be a Negronne but I am unsure.It was sold to me as Peter’s honey but definately is not.I have a picture of the fig’s it produced, might you be able to help me ID it?
Thanks
31 Tom // Dec 11, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Hi Richard I could give it a try. Do you have a link to the photo? Also, check with KiwiBob’s site. He has some great photos and descriptions of figs:
http://sites.google.com/site/kiwifruitsalad2/
See his fig photo links on the left menu bar.
32 wili // Jan 9, 2011 at 4:00 am
yo im starting a permaculture patch in rykerts,b.c. im hopin to locate a violette negronne cultivar within the inland temperate area for acclimatization
33 Lisa Blair // Jan 16, 2011 at 7:23 am
Hi Tom,
I came across your website while researching Negronne figs. I am considering purchasing a Negronne fig tree this spring. I live in central Mississippi, zone 8a. I would like to grow Negronne in a container. A couple of questions for you. 1) Will Negronne be OK outside in the container over the winter in zone 8a? 2) How large of a container should I plan to put this plant in?
Your site is very helpful. Thanks for the feedback.
Lisa
34 Tom // Jan 16, 2011 at 11:04 am
Hi Lisa, your zone is fine for leaving Negronne figs outside in the winter. As for pot size I’d get as big of one that space and location will allow say at least 2 feet in diameter. Remember at least 6 hours of sun and good drainage, and feed regularly. Good Luck!
35 Fleur // Jan 27, 2011 at 4:40 am
Your help please.
I think it’s this fig which grows in my orchard. The tree is very old now and really huge.
My predicament is that the figs literally ‘rot’ on the tree.
When I identify a ripening fig…within a day, the fig is soft, mushy and has worms. Totally inedible.
The entire harvest lies moulding on the ground.
Should I pick when the fig is still slightly firm? Is it good for jam? Should I spray? Something I have avoided so far.
Will appreciate your point of view.
Many thanks.
Fleur
36 Barbara // May 9, 2011 at 10:59 am
Hi, I started a brown turk 10 years ago and had only a few figs from the bera, the second crop develops great but won’t get ripe. I live at the Oregon Coast but have a sheltered garden, the tree gets lots of sun but I never fertilized it.
Now I bought a Negronne and want to plant it along the house to give it more shelter and warmth. What fertilizer is best, I mix in general the recipe Solomon has provided in his book “Gardening west of the cascades”.
So please, help me a little to do the best for the tree and my love for figs
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