Fig 'Little Ruby'

• Scientific Name: Ficus carica “Little Ruby”
• Garden: Edibles and Herbs Garden
• Plant Type: Tree
• Evergreen/Deciduous: Decidious
• Sun/Shade Exposure: Full Sun
• Moisture Requirements: Moist, well-drained

Plant Information

The Little Ruby Fig Tree is a favorite that we’ve grown in smaller gardens for many years now. Rarely growing taller than 6 feet high Little Ruby is prized for its incredible cold hardiness (some say all the way down to zone 6), its compact habit and its HUGE breba crops of small reddish brown figs with a super tasty ruby center. Flavor is similar to a Chicago Hardy with delicious jammy notes and sugar sweetness.

One of the easiest fruits to grow, and a true gourmet delight, you should not live your life without feasting on this sweet, delectable fruit. To fully enjoy fresh Figs you must grow your own. When fully ripe and at their tender, shipping them long distances is virtually impossible. Another plus for Figs — deer don’t like them (most of the time)!

Site and Soil: Figs do well in a variety of soils, but require at least 8 hours of sunlight during the growing season.
Pollination Requirements: Self-fruitful.
Hardiness: Hardy to between 0° & 5° F.
Bearing Age: 1–2 years after planting.
Size at Maturity: 4–6 ft in height, smaller with pruning.
Taste: Sugary sweet, jammy notes
Fruit Skin: Reddish-brown
Fruit Flesh: Ruby
Bloom Time: Flowers are not noticeable as they are inside the fig.
Ripening Time: Late July – early October
Yield: 10–15 lbs. or more per plant
Pests & Diseases: Figs are not bothered by pests in our region. Cover plants with netting if birds are a problem.
Fig Mosaic Virus is a benign virus that exists in all cultivated fig trees. Yellow spotting of the leaves is a cosmetic symptom that shows more in container culture, but is quickly outgrown once trees are planted in the ground. The presence of FMV in all cultivated figs has become widely accepted, as even the national germplasm repository for figs maintained by the USDA has Fig Mosaic Virus. If the presence of FMV is a concern, then purchasing fig trees may not be the best option for you.

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