Q. You said the main crop of figs is the second crop of
figs. But on my Black Mission fig, the first crop has large fruit, and the
second crop, although much more plentiful, has fruit that is about 1/3 the
size. Both are delicious.
figs. But on my Black Mission fig, the first crop has large fruit, and the
second crop, although much more plentiful, has fruit that is about 1/3 the
size. Both are delicious.
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| Fruit size has more to do with the distribution of “food” for fruit growth and the number of fruit it is divided into. |
A. The size of the fruit has more to do with the total
number of fruit growing on the tree; the fewer fruit on the tree, the larger
each individual fruit becomes. The term “main crop” has more to do with where
on the tree the fruit originates.
number of fruit growing on the tree; the fewer fruit on the tree, the larger
each individual fruit becomes. The term “main crop” has more to do with where
on the tree the fruit originates.
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| Picture showing both Briba and Main crop figs coming on at the same time but at two different locations on the same stem. |
Fruit
from figs comes first from stems that grew last year as well as a second crop
on this year’s stems. “Main crop” figs are only produced on stems that grew
this year. The early or first figs, called the “Briba crop”, come from stems
that grew the previous year.
from figs comes first from stems that grew last year as well as a second crop
on this year’s stems. “Main crop” figs are only produced on stems that grew
this year. The early or first figs, called the “Briba crop”, come from stems
that grew the previous year.
Some
people claim that “Main crop” figs taste better than the Briba crop figs. I
have never tasted any difference between the two. But generally smaller figs
have more flavor than the larger figs and there is a difference in taste
between different varieties of figs.