Edible Plants of the World

Fig

Fig

It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions. It is native to S.W. Asia. It can stand light frosts once hardened. Of the very large number of figs in PNG, this one is introduced. It suits highland areas in the tropics with a lower rainfall. It produces better if rain is less at flowering. Good summer heat is necessary for sugar-rich fruit. Plants do best in heavy soil in well prepared sites. It needs a neutral pH. It has some salt tolerance. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens. In Nepal it grows to about 1200 m altitude. In some places it can grow up to 2,300 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Sichuan. In Yunnan.

Also known as:

Adriatic fig, Anjeer, Anjir, Anjira, Anjura, Anjuru, Aviavimbazaha, Baghi inzar, Black Mission fig, Brown Turkey fig, Buah tin, Calimyrna fig, Dumur, Fico, Figo-roxo, Figo, Figueira, Fique, Flowerless fruit, Goolar, Hejir, Higo, Higuera comun, Higuera, Ichijiku, Incir, Inzar, Inzer, Leghvi, Manjimedi, Mati, Muhwagwanamu, Paka, Phagwar, Phogwara, Sico, Simaiyatti, Simayatti, Sitube pakar, Smokinya, Smyrna fig, Te biku, Teen, Tenatti, Thinbaw-thapan, Tin, Wu hua guo, Yabani incir, Yemis

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does Fig grow?

Found in: Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Caucasus, Central America, Central Asia, China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Crete, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guam, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kiribati, Korea, Lebanon, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Niger, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Russia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Serbia, Sinai, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, St Helena, Syria, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uruguay, United States, Uzbekistan, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are about 800-1000 Ficus species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 120 Ficus species in tropical America. It has anticancer properties.

Status: They have been introduced to Papua New Guinea, and tried but are not common.

Growing Fig

Cultivation: Plants can be grown by seeds. It can be grown by stem cuttings. It can also be grown by budding and grafting. Smyrna figs need fig wasps for pollination. This is done by hanging male flowers near female flowers to attract the wasps. Adriatic figs develop fruit without pollination. Trees should be pruned for good production and easy harvesting.

Edible Uses: Fruit are eaten raw or cooked. They can be dried, preserved or used in jam. They are used in syrups, bread, pastries, and pies. The fruit are made into brandy and wine. Food is wrapped in the leaves while cooking to impart flavour. This is used with fish. The latex is used to coagulate milk for cheese and junket.

Production: Figs start to bear after about 5-7 years and can continue for decades but they become unprofitable after 50 years. Fruit ripen in their second year. Normally figs have 2 harvests per year. The first crop is from old wood and the second from newer wood.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
Fruit green raw 42 1.3 0.4 500 2 0.3 84.6
Fruit dried raw 217 3.6 4.2 50 0 0.9 16.8
Fruit dried stewed 121 2 2.3 30 0 0.5 50.7

Fig Photos

Fig Fig Fig Fig Fig

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