The Black Genoa Fig (Ficus carica ‘Black Genoa’) is one of the most popular and reliable fig varieties for the Australian home garden. It is a fast-growing, medium-sized deciduous tree with a spreading habit, typically reaching 3 to 5 metres in height and width, but can be easily pruned or grown in a large pot to keep it smaller.
It is highly prized for its exceptional fruit quality and prolific yield, often producing two heavy crops per year (a smaller ‘breba’ crop in early summer, and the main crop in late summer/autumn). The figs are large, slightly pear-shaped, with smooth, deep purple or almost black skin that reveals a stunning, rich, dark red, highly sweet, and juicy flesh. It is an excellent fig for eating fresh, drying, or turning into delicious jam and preserves.
Care Tips:
- Position: Thrives in a position of full sun. As a Mediterranean plant, it prefers warm, dry summers.
- Soil: Requires well-drained soil and will not tolerate heavy or waterlogged conditions, which can lead to root rot or fruit splitting. Enrich the soil with compost and aged manure before planting.
- Watering: Figs are drought-tolerant once established, but regular, deep watering is essential when the tree is actively growing and during the crucial fruiting periods to ensure a heavy, good-quality crop.
- Pruning: Prune annually in late winter or early spring (while dormant). Figs are best trained to an open vase shape to allow air circulation and sunlight. Pruning helps maintain a manageable size and encourages new fruiting wood.
- Pollination: The ‘Black Genoa’ fig is self-pollinating and does not require another tree or a pollinator wasp to produce fruit, making it perfect for the backyard.
- Pests: Birds and fruit flies love the fruit, so netting the tree before the crop ripens is highly recommended for a successful harvest.
