Fig ‘Dalmatie’

Perfect against a south facing wall or large pot in a sunny spot, ‘Dalmatie’ is one of the hardiest cultivars bred for the British climate. Producing some of the largest fruits with rich amber flesh and a superb flavour, this self-fertile fig can crop twice in one year though the early fruits do not tolerate temperature fluctuations and often drop before ripening. A second crop in late summer makes up for this, providing large fruits. Relatively compact (for a fig!), it is suitable for smaller gardens.

Prune in spring when all chance of frost has past. Remove any frost-damaged or weak branches, and thin out shoots to let light in. Some pruning may be required in summer to encourage bushier growth. If so, trim all new shoots back to five or six leaves.

Figs are capable of producing three crops of fruit every year, but in our climate it is the tiny little ones that you find tucked into the leaf axils in autumn, that if protected from frosts, will go on to ripen in their second summer. Therefore if you are growing the fig for its fruit rather than its foliage, you should remove any developing fruits that are larger than a pea in autumn, and either cover the crown of the tree with a blanket of frost fleece or try to gently pack it with straw. This will keep them snug and warm throughout winter and push the plants energy into the development of the young fruits, which should grow into fully ripened figs next year.