History

• Fig trees are long lived and may be one of the earliest fruits domesticated. Figs were brought to the United States by Spaniards in 1575 and the Mission fig was introduced to the San Diego area in 1769. Figs have a long history of use in ancient civilizations, and were an important crop for food and trade. They are a prominently mentioned food in the Bible. Modern cultivation has introduced many cultivars and breeds in an effort to overcome disease, increase yield and improve hardiness.
  
  

Identification

• Fig trees have a classic mitten-shaped leaf with varying numbers of lobes. Some leaves are without lobes and can get up to 1 foot in length. The flowers on a Tennessee mountain fig are considered small to medium. The flowers of a fig are tucked away inside the fruit. A wasp crawls into the end of the fruit to pollinate the flowers. Tennessee mountain fig produces one of the smaller trees, usually just around 10 feet in height. The deep purple fruit has a very bright pinkish-red interior and soft sweet flesh peppered with "seeds," which are unrealized ovaries.
  
  

Growing Conditions

• The Tennessee mountain fig tree requires well-drained soil in full sun. It is hardy in United States Department of Agriculture zones 6 to 11 and is considered one of the most cold hardy of the figs. The original tree was found in 1945 near Nashville, Tennessee where it had survived winters where temperatures dipped to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. This variety is a persistent type that does not require another tree to set fruit. It is a very common fig for the home gardener and requires no specialized care. Tennessee mountain fig trees are excellent for the southeastern states.
  
  

How to Grow

• Mediterranean temperatures produce the highest yields and healthiest trees. The Tennessee mountain fig tree can be grown in a container with full sun exposure and shelter from winds. The tree should be planted in the ground with soil that has had plenty of compost and manure worked in. Apply 2 to 3 cups of balanced fertilizer, such as 6-6-6, to the soil around the trees three times per year starting in spring and ending in midsummer. Figs trees need supplemental water and an even moisture level is best to avoid split fruit. The trees should dry out between watering and never be allowed to sit in standing water.