Breba Figs: A Fig Tree's First Crop and the Varieties That Produce Them
Updated: Jun 6
So... What Are Brebas?
One of the amazing traits that makes Ficus Carica my favorite fruiting plant is its wide adaptability. Although the fig tree performs best in dry and hot locations, fig trees are grown worldwide, even in mild-summered, cold-wintered, and rainy climates. The breba crop that fig trees produce ripens on the previous year's growth, providing an additional and earlier harvest before the main crop. As a result, growers in less-than-ideal climates can still enjoy a yield of figs.
You read that right, fig trees can produce two distinct crops of figs: the breba crop and the main crop. The main crop forms on the new growth of the growing season and that's "mainly" what fig growers focus on, but what some don't know is that if they choose the right fig variety, they may be able to benefit from tasty figs 30-45 days earlier than normal.
In fact, they can be completely relied upon in mild areas of the world like the United Kingdom, San Francisco, or mild regions of the PNW as the breba crop can ripen in only 90-120 days after a fig tree's awakening from dormancy. The main crop may need more ripening time in those climates.
In hot and long seasoned climates, growers also highly benefit from the breba crop. Who wouldn’t want figs 30-45 days earlier? It’s a big deal for every fig grower.
So in this article, I’m going to share with you everything there is to know about the breba crop. The varieties that produce them, how to improve your harvest, and their wide range of benefits.
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Before we get into the varieties that produce brebas, let's talk more about why you’d want to select a variety that produces them.
The Benefits of Choosing Breba Fig Varieties:
Extended harvest season.
Minimized risk of spoilage.
Greater flexibility in harvest timing.
Increased marketability.
Larger fruits.
Brebas never require pollination.
Clearly, there are a lot of benefits. Unfortunately, not every fig variety produces a breba crop and in my experience, the average fig grower doesn’t even know they exist. Here is a list of varieties that produce them.
Reliable Breba Producers:
Desert King - Tasty, Medium
Violette de Bordeaux - Tasty, Medium
Figo Moro da Caneva - Tasty, Medium
Adriatic or Verdino figs - Especially Proscuitto, Green Michurinska, Rockaway Green, & Verdino del Nord (Tatiana) - Tasty, Medium
White Marseilles and the dark-skinned mutation of it called Barbillone - Tasty, Medium
Atreano figs - Sefrawi & White Triana from my orchard - Tasty, Large
English Brown Turkey or Olympian - Tasty, Large
Black Mission or Albacor Camuna - Tasty, Medium
Neruciollo d'Elba - Tasty, Small
Verdino del Nord (VR) or Figoin - Tasty, Small
Sucrette or Cul Noir - Tasty, Medium
Sultane - Tasty, Medium
Lattarula (EL) - Medium
Dalmatie - Tasty, Large
Tauro - Large
Vagabond
Grise de St. Jean - Tasty, Medium
Dauphine or Grantham's Royal - Large
Madeleine Des Deux Saisons - Large
De Tres Esplets - Tasty, Medium
Beat Ramon, Molla Vermella or Joualle Noire - Tasty, Medium
Peter's Honey, Dotatto, Kadota or Rigato del Salento (PB) - Tasty, Medium
Italian 258 or Genovese Nero (AF)- Tasty, Medium
Vern's Brown Turkey - Medium
Figo Preto de Torres Novas - Tasty, Medium
Florea or Michurinska 10 - Tasty, Medium
Teramo, Brandon St. Unk or Nebo - Tasty, Medium
Italian 215 - Medium
Lampa Parda
Lampeira Preta - Large
Raspberry Latte - Tasty, Large
Princesa
Fiorone di Ruvo - Large
Longue d'Aout - Tasty, Large
California Brown Turkey - Large
San Antonio
San Miro
Adler
Cascitello
Campaniere - Tasty, Medium
Sementino Rosso - Tasty, Medium
Hardy Chicago - Specifically, Azores Dark, St. Rita, Luisa’s Fig, and others - Tasty, Medium
Little Ruby - Tasty, Small
Paradiso (Baud)
Paradiso (Siro)
Paradiso Bronze (VS)
My Favorites:
Unfortunately, the breba crop is lower in quality, sugar content, and taste. Only a few varieties produce breba that rival their main crop. Therefore, my favorite varieties are chosen based on their taste. These are:
The Adriatic or Verdino figs
Desert King
Violette de Bordeaux
Joualle Noire, Beat Ramon, Molla Vermella
Verdolino
Figo Moro da Caneva
Italian 258 or Genovese Nero (GF)
Grise de St. Jean
Verdino del Nord (VR) or Figoin
Dalmatie
Barbillone or White Marseilles
Longue d’Aout
Paradiso (Siro, Baud & VS)
I hope to add more to this list in the coming years.
Important Notes:
As always select varieties that are suited to your climate. I don’t grow English Brown Turkey (aka Olympian) because it performs poorly in my humid climate. Even though the breba crop is plentiful, it’s also typically average-tasting. Even in hot and dry climates.
Many of these fig varieties have multiple names or are genetically similar but called different things due to poor naming practices. For example, English Brown Turkey has at least 15 different names. Don't accidentally buy two trees when you only need one. If you want to read more about synonyms, this article will save you time and money.
Do your research. Not every Verdino or Adriatic fig produces a breba crop. The same can be said for Hardy Chicago.
If a fig variety can produce brebas, that doesn't mean it will every growing season.
The opposite can also be true. Many varieties should not produce breba figs. Yet, some growers (including myself) sometimes report interesting surprises. Some varieties may trick you into thinking that they will, only to eventually drop their figs prematurely.
The Two Drop Phases:
It’s important to understand that the breba crop on your fig tree can have two drop phases similar to the persimmon tree. First, the fig tree wakes up from dormancy and is possibly overloaded with brebas. Without having enough carbohydrates stored within the fig tree to put toward the brebas, some or all will drop. This usually occurs within the first 15 days of breba formation.
After about 60 days, the second drop phase occurs as the brebas enter their 3rd and final ripening stage. If a variety is not genetically capable of ripening breba (Unifera Common varieties), but they’ve gotten this far, the breba often will turn yellow, become soft, and eventually abort. This is how they can play a trick on you.
As always with the breba crop, I’ve learned to never count my chickens before they hatch.
So why is this happening?
Main crop figs don't swell late in the season and become overwintered main crop. When the tree wakes up in the spring, these figs appear to be breba.
But that brings up a great argument about brebas: what are they exactly?
To be classified as a breba, a dormancy period is a requirement. At least that’s my definition. Therefore, areas without a dormancy period cannot ripen brebas. Instead, these are overwintered main crop.
But are overwintered main crop figs technically breba if there’s a dormancy period? More closer examination is required.
The following varieties have done exactly that. They are technically Unifera Common figs, meaning that the variety will only produce the main crop and it does not require pollination. Yet, I’ve seen them ripen breba figs firsthand:
Factors affecting breba production:
Choosing the right variety. I estimate that roughly 15% of the fig varieties I’ve grown can produce them.
Usually, after 3-5 years production becomes reliable.
A larger root system. Establishment in a larger container (15 gallons or more) or planted in the ground.
Mild winters or overwintering practices.
Proper pruning.
Mild springs that avoid late frost and extreme dips in temperature.
Cultivation Tips for Maximizing Breba Production
To encourage the formation and success of breba figs, several cultivation practices are essential. Pruning plays a critical role in breba fig production; careful pruning in the dormant season can help preserve the previous year's growth where the breba figs will form. Additionally, providing adequate winter protection for your fig trees, particularly in cooler climates, can help ensure that the overwintering figs survive to produce a spring crop.
Related: A Comprehensive Guide to Pruning Fig Trees | In Containers, Large in Ground trees, Young Trees & Old
Types of Fig Trees That Produce Brebas:
Only Common figs and San Pedro figs produce brebas. Smyrna figs do not produce brebas, and caprifig brebas are usually inedible and used for their pollen (profichi).
Within Common figs, there are two types: Unifera and Bifera. Meaning, they produce one or two crops. Roughly 15% of common figs are bifera.
San Pedro figs need pollination to produce the main crop, but many growers associate them exclusively with the breba crop. Especially, the variety called Desert King. However, this should not be the case. In the long list of breba producers above, very few of them are San Pedro-type figs.
