Verdino del Nord, also known as Figoin, is particularly suited for humid climates. It's an early to mid-season variety with exceptional productivity and an impressive berry flavor. Although small in size, the figs from this variety tend to grow larger as the tree ages and have the highly beneficial characteristic of drying easily on the tree. Not only that, but its short hang time allows for an almost perfectly ripened fig just about every time. Even through difficult rainy periods.
Like Celeste and Smith, it has an incredible skin quality that helps it resist water absorption into its skin preventing fermentation and mold. Its high brix (sugar content) further enhances its resistance to negative elements, making it one of the best fig varieties you can grow during these periods.
If you divide the figs in this article into two categories, you’ll have fig varieties that can be picked at a high quality before the rain and high humidity and fig varieties that maintain a high quality withstanding periods of rain and high humidity. There are very few figs that can withstand as much moisture as this one can.
The flavor of Verdino del Nord is among the best. It has an intense raspberry berry flavor that rivals some of the best-tasting figs like Smith and Coll de Dama. The variety is known for its dark red, ruby-like appearance, jammy texture, and dense berry flavor, making it an exceptional eating experience. Its small size is considered an advantage in humid climates as it’s easier for water to evaporate out of the fig and the flavor to concentrate.
Verdino del Nord's widespread popularity and multiple synonyms across the world are a testament to its quality. Known variously as Figoin, Verdino del Nord, Zigalino, Secalino, and many other names, this variety's broad distribution indicates its historical and contemporary value across Northern Italy. Hopefully, more to come on that as I learn more about this special variety.
One of the tree's unique characteristics is its high density of figs that form close together. The tree produces many smaller leaves leading to more nodes and more fruits. It even has a strange ability to produce two or three leaves at a location that would be one single leaf on other fig varieties.
I want to stress that it does take a few years before this fig matures. It only gets better with age year after year and in the beginning, it can be poor in quality. The establishment is a bit more time-consuming because of this tree’s natural dwarf habit.
Verdino del Nord (VR) Fig Tree
Why choosing the right fig variety matters
Choosing the right fig variety can make all the difference in so many positive or even negative ways. A variety that is well suited to your climate and taste preferences will ensure that your getting the fig experience that you deserve.
It's heartbreaking when you put years of work into a tree to finally realize that it's just not suited to your location because it will rarely produce high quality figs and in some cases, may never produce fruit that's even edible!
Fig varieties are very location specific because they're so highly subjected to their environment while they're ripening. Unlike many other fruits, the fig can be destroyed in its final ripening stage. It's a soft fruit that can absorb water into its skin causing cracking, splitting, mold & fermentation all because the inside of the fruit gets exposed to the outside elements of nature.
An apple has a hard covering. A persimmon has a hard covering. Berries and other soft fleshed fruits are also susceptible to bad weather conditions, but they have a short window of time in which they're soft and ready to be picked. Figs can be soft hanging on the tree for 5, 10 or even 15 days!
How to choose the right fig variety for your climate
When choosing a fig variety, it's important to consider the climate in your area during the winter, summer and fall.
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Some fig varieties are more tolerant of cold weather and others can be grown in climates that have mild summers because of their reliable breba production or their early main crop harvest period.
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Others are better suited for humid climates because they don't need to hang as long on the tree and they have a skin that acts like a waterproof jacket. The water just slides right off.
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Others are better suited to warmer climates and have the ability to taste incredible even in 100-110F temperatures.
If you want fig variety recommendations, read through the description of each fig variety carefully, or better yet, don't be afraid to contact me. In your message, include your growing zone, location, annual rainfall, and how you want to grow them.
To read more about choosing the right fig variety, click here:
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