Ficus carica Violette Normande

The 'Violette Normande' Fig Tree (Ficus carica) is a self-fertile and vigorous variety, producing large fruits with purple skin, pink flesh in July and red flesh in autumn. It is a biferous variety, meaning it fruits twice a year. The first harvest is early, starting in July, and the autumn figs will ripen in September-October. The Fig Tree is a deciduous, hardy tree that thrives in sunny locations. Plant in autumn-winter, frost-free (or in spring for colder regions).

The Violette Normande Fig Tree produces beautiful fruits with dark purple skin when ripe, with juicy and sweet flesh. Figs can be used in sweet dishes (pies, clafoutis, compotes) or savory dishes paired with goat cheese, dry-cured ham, or foie gras. After harvest, refrigeration is not recommended as it alters the fig's aroma and the skin can suffer from moisture and condensation. The best way to enjoy them is fresh at the table, savoring their honey-like fragrance under the tree.

Among the varieties of Fig Trees, we distinguish:

- uniferous varieties, producing a single harvest per year, quite abundant, at the beginning of autumn

- biferous varieties, fruiting twice a year, producing figs called 'flower figs' in early summer, appearing on the previous year's wood, and autumn figs, developing on the current year's branches.

The Violette Normande variety is a biferous variety, fruiting from July and then in September-October. The harvest will be done in several times, as the figs ripen.

This variety is self-fertile and parthenocarpic, allowing the production of fruits without fertilization. It does not require other Fig Tree plants and does not need the intervention of the fig wasp, the only pollinating insect of the fig tree, which is too sensitive to survive in cold climates.

Originating from Turkey and Asia Minor, the Fig Tree (Ficus carica) belongs to the Moraceae family. It is a small, vigorous deciduous tree with a rounded and erect habit, often with a twisted trunk, reaching 3m (9 ft 10 in) in height and 2m (6 ft 7 in) in width for this variety. The leaves are rough, bright green turning yellow in autumn, finely hairy, relatively large (sometimes 20cm (7.9 in) long), and have a long petiole. The lamina is deeply divided into three to seven lobes with toothed edges (usually five), with a velvety underside and prominent veins. The wood is soft and spongy, the bark is smooth and gray. The root system of this small tree is powerful, spreading in all directions.

The Fig Tree is often considered one of the most beautiful fruit trees. Its unique foliage gives it an ornamental aspect and provides pleasant shaded space during summer heat. Plant the Fig Tree against a wall to protect it from cold during harsh winters, with a south or southwest exposure, alongside Pomegranate, White Mulberry, and Japanese Medlar in the southern regions of our country. In the north, it can be associated with Quince, Akebia quinata, and Feijoa, which are also hardy and exotic. Consider its adult size when determining the planting distance. Although the roots do not cause damage to modern constructions, they can damage dry stone walls or walls built with weak mortar in the old-fashioned way.