Fig tree in Arkansas

By Bob Oldfield

When I moved from Adrian to Hardy, Arkansas in 1989 I had no idea what a fig tree looked like or that it would even grow in that part of the state. I have a cousin in Ash Flat, Arkansas that had a small fig tree that was shaded too much to grow or put on fruit. Nevertheless they gave me a start and I planted it in 1992 where it would be in full sun. Well it froze back to the ground in the winter months and did that every year until about 2000, and it didn’t put on any fruit. Then in 2005 it put on a few figs, like eight or ten. Every year after it put on more and this year, with all the rain, it put on a bumper crop. With the help of my good friend Carlene, we picked them this weekend and she cleaned and froze them at least 15 quarts. Still to come is another crop in about another 4 to 6 weeks. They are very good to eat right off the tree or make desserts with them, also preserves and jams.