3 Olympian Fig Starter Plants – Cold Hardy Live Fruit Trees – Bare Root

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with our set of 3 Olympian fig starter plants. These young fig trees are specifically chosen for their robust nature and ability to thrive in various climates, making them an excellent addition to any home orchard or garden. The Olympian fig is celebrated for its delectable purple fruit, offering a sweet, juicy flavor that is a true culinary delight. As a bare root offering, these plants are ready for immediate planting upon arrival, establishing quickly to begin their growth. They are a fantastic choice for gardeners looking for a reliable and productive fruit tree.

The Olympian fig (Ficus carica ‘Olympian’) is a highly acclaimed variety, known for its exceptional cold hardiness and generous yields. This makes it particularly suitable for regions with colder winters, where other fig varieties might struggle. Whether you’re an experienced horticulturist or a budding gardener, these Olympian fig starter plants provide a solid foundation for cultivating your own fresh, organic figs.

Key Benefits

Investing in these Olympian fig starter plants brings a multitude of advantages to your garden and culinary endeavors. Their unique characteristics make them a standout choice for fresh fruit production and ornamental appeal.

• Exceptional Cold Hardiness: The Olympian fig is renowned for being a cold hardy fig tree, capable of withstanding temperatures down to USDA Zone 6. This makes it a reliable choice for regions that experience colder winters, ensuring consistent fruit production year after year.
• Delicious Purple Fruit: Enjoy a bounty of sweet, purple-skinned figs with red to violet flesh. These fruits are perfect for fresh eating, jams, preserves, or drying, offering a rich, sugary flavor.
• Self-Pollinating: These fig trees are self-pollinating, meaning you only need one plant to produce fruit. This simplifies the growing process and guarantees a harvest even if you have limited space for multiple trees.
• Reliable Producer: The Olympian fig is a very reliable variety, known for its consistent and abundant fruit production. Gardeners can expect a good harvest once the trees are established.
• Versatile Use: Beyond their delicious fruit, these trees offer attractive foliage and can be grown as a specimen plant, in an edible landscape, or even in large containers in colder zones with proper winter protection.
• Award-Winning Variety: The ‘Olympian’ fig won the Retailers’ Choice Award at the 2014 FarWest Show, a testament to its superior qualities and performance.
• Easy to Establish: Shipped as fig tree bare root, these plants are easy to plant and establish in your garden, quickly developing a strong root system.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Olympian fig starter plants is straightforward, especially given their robust nature. To ensure optimal growth and bountiful harvests of purple fruit fig, attention to a few key aspects will be beneficial. These trees thrive in locations that receive ample sunlight, ideally a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sun per day. While they can tolerate partial sun, full sun exposure will result in sweeter and more abundant fruit. When planting your fig tree bare root, choose a site with well-draining soil. Figs prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (6.0-7.0).

Watering is crucial, especially during the establishment phase and dry periods. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Once established, fig trees are relatively drought-tolerant but will benefit from regular watering during fruit development. Fertilize your Olympian fig starter plants in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can promote leaf growth at the expense of fruit production. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring while the tree is dormant. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches, and shape the tree to maintain an open structure for good air circulation and light penetration, which is vital for preventing common issues when growing Olympian figs.

These figs are hardy to USDA Zone 6, but in colder parts of this range, some winter protection may be beneficial, especially for young plants. Mulching around the base of the tree can help insulate the roots. Common pests are generally not a major issue for fig trees, but keep an eye out for fig rust or other fungal diseases, especially in humid conditions. Good air circulation and proper spacing between plants can help mitigate these problems, ensuring your cold hardy fig tree remains healthy and productive.

Size & Details

This offering includes 3 Olympian fig starter plants, shipped in a bare root condition. Bare root plants are dormant and ship without soil or a pot, which allows for easier transplanting and often results in quicker establishment once planted in your garden. Upon planting, these young trees will begin to develop their root systems and foliage. The mature height of an Olympian fig tree typically ranges from 4 to 8 feet, depending on growing conditions and pruning practices. They generally grow at a moderate rate, providing a harvest of purple fruit fig within a few years of planting.

The ‘Olympian’ fig is known for its relatively compact size, making it suitable for smaller gardens or even large container growing in regions where winter protection is necessary. Each fig tree bare root will arrive ready for planting, allowing you to quickly get them into their permanent home. With proper care, you can expect these trees to become a cherished and productive part of your home garden, offering delicious fruit for many years.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Olympian fig starter plants get? A: Your Olympian fig starter plants can typically reach a mature height of 4 to 8 feet, depending on your growing conditions and how you prune them. This makes them a manageable size for most home gardens.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Olympian fig is primarily an outdoor plant, especially known as a cold hardy fig tree suitable for USDA Zones 6-10. In colder zones, it can be grown in containers and brought indoors during winter.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: These fig trees thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for the best fruit production. They can tolerate partial sun but may yield less fruit.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Olympian fig is considered relatively easy to care for, especially once established. It’s a reliable and resilient variety, making growing Olympian figs a rewarding experience for gardeners of all levels.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: These plants are shipped as fig tree bare root, meaning they will arrive dormant, without soil or a pot. This is a common and effective method for shipping deciduous fruit trees.
• Q: How long until it blooms or produces fruit? A: Fig trees typically begin producing fruit within 2-3 years of planting, though some may produce earlier. The ‘Olympian’ variety is known for its reliable and relatively quick fruiting.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The Olympian fig is a cold hardy fig tree, hardy down to USDA Zone 6. If you are in Zone 6, consider mulching for extra protection. In colder zones, container growing and winter protection are recommended.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for these fig trees? A: Olympian figs prefer well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Amending heavy clay soils with organic matter can improve drainage.
• Q: Can I grow this fig in a container? A: Yes, the relatively compact size of the Olympian fig makes it a good candidate for container growing, especially beneficial if you need to move the plant indoors for winter protection in colder climates.
• Q: What makes the ‘Olympian’ fig special? A: The ‘Olympian’ fig is celebrated for its exceptional cold hardiness, delicious sweet purple fruit fig, and its reliability as a producer, having even won an award for its qualities.