Olympian Fig Tree Starter Plant – Cold Hardy Ficus carica, Sweet Purple Fruit, Bare Root

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with the Olympian fig tree starter plant. This remarkable cultivar, scientifically known as Ficus carica ‘Olympian’, is renowned for its exceptional cold hardiness and prolific production of delectable fruit. Originating from the Pacific Northwest, the ‘Olympian’ fig has proven its resilience, making it an excellent choice for gardeners in cooler climates who wish to enjoy fresh, home-grown figs. This particular offering provides you with a robust Olympian fig tree starter plant in a bare root form, ensuring it establishes quickly in its new environment. Get ready to add a touch of Mediterranean charm and a bounty of sweet, purple figs to your home garden.

The ‘Olympian’ fig is a highly acclaimed variety, even winning the Retailers’ Choice Award at the 2014 FarWest Show. Its ultra-cold hardy nature distinguishes it from many other fig varieties, allowing it to flourish where others might struggle. This makes it an ideal cold hardy fig tree for a wider range of USDA zones. With its reliable growth and delicious fruit, the Olympian fig tree starter plant is a perfect addition for both novice and experienced gardeners.

Key Benefits

The Olympian fig tree starter plant offers numerous advantages for the home gardener, blending ornamental beauty with practical fruit production. Cultivating this plant will enrich your garden and provide a consistent supply of delicious, fresh figs.

• Exceptional Cold Hardiness: The ‘Olympian’ fig is celebrated for its ability to withstand colder temperatures, thriving in USDA Zones 6-10. This makes it a superior choice for regions where other fig varieties might not survive, ensuring a reliable harvest for many years.
• Delicious Sweet Fruit: Enjoy an abundance of very sweet, purple figs with thin skin and a rich red to violet flesh. These figs are perfect for fresh eating, preserves, baking, or drying, offering a versatile culinary delight from your own backyard.
• Reliable and Prolific Producer: Known for its consistent and heavy yields, the Olympian fig tree starter plant will provide a generous harvest year after year. This reliability is a key feature that gardeners appreciate, ensuring a steady supply of fruit.
• Self-Pollinating: This variety is self-pollinating, meaning you only need one plant to produce fruit. This simplifies the growing process and guarantees fruit production without the need for additional pollinator plants.
• Versatile Sun Exposure: The Ficus carica Olympian can thrive in both full sun and partial sun conditions, offering flexibility in choosing a suitable planting location in your garden.
• Award-Winning Variety: Recognized with the Retailers’ Choice Award, the ‘Olympian’ fig is a proven performer, indicating its superior qualities and desirability among plant enthusiasts.
• Easy to Grow: Despite its gourmet fruit, the cold hardy fig tree is relatively low-maintenance once established, making it suitable for gardeners of all skill levels.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Olympian fig tree starter plant is straightforward, ensuring a healthy tree and abundant fruit. Once established, fig trees are surprisingly resilient. For optimal growth and fruit production, understanding their specific needs is crucial. Provide your Ficus carica Olympian with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for the best results, although it can tolerate partial sun. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial to prevent leaf scorch. Plant your bare root fig plant in a location with good air circulation.

When it comes to watering, young fig trees require consistent moisture, especially during dry periods. Water deeply and regularly, allowing the top few inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Mature trees become more drought-tolerant but will benefit from supplemental watering during prolonged dry spells, particularly when fruit is developing. Ensure excellent drainage, as figs do not like wet feet. A well-draining soil mix is essential. The sweet fig tree thrives in USDA Zones 6-10. In Zone 6, winter protection may be beneficial, such as mulching heavily around the base or wrapping the tree in burlap during the coldest months. Fertilize your Olympian fig tree starter plant with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins, and again in mid-summer. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can promote leafy growth at the expense of fruit. Common problems include fig rust and fig mosaic virus, which can be managed with good cultural practices and proper sanitation.

Size & Details

This offering is for one Olympian fig tree starter plant, shipped as a bare root specimen. Bare root plants are dormant and arrive without soil or a pot, which allows for easier shipping and successful transplanting. Upon planting, the cold hardy fig tree will quickly establish its root system and begin to grow vigorously. Mature ‘Olympian’ fig trees typically reach a height of 4-8 feet, making them a manageable size for most home gardens or even large containers. The growth rate is moderate, allowing the tree to develop a strong structure over time. Expect your Ficus carica Olympian to begin producing fruit within 1-3 years after planting, with yields increasing as the tree matures. This variety is known for its compact growth habit, making it suitable for smaller spaces while still delivering a generous harvest of the coveted sweet fig tree fruit.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Olympian fig tree starter plant typically grows to a height of 4-8 feet at maturity. Its compact size makes it suitable for various garden settings or even large patio containers.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The ‘Olympian’ fig is an outdoor plant, highly valued for its cold hardiness. It thrives when planted in the ground, but can also be grown in large outdoor pots.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This cold hardy fig tree prefers full sun, ideally receiving 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. It can tolerate partial sun, but fruit production may be reduced.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, once established, the Olympian fig tree starter plant is considered relatively easy to care for. It requires consistent watering when young and benefits from annual fertilization.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your bare root fig plant will arrive dormant and without a pot or soil. This is the ideal condition for transplanting and ensures a healthy start for your new tree.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: Fig trees do not produce traditional flowers. Instead, the ‘fruit’ is actually an inverted flower. You can expect your sweet fig tree to begin producing fruit within 1-3 years after planting.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The ‘Olympian’ fig is exceptionally cold hardy, thriving in USDA Zones 6-10. In Zone 6, some winter protection like heavy mulching may be beneficial to ensure its survival.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature it can tolerate? A: This Ficus carica Olympian is known for its resilience and can tolerate temperatures down to around -10°F (-23°C) when properly established and possibly with some winter protection in the colder range of its hardiness zones.
• Q: Is it self-pollinating? A: Yes, the ‘Olympian’ fig is a self-pollinating variety, meaning you only need one plant to get delicious fruit. You do not need another fig tree for cross-pollination.
• Q: Can I grow this fig tree in a container? A: Absolutely! The compact nature of the Olympian fig tree starter plant makes it an excellent candidate for container growing, especially in zones where winter protection is required. Use a large pot (15-25 gallons) and good quality potting mix.