FIGS:

We have several new figs in our catalogue this year as a result of our Kaipara collection trips last winter. All of these figs (except French Sugar) are original figs bought into the Kaipara by the early Dalmatian Settlers and their stories are as old as European settlement on the Harbour. (The Feb 07 Institute catalogue has an article about the early Dalmatian settlers in the Kaipara).

Figs were eaten fresh, boiled up and boiled down to a cheese and then used as sweetening for the rest of the year, before the days of sugar.

Mature height 3-6 metres. Can be kept to 3m by pruning.

Black

Small dark skinned, pink-fleshed fig, creamy texture very sweet skin. An early fig, best for marginal areas that may experience cooler summer, ripens March. Only one crop per year. This fig is from the old orchards of Oratia.

French Sugar

This is probably the sweetest of the figs with a very mild flavour.  A large fig with a creamy honey coloured centre and skin turning amber brown as it ripens. Early ripening, begins soon after Black before Hyndemans.

Hyndemans

These are old figs from the early settlers around the Kaipara Harbour. Two crops if you don’t prune it - the first around Xmas, the next in March/April. Small figs with a purply skin & silky pink centre. Quite different from the Black Fig, I think this is the old Malta fig and they are very good for drying Ripen after the Black Fig.

McLeod Fig

Pear shaped, green skin with a purple blush, purple inside ripe March April. This fig is from the old McLeod homestead which is still standing. One of the very earliest settlers homes in the Pouto area.

Pouto Sugar Fig

This fig is also from the original old McLeod homestead, Pouto. It is a very sweet fig, hence it; s name, an early Fig small, pear shaped, reddy brown colour on one end with pale flesh.

Waiatea Fig

From the old Waiatea Marae (see peach section for story). I have no idea what this fig is like however it’s obviously an original variety and a good survivor. And it holds the special dream of that place on the Kaipara.

Papakaianga Fig

These are also old figs from the Pouto area; these ones are growing around the coast below the Papakaianga. They are similar to the McLeod fig except they ripen two weeks later.