JD Van Deventer's Kwekery/Nursery

Cultivar; Deanna

Clone Number; unknown

Origin; California, bred by Ira Condit programme at the California University.

Royalties/ Levies; not enough data

Yield; excellent

Fruit use; fresh, skin is green to gold with pink inner flesh. Fruits are large with very thin skins. Can also be used for making processed foods such as preserves, jams, cooked, or dried goods.

Type; honey type fig,

Shelf-life;  excellent, 2-3 days in a fridge, 12 months if frozen

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Water requirements; around 750mm of annual rainfall is required, or must be supplemented with irrigation. Overwatering during fruit development or harvesting can cause the fruits to split.

Soil type; any type, but the soil must be well draining, and fertile or nutrient rich. Acidic to neutral soils work best. The ultimate pH would be 6 to 6.5.

Sun requirements; full sun, figs thrive Figs are relatively tolerant of saline environs and can withstand salts up to 1000ppm. Thrives in regions with hot summers and mild winters, often grown in the Little Karoo.

Chill hours; 400 or less

Pruning; minimal, recommended only during the initial few years and is best done in late winter

Soil depth; 1,5m

Care; Planting the rows from North to South allows for the sun to reach from both the East and West, allowing for the figs to ripen evenly. Figs like a climate similar to that of many stone fruits, however, be careful of winter rainfall areas as figs under 5 years are likely to die back during winter, especially if the soil is wet. Be careful of winds, it is best to plant figs in a sheltered region.

Fertiliser requirements; calcium, potash and nitrogen are recommended when growth is minimal, however do not over-fertilise with nitrogen- this causes excessive leaf-production, and slows ripening.

Pollination requirements; not enough data

Successful test-crosses; not enough data

Bloom time; summertime

Harvest time; late January

Vigor; extermely strong

Size and shape; 5m, very fast growing tree

Tree age; will start to fruit at 3 to 5 years of age

Average life span;  20 to 30 years depending on the rootstock used.

Susceptibility to pests and disease; resistant against fig mosaic virus, small eyes on fig help prevent spoilage by pests

General notes; Very popular in the USA, produces large Breba figs in addition to the main crop. Fruits are of excellent quality and yields are generally heavy.