Breba figs are the first crop which grow on old seasoned wood.
They are normally larger, less sweet and less flavorful than the main crop figs that grow on new seasons growth. Many people consider breba figs a bonus crop, since young trees often drop their breba before they are ripe, and even some older trees can lose their breba with poor weather or inconsistent watering. Breba figs ripen earlier than main crop figs, often starting to ripen for me around August 1st. Most fig trees can produce a few breba figs, but some are more prolific and others are simple better tasting.
Most fig trees can produce some breba figs when old enough.
Breba figs are produced early in the summer on last years growth or old wood.
Desert King - A "San Pedro" type fig, commonly grown in the Pacific Northwest solely for its large crop of good tasting breba figs. San Pedro type figs have a "Common" breba, and a "Smynra" main crop that requires pollination. Meaning the breba does not require pollination but the main crop is aided by the fig wasp to pollinate the figs and prevent 90% of the fruit from dropping. The fig wasp does live in parts of California, so where the wasp is present, Desert King does not drop most of its main crop and produces main crop that are better tasting.
Madeleine de Deux Sasions - consistently grows a large quantity of breba figs. The main crop is common so no fig wasp is necessary to pollinate the later crop in order to produce figs. The French name means "two seasons" for the two crops produced in one year.
Longue d'Aout - pronounced: "long doot" means "long of August" the extra long fig produces breba at the start of August and the main crop at the end of August.
Brown Turkey - grows a few very large breba over an extended period followed by a main season crop.
Black Mission - One of the most popular figs found in super markets, often grown in California. It can develop a breba crop and it's main crop is often pollinated by the fig wasp. It is "common", meaning the fig wasp is not needed to produce the main crop. If the fig wasp is present the figs often taste much better because they were pollinated. A very late black fig originally from Spain, brought to California by missionaries. Not ideal for growing in many other parts of the country.
Violet de Bordeaux - most vdb type figs can grow a good breba crop, but struggle to produce main crop in my short growing climate.
De Tres Esplets - gets a breba crop and can get two main crops in a year. I am always impressed with its production of figs.
I-256 / Genoese Nero - like many figs, does not get many breba, but produces the best tasting breba figs I have ever grown or eaten.
Madeleine de Deux Sasions - consistently grows a large quantity of breba figs. The main crop is common so no fig wasp is necessary to pollinate the later crop in order to produce figs. The French name means "two seasons" for the two crops produced in one year.
Longue d'Aout - pronounced: "long doot" means "long of August" the extra long fig produces breba at the start of August and the main crop at the end of August.
Brown Turkey - grows a few very large breba over an extended period followed by a main season crop.
Black Mission - One of the most popular figs found in super markets, often grown in California. It can develop a breba crop and it's main crop is often pollinated by the fig wasp. It is "common", meaning the fig wasp is not needed to produce the main crop. If the fig wasp is present the figs often taste much better because they were pollinated. A very late black fig originally from Spain, brought to California by missionaries. Not ideal for growing in many other parts of the country.
Violet de Bordeaux - most vdb type figs can grow a good breba crop, but struggle to produce main crop in my short growing climate.
De Tres Esplets - gets a breba crop and can get two main crops in a year. I am always impressed with its production of figs.
I-256 / Genoese Nero - like many figs, does not get many breba, but produces the best tasting breba figs I have ever grown or eaten.
Madeleine de Deux Sasions
(MDDS)
Madeleine de Deux Sasions "deux saisons" means "two seasons" for its breba or first crop on old wood, still green on 6/10/23 pictured below with the clematis blooming. The name Madeleine is thought to be name after the small light sweet french bite size cake.
Organza bags protecting the breba crop on MDDS
MDDS main crop that ripens late in September looks and tastes very different then the breba crop.
Brown Turkey
(BT)
Brown Turkey figs are a category of very commonly grown large figs that have brownish skin and a pleasant brown sugar, caramel flavor. They are said to have originally come from Turkey and were commonly grown on family farms across the United States. They are often found in good fruit markets when in season. They get a breba crop that ripens in early August, and a main crop that ripens late September. Like most figs, the main crop figs are sweeter and have a complexity of flavors.
Brown Turkey breba crop ripens early. 8/2/23
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Brown Turkey main crop ripens end of August - October.
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Breba are normally bigger, longer, and not as sweet or flavorful as the main crop.
They are still quite good and some people in the Pacif Northwest, only grow figs for their breba crop.
They are still quite good and some people in the Pacif Northwest, only grow figs for their breba crop.