Desert King is one of our favorite fig varieties. It thrives in the Pacific Northwest climate, and produces large crops of excellent quality fruit. In this video, Michael Dolan explains what to look for when harvesting figs.
I'm propagating some Desert King cuttings now and after only 2 weeks there are tiny green figs growing without any leaves developing. I'm hoping that there are roots developing too.
Great video. We have desert king as well and get tons of figs. Did you mention on the video they should be pruned in June? Wouldn’t that cut off the new figs that have been growing since last year? Ours desperately needs to be pruned and we’re not sure when to do it. Thanks Michael!
Yes, Desert King only ripens fruit here that has formed on the last 4-6" of each branch end later in the previous summer. Only the very tiny ones overwinter. The object in June pruning is not to prune off any short side branches that are bearing fruit and will continue to make fruit next year. The object is to prune back real vigorous new shoots that are getting too tall, forcing them to produce short side branches below your pruning cuts, that will become fruit bearing the following year. Encourage suckers from the base. Grow figs as multi-stemmed bushes, not single-trunked trees. Keep them to an easily reachable height. -Michael
Michael, when are these available for purchase, is there another variety that Burnt Ridge offers since this video that does well and taste great.. thank you, Ron near Chehalis
Hi Ron - Desert King is still the #1 fig for our area. It's the most dependable variety, but we also have good results with Beall, Olympian, Italian Honey, and English Brown Turkey. All are available at this time. You can order through our website (www.burntridgenursery.com/Fig-Trees/products/19/) or come to our farm - during this summer we're open from 8:30 to 4:30, Monday - Friday, and on Sundays by appointment.
Those figs at the end of August are not breba figs from the first crop, they are the main 'crop' figs needing the fig wasp to pollinate, they will not ripen. The breba crop ripens in earlier August in the PNW.
