Conde Fig is a French cultivar recently identified and championed by Thierry Demarquest of Figues du Monde, who recognizes it as a widely distributed variety worth growing. This self-fertile common fig produces small to medium fruits with dark berry flavor and soft skin, thriving in zones 7 through 10 with full sun exposure. The variety fruits mid-season and brings excellent cold hardiness to northern gardens, while its ability to produce a breba crop means you'll harvest fruit across an extended season. What makes Conde Fig special is its flexibility: it grows equally well in containers or garden beds, and it rewards careful harvesting at just the right ripeness with complexity that belies its modest size.
Full Sun
—
7-10
?in H x ?in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Conde Fig earned its reputation from Thierry Demarquest's careful selection and Eric Durtschi's detailed harvest observations, which revealed something crucial about timing: pick these figs before they fully shrivel for the most balanced flavor. The variety's mid-season production habit combined with its breba crop means a longer harvest window than many figs. Its excellent rooting ease and proven cold hardiness make it one of the more forgiving French varieties for gardeners in cooler climates.
Conde figs are eaten fresh, ideally harvested at the moment they transition from firm to slightly yielding but before they collapse into full shriveling. Their small to medium size makes them perfect for eating out of hand or adding whole to fruit platters. The dark berry flavor with subtle acidity works well in fresh preparations where the fruit's complexity can shine.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
From mildly to very sweet, with distinct berry notes complemented by a touch of acidity. They often feature subtle complexity, with additional layers of flavor that enhance their rich and balanced profile.
Harvest Conde figs by watching for the color shift to deep purple or dark brown and feeling for slight give when you gently squeeze the fruit. Eric Durtschi's observations from 2020 revealed that harvesting at an early stage before significant shriveling produces the most complex, balanced flavor. Pick fruit in the early morning when temperatures are cool, and handle gently given the soft skin. The mid-season timing means the bulk of your harvest will arrive over a concentrated period, though the breba crop extends production earlier in the season.
Minimal pruning is required for Conde Fig, though shaping when young helps establish a strong framework. Focus on removing any dead wood and thinning overcrowded branches to improve air circulation, particularly important given the soft-skinned fruit's susceptibility to fungal issues. The variety's tendency to produce a breba crop means you can be selective about pruning; remove branches only where necessary rather than aggressive annual pruning.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Conde Fig carries the mark of modern fig scholarship. Thierry Demarquest of Figues du Monde identified and named this French cultivar in 2018, recognizing it as a cultivar already in wide distribution but worthy of formal documentation. The variety's story deepened through the detailed observations of Eric Durtschi, who conducted careful harvest trials beginning in July 2020, methodically testing the fruit at different stages of ripeness to understand how harvest timing affected flavor and texture. This kind of thoughtful observation and documentation ensures that home gardeners today benefit from insights that might otherwise have been lost.”