Petite Negri is a naturally dwarfing fig that defies expectations about size and productivity. This "little black" cultivar produces wine-red fruits with a richly sweet flavor, starting to bear fruit when the plant is less than a foot tall. Hardy in zones 7 through 10 and reaching just 4 to 6 feet at maturity, it thrives in containers or in-ground plantings in warm climates, often yielding two crops annually in ideal conditions.
Full Sun
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7-9
72in H x 96in W
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High
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Petite Negri begins fruiting at an astonishingly young age, sometimes while still a seedling, and its compact habit makes it one of the most space-efficient figs for home gardeners. The dark fruits reveal a stunning wine-red interior and deliver a deeply sweet, complex flavor that rivals larger fig varieties. In warm regions, you'll harvest two distinct crops per season, stretching your fresh fig bounty from summer into fall.
Fresh figs from Petite Negri are eaten out of hand at peak ripeness, when the skin yields slightly to gentle pressure and the interior is at its sweetest. Their small, manageable size also makes them excellent candidates for preserving as fig jam or compote, where their wine-red flesh and rich flavor concentrate beautifully.
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Transplant container-grown Petite Negri figs after the last spring frost date in your zone. Harden off plants grown indoors by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space plants 4 to 6 feet apart if planting multiple specimens in-ground.
Figs are ready to harvest when the skin darkens to deep purple or black and the fruit yields slightly to gentle pressure at the stem end. Pick them in the morning after the dew has dried, and harvest frequently to encourage continued production throughout the season. The two crops typically appear in summer and again in fall before frost arrives.
Petite Negri's naturally compact form requires minimal pruning. Remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches to maintain an open canopy that allows light and air circulation. Light heading back of vigorous shoots in early spring encourages bushier growth and more even fruit distribution across the compact plant.
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