Beall Fig is a cold-hardy fig cultivar that thrives in zones 7 through 10, reaching 10 to 15 feet tall at maturity. This variety produces two distinct crops each year: a reliable early breba crop that ripens in midsummer around the same time as Desert King, followed by a moderate second crop that matures early in the season. The figs themselves are glossy black with a distinctive white to pale amber interior, offering a sweet flavor that rewards patient growers in cooler climates where many fig varieties struggle.
Full Sun
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7-10
180in H x ?in W
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High
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Denny McGaughy, a Pacific Northwest fig enthusiast and explorer, discovered Beall Fig ripening in late September in British Columbia, Canada, and spent years confirming its identity before propagating cuttings from that remarkable tree. In cool, wet climates like Elma, Washington, it produces abundant first crops every summer on a predictable schedule, with the second crop ripening before Little Ruby without requiring special care. The glossy black skin and pale sweet interior make it visually distinctive and genuinely flavorful, not just a novelty for cold-climate gardeners.
Fresh figs from the Beall are eaten directly from the tree, where the sweet white to pale amber flesh is best enjoyed at peak ripeness. The reliable dual-crop system makes it valuable for gardeners in cool climates who want a consistent harvest rather than a single concentrated season.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Transplant young fig trees or rooted cuttings in spring after the last frost has passed, when soil temperatures reach 50°F or warmer. Harden off container plants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball, backfill with native soil mixed with compost, and water thoroughly to settle the soil.
Harvest the glossy black figs when the skin yields slightly to gentle pressure and the fruit hangs loosely from the branch, typically in late August through October depending on the crop. The first breba crop ripens on a predictable schedule aligned with Desert King in mid to late summer. Pick figs by gently twisting and lowering them from the branch, or use a small pruning knife to clip the stem. The white to pale amber interior signals full ripeness and optimal sweetness.
Beall Fig benefits from light pruning in late winter or early spring to shape the canopy and remove any winter-damaged wood. Maintain an open center to allow air circulation and sunlight penetration, which encourages the formation of both breba and second crops. Remove any crossing or inward-growing branches, and thin crowded growth to direct energy toward fruit-bearing wood.
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“Beall Fig emerged as a seedling of a caprified Archipelle, a heritage lineage suggesting both intentional crossing and natural selection. Denny McGaughy, a devoted Pacific Northwest fig enthusiast and explorer, found mature, ripe figs on a tree in British Columbia, Canada, in late September. Over several years of careful observation, he confirmed the variety's identity and collected cuttings from that productive tree. His propagations now thrive in the cool, wet conditions of western Washington, proving that this variety can fruit reliably where most figs struggle.”