Olympian

    Common fig(Ficus carica)

    Cold tolerantLargeHigh yieldEarly season

    Olympian is a cold-hardy fig discovered in Olympia, Washington and believed to belong to the English Brown Turkey family, distinct from the milder California Brown Turkey. It bears unusually large, nectarine-sized fruit with green-and-purple skin and reddish-orange flesh, and is famed for a sweet, melon-to-peach flavor. One of the few figs that ripens well in cool, short-season climates, and exceptionally productive.

    Flavor Profile

    Sweet, in the sugar family, with a melon or juicy-peach and honey character

    Visual Characteristics

    Large fruit, up to nectarine size, with green-and-purple skin and reddish-orange flesh with a mild seed crunch.

    Growing Tips

    Cold-hardy to about USDA zone 6, withstanding brief snaps to -10 F with some dieback that regrows. It ripens an early main crop and is one of the most productive figs, adaptable even to cool, short summers; widely available and inexpensive.

    Where to Buy

    Sourcing information coming soon. Check local nurseries and seed banks for availability.