Fig Tree - Variety 'Tena' (Ficus carica)

The 'Tena' cultivar is a masterpiece from the University of California breeding program and stands out as one of the absolute best yellow-fruited figs available. This modern fig was created with a clear mission: to provide growers with fruits that are not only incredibly sweet but also highly resilient to adverse weather. If you are looking for a vigorous tree that can effortlessly handle a wet summer without its fruits splitting, while delivering a taste full of California sunshine, 'Tena' is the perfect choice for you.

Origins and Trivia: This triumph of modern pomology was introduced in 1975 by legendary experts Dr. Ira Condit and Dr. William Storey at UC Riverside. It is also known by its trial name, UC 143-36. Beware of mix-ups: For years, the horticultural industry mistakenly propagated and sold this variety under the name 'White Marseilles'. However, you can easily identify the true 'Tena' by its distinctly 5-lobed leaves and pinkish flesh.

Top Advantages of the Variety:

• Closed Eye (Ostiole): Provides a perfect barrier against insects and prevents the flesh from fermenting during rainy weather.
• Crack Resistance: Boasts high genetic resistance to fruit splitting in humid or wet conditions.
• Tidy Growth: An upright habit makes pruning easy and harvesting highly convenient.
• Double Harvest: As a Bifera variety, it yields two abundant crops per year.
• Superb Flavor: A delicate, honey-sweet taste with the unique ability of the fruits to dry directly on the tree.
• Easy Propagation: Cuttings of this variety root exceptionally quickly and with high success rates.

Detailed Plant Profile

Growth and Foliage

• Habit: The tree is vigorous, healthy, and naturally upright. When planted in the ground, it typically reaches a height of 3 to 4 meters. Thanks to its neat growth pattern, keeping it at a desired size through pruning is very straightforward.
• Leaves: The foliage is very characteristic—deeply cut, featuring five long, extended lobes that resemble long fingers.

Fruits and Taste Profile – Two Crops

• First Crop (Summer / Breba): Ripens during July on the previous year's wood. The figs are medium-sized (around 50 g) with a broad, rounded shape. The amber-colored flesh is extremely juicy, possesses a fine texture, and boasts high natural sugar levels.
• Second Crop (Main / Autumn): An exceptionally heavy crop begins in late August and continues through October on new growth. These fruits are slightly smaller (40 – 45 g). The thin skin ranges from light green to bright yellow, with the eye of the fruit tinted red. The light pink to beige-amber flesh has a thick, honey-like consistency. The flavor is medium sweet and distinctly mild.
• Special Feature: During hot weather, the ripe fruits have the unique ability to start shriveling and drying right on the branches, intensifying their flavor even further.

Cultivation and Hardiness

• Pollination: Belonging to the Adriatic botanical group, this variety is parthenocarpic (self-fertile) and requires no fig wasp for fruit development.
• Weather Resistance: The closed eye is a massive advantage, keeping moisture and bugs out to ensure clean, rot-free harvests. Combined with its globally renowned crack resistance, 'Tena' is a favorite for areas with wetter summers.
• Cold Hardiness and Planting: Very hardy (down to -15 °C / 5 °F). It is recommended to plant 2 to 3-year-old trees outdoors. In colder zones, you must protect the trunk and canopy with horticultural fleece until the trunk is 6 to 7 cm thick.

Drawbacks of the Variety:

• Smaller Fruits: The main autumn crop produces relatively small figs, weighing only 40–45 g.
• Milder Flavor Profile: The taste is purely mild and honey-sweet; it lacks the punchy berry notes that some fig connoisseurs seek.
• Requires Winter Protection: Young trees planted in open ground strictly require winter protection during their first few years.