As Autumn begins to feel like winter, it is time again to dream about what fruit trees to order soon to plant in your yard come late winter/early spring.  If space is limited, one of the best fruit trees to consider planting is a semi-dwarf called the Black Jack Fig tree which grows 6' - 8' tall if regularly pruned.  I bought mine from Annie's Annuals about 2 years ago when it was barely a foot tall.  Although planting the Black Jack Fig tree straight into the ground would be ideal, this cultivar does nicely in a container.  I have not taken optimum care of my tree as the light falls in uneven patterns in my backyard; nevertheless, this little fig tree continues to survive and produces fruit in spite of this lazy gardener.  

The Black Jack Fig tree produces large fruits, similar both in size and appearance to the California Brown Turkey fig.  The skin of the fruit is purplish-brown with a pink center.  The fruit is sweet and juicy.  The Black Jack Fig thrives in zones 7-10 and has a 100-hour chill requirement.  It is also drought tolerant and can tolerate temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.  The sweetest fruits are produced when temperature soar above 95 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not uncommon in Solano County during the summer.  If you buy a tree that is a year old, you may even begin to harvest fruit in the first year, from August into November.  This tree self-pollinates and in my experience, suffers from no pest or disease issues. Great little tree-- happy planting!