All About the LSU Gold Fig

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Characteristics of LSU Gold Figs

LSU Gold Fig trees are beautiful trees that grow to be about 8-15 feet in height and 8-10 feet in width when fully mature. They are heavy producers and rapid growers, often putting out their first harvest within two to three years of becoming established, but sometimes as early as the first year!

The LSU Gold Fig lives up to its namesake. This stunning gold honey fig variety features blush or amber overtones, making it truly appealing to the eye and taste buds. The fruits are on the medium to large side with soft skin when fully ripe.

When it comes to flavor, you can expect a ripe LSU Gold Fig to have full-bodied sweetness. The texture is soft and fleshy, fantastic both when eaten raw and when dried. A dried fig will have an even sweeter profile.

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About the LSU Gold Fig

Eating Them

There are many ways to enjoy LSU Gold Figs! Due to their size and delectable, sweet flavor, this is a variety that can be eaten raw, even right off the tree. However, they also dry well for an especially sweet snack and make a fantastic preserves component.

Enjoy your LSU Gold Figs raw, drizzled with honey, added to a fruit salad, or paired with a starch, like bread. Turn them into jams or chutneys to enjoy on toast, croissants, and more.

You can also use these figs as an ingredient in sweet desserts or breakfast items. Think scones and cookies and other pastries! They also go great in cakes and pies like fig and ricotta cake.

Additionally, figs pair well with strong savory flavors such as ground beef or sharp cheeses, or even in a scrumptious fig pizza. The fig’s natural sweetness will help cut the assertive flavor profile of any savory counterparts.

Health Benefits

Like all figs, the LSU Gold Fig is rich in a variety of health benefits. It contains many vitamins and minerals, but key among these are its high content of Vitamin B6 and copper.

Copper is a mineral that plays a crucial role in the body’s metabolism. Metabolism determines many factors like energy production, the formation of connective tissue and blood cells, and also the propagation of neurotransmitters.

A healthy metabolism also allows your body to process food and drink in such a way that your blood sugar remains steady and you have mental clarity and energy throughout the day and night. The copper content in figs helps with all of these processes.

Meanwhile, the high amount of Vitamin B6 present in figs aids in the body’s use of protein. It also promotes brain health and mental clarity.

In addition to all of these health benefits from just those two nutrients alone, LSU Gold Figs also promote vascular and digestive health, and clear and healthy skin. Some studies have shown they may contain anticancer properties as well.

For more information, read our blog post on the health benefits of figs.

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Growing At Home

LSU Gold Fig trees are great for growing at home, particularly in warm climates such as growing zones 7 to 10. However, they have the potential to do well just about anywhere. If you live in a colder climate, consider growing these figs in a container. They are great candidates for it and thrive well in a good sized pot.

For a more comprehensive look at how to grow a fig tree, read our fig tree growing guide.

Preparing and Planting

Before you plant your LSU Gold Fig tree, you will want to ensure the soil is well prepared. These fig trees thrive in soil that is loamy and well drained, with a pH balance of 5.5 to 6.5. Ensure you have a spot in your garden or home where your fig tree can receive full sunlight for a minimum of six hours per day.

If you are planting in a pot, you want to ensure you also have a large container to house a fig tree of this size. It will need a three-gallon container minimum, and possibly larger as it grows. We have a comprehensive guide on growing fig trees indoors for more information.

If you are planting outside, be sure to give 8 to ten feet of space between your fig trees to provide maximum air circulation. This also allows you room to maneuver around the trees to water and tend them as well.

Caring and Maintaining

Once your fig tree is planted, water and fertilize it regularly. Trimming and pruning your LSU Gold Fig Tree regularly will also help it to grow hardy and strong. Though this is generally a pest and disease-resistant fig variety, it is also helpful to be mindful of common fig tree diseases, just in case anything should present itself.

Once your fig tree is mature and producing, you should see a harvest of delicious golden figs from around July through early September each year. A single LSU Gold Fig tree can produce as much as 12 to 15 pounds of figs in a season, so be ready for quite the harvest!

To judge the ripeness of your figs, check the texture. The figs will remain firm until they ripen, at which point they will be soft. Once they soften, it’s time to harvest and enjoy them any way you like!

We’ve hit the high points here. For a more in-depth read, check out our comprehensive guide on fig tree care.

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Wrapping Up the LSU Gold Fig

Excited to grow delicious LSU Gold Figs in your own backyard?

Before you get started, be sure to check out our Fig Trees page. This resource will provide you with a ton of important information to help care for your LSU Gold Fig trees so they flourish and thrive!