In South Moravia, Figs Are Overtaking Apricots — the Climate Is Turning Mediterranean

South Moravia is harvesting one of the best fig crops on record this year. According to botanist Radomír Němec of the South Moravian Museum in Znojmo, recent rains fell right as the fruit was ripening — and the extra moisture made the figs soft, sweet and juicy.

Drought worked in the figs' favor

While drought is usually bad news for fields and orchards, it turned out to be a blessing for fig trees. A dry summer produced a bountiful harvest while also sparing the fruit from the troubles typical of rainy seasons: in wet weather, ripening figs tend to split, spoil quickly and attract swarms of fruit flies.

This year, part of the harvest was dried without any losses, while the rest is being turned into jam — and even fig chutney, which pairs beautifully with meat and cheese.

From exotic curiosity to garden staple

Just a few years ago, fig trees were considered exotic in South Moravia, and a fruit-bearing bush was a real rarity. That's changing fast: figs are now taking root in gardens and yards across the region. You'll find them around Znojmo and Mikulov — an area often nicknamed "Moravian Tuscany."

One of the largest fig bushes grows by a roundabout in Černá Hora, next to a fish shop on the busy I/43 highway, which carries tens of thousands of cars a day between Brno and Svitavy.

According to Němec, the fig tree is gradually emerging as an appealing alternative to traditional fruit crops. Apricots, long a signature crop of the region, have increasingly suffered from spring frosts and the fungal disease monilinia. "If the current trend continues, figs will become a regular part of local gardens — and might one day replace the traditional apricot," the expert noted.

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Source: novinky.cz