Any Fig Fanatics?

[HawkinsHollow]

We have a fig tree in our yard that was planted long before we lived there. It is not in a very good spot at all as it is pretty heavily shaded by 2 mature trees. This fig tree has produced sporadically over the last 9 years I have been there. But for some reason it did REALLY well this year and we probably got 5 pounds of figs off of it and that was just where we could reach, it is pretty tall and there were tons of figs up high that we could not get.

My wife LOVES figs and I think they are pretty good but I do think it would be nice to have a large bounty of them every year to eat, dry and do other things with. This has led to researching figs and trying to figure out other spots on my property where they can get better light and do better. Like most fruit trees there are TONS of varieties of figs. My head is kind of spinning. Not all fig varieties do well everywhere so you have to be choosy what you buy, I am in Zone 7b. But if you are buying locally more than likely those people will not be selling figs that do poorly in your area. I have decided I want a nice little variety, I am thinking 3 or 4 trees. Today I am going to go pick up 2 varieties, a Negrone and LSU Purple. These are smaller trees maybe 2 years old. Then tomorrow I am going to pickup a large 5 year old Celeste. Tell me your experience with figs.

 

[KennyG]

I have a couple of "Chicago Figs" which is the only variety which will survive in colder temperatures. They are healthy but so far have only had a few small figs after 3 or 4 years. Not sure if they just need more time or I need to work on the soil chemistry.

 

[ponytug]

My impression is that figs, like many fruit species, come in a wide variety of types. If you have a local gardening club, or a good county extension agent, I would start there. I think that local soils, weather have a big impact on what thrives.

FWIW: We have a slowly growing Kalamata (white) fig. The slow part is the soil which isn't great, but it is doing better with a slightly different watering scheme. We do get snow and slightly below freezing temperatures that it seems to tolerate. I've had mission figs from old (hundred plus year old) local purple figs that were flavor bombs.

I more or less quit eating other figs the time I had the first truly tree ripened fig. A tree ripened fresh fig is I think pretty amazing, but I don't eat very many at a sitting, like one or two. If we had more, I would certainly dry them.

Good luck!

All the best,

Peter

 

[JeepHead]

I ordered a fig last fall and kept it in my shop all winter. It thrived in the heated shop and I planted it this spring. It died really quickly. I am gonna give it another go and see if I can get one to grow.

 

[ponytug]

I ordered a fig last fall and kept it in my shop all winter. It thrived in the heated shop and I planted it this spring. It died really quickly. I am gonna give it another go and see if I can get one to grow.

What variety?

Ever tried the Chicago figs that @KennyG mentioned above? They are one of the most cold tolerant figs that I know of.

All the best, Peter

 

[JeepHead]

It was the Chicago Hardy fig. My ex-girlfriend's mom and I both ordered one and each died. Could have been a bad batch.

 

[ptsg]

There are around 90-ish varieties of fig trees in existence today.

I'm not a fan of figs but at one point, my dad had close to 50 different varieties of fig trees. Literally figs everywhere.

Since most of my family have diabetes and figs are absolute bombs when it comes to diabetes, he has since reduced fig trees to about 10 or so. The ones my family enjoy the most.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I ordered a fig last fall and kept it in my shop all winter. It thrived in the heated shop and I planted it this spring. It died really quickly. I am gonna give it another go and see if I can get one to grow.

There is a Ohio Fig growers FB group. They have a similar climate to you. If you are a FB user maybe get on there and seek some advice.

I for got to mention my wife is the fig lover. Her name is Alma. Yesterday I was researching figs and there is a fig variety named Alma, bred at Texas A&M and released in 1974. My wife was born in 1974. What are the chances?

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I planted 2 of the Chicago variety this spring in zone 6B, I was not expecting any figs for a few years ... I was pleasantly surprised to see a few on it when watering the other day on one of them!

The other one is not doing as well, about half the size, planted in a different location, both were 6" stubby sticks poking out of a 3 gallon pot this March from a local nursery ...

 

[HawkinsHollow]

View attachment 4093971


The other one is not doing as well, about half the size, planted in a different location, both were 6" stubby sticks poking out of a 3 gallon pot this March from a local nursery ...

WHOA!!! That is one happy fig tree. That one filled out FAST. The two I am buying today are abotu 1/4 the size of that tree. Not sure if I will plant this fall or in the spring but I hope they do as well. I plan on putting nice soil in the hole when I plant. The other one is a big mature 5 year old tree in a 25 gallon pot. I know that one will be happy once it goes in the ground.