Help a newbie pick some fig varieties :)

snarfing

snarfing

Well-known member
Hi all! I am a plant nerd and I love growing unusual varieties, so the weirder the better. I mostly plant native plants but I make exceptions for noninvasive edibles, like figs in my area.

I am looking to start small (which is a challenge for me haha) and go with 3 fig trees to start with. I have been doing research but here are things about my climate:

I am on long island, zone 7a/b (right on the line). We've been having a fair bit of drought for the past several years but generally its humid here. Our last frost is in april and first is in mid november, but its only in the 80s late may-early september (from my reading this is the temp you need to set fruit, so keep this in mind with how long the season is)

I want 1 cherry variety, so far in my research Cavaliere, Negra d'Agde or Hative d'Argentueil has emerged as the strongest contender.

A melon flavored one- black zadar definitely interests me.

And then??? not sure. something to round it out. Maybe a honey variety?

I would much prefer if it can grow in the ground as I have terrible luck with potted plants, but if necessary i have an enclosed unheated porch which stays somewhere in the mid 40s I could store potted plants in the winter.

Taking all your advice with greatfulness -Snarf
 
bushdoctor82 said:
Definitely figure out the inground vs potted first - each comes with its own pros and cons.
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@snarfing Possibly one of the very best self introductions I have ever read. I would say try a huge Nixon Peace Fig a very large honey fig, though it is on the edge of your 7A climate zone. Also an Adriatic JH cold hardy, and inexpensive, easy to acquire, and deliciously described by @MFJFIGS in the post above this one. Opps I forgot Eve's black cherry. It's another 7A so right at the edge of your climate zone but likely could survive the winter, it is self-fertile and produces big delicious figs LOL it is improved by pollination so it might not be the best choice for your 7A climate. Probably best to defer to @TorontoJoe , and @GoodFriendMike opinion
 
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snarfing said:
Hi all! I am a plant nerd and I love growing unusual varieties, so the weirder the better. I mostly plant native plants but I make exceptions for noninvasive edibles, like figs in my area.

I am looking to start small (which is a challenge for me haha) and go with 3 fig trees to start with. I have been doing research but here are things about my climate:

I am on long island, zone 7a/b (right on the line). We've been having a fair bit of drought for the past several years but generally its humid here. Our last frost is in april and first is in mid november, but its only in the 80s late may-early september (from my reading this is the temp you need to set fruit, so keep this in mind with how long the season is)

I want 1 cherry variety, so far in my research Cavaliere, Negra d'Agde or Hative d'Argentueil has emerged as the strongest contender.

A melon flavored one- black zadar definitely interests me.

And then??? not sure. something to round it out. Maybe a honey variety?

I would much prefer if it can grow in the ground as I have terrible luck with potted plants, but if necessary i have an enclosed unheated porch which stays somewhere in the mid 40s I could store potted plants in the winter.

Taking all your advice with greatfulness -Snarf
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Another nice honey fig is Uncle Corky’s Honey Delight.
 
Be hard to get only a three variety recommendation from a bunch of figfanatics. When I think of cherry I think of Unk Pastiliere. But you would need a Capri to hand pollinate it. Pingo de mel is a good honey fig.
 
bushdoctor82 said:
Definitely figure out the inground vs potted first - each comes with its own pros and cons.
Click to expand...
yeah id love to hear more about this, of course I'm researching myself as well!
Figless said:
@snarfing Possibly one of the very best self introductions I have ever read. I would say try a huge Nixon Peace Fig a very large honey fig, though it is on the edge of your 7A climate zone. Also an Adriatic JH cold hardy, and inexpensive, easy to acquire, and deliciously described by @MFJFIGS in the post above this one.
Click to expand...
thank you for the praise! I'll check out those varieties :)
Figgerlickinggood said:
These are the trees I have that are inground… improved Celeste, Beers Black, Negra De Agde, Vince #3, Green Michurinska, Constantine De Algerie, Chicago Hardy.

My 3 containers are… Stella, Marseille Black, Michael Grace Mystery.
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how do you find the Negra De Agde does in the ground by you, and thanks for the suggestion on the honey fig I'll look into it :)
 
snarfing said:
yeah id love to hear more about this, of course I'm researching myself as well!

thank you for the praise! I'll check out those varieties :)

how do you find the Negra De Agde does in the ground by you, and thanks for the suggestion on the honey fig I'll look into it :)
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It does very good. I love the flavor, kinda like eating a cherry.
 
snarfing said:
yeah id love to hear more about this, of course I'm researching myself as well!

thank you for the praise! I'll check out those varieties :)

how do you find the Negra De Agde does in the ground by you, and thanks for the suggestion on the honey fig I'll look into it :)
Click to expand...
Off the top of my head, pros and cons as follow - this could be a thread on its own and for growers in Zone 8 or colder.

Potted Figs - Pros
  • Can ripen most varieties
  • Can headstart with a makeshift grow area
  • Varieties will ripen +/- 1-2 weeks earlier than inground
  • Can pack trees into a central location and move around as needed
Potted Figs - Cons
  • Have to water every day all Summer long
  • Have to lug pots to and from garage or shelter for protection
  • Have to root prune every few years
  • Have to fertilize every few weeks
Inground Trees - Pros
  • Can get a larger tree and harvest and with better quality (anecdotal)
  • Only have to water during drought
  • Only have to fertilize if you want (compost is usually sufficient)
Inground Trees - Cons
  • Have to protect in Winter (not a huge ordeal, but something to consider)
  • Limited in varieties (anything late ripening +/- 110 days and you won’t get full crop)
You should be able to ripen a lot up on Long Island if you plant inground. I’m in Zone 7b South Jersey and only have two later ripening figs in pots, with the rest inground. You may opt for a similar situation.
 
Cavaliere, Green Michurinska and Rigato del Salento PB.

Start them in pots so you get fruits earlier and test out which locations on site is best for each variety.

Then, plant them in ground later (in the 3rd/4th year) if you like them enough. By then, the trees would be root bound and need root pruning anyway.
 
You guys have created a monster. I started out wanting THREE FIGS
Heres the list of all the varieties im growing / have cuttings for
  1. Adriatic JH
  2. Atreano
  3. Black Zadar
  4. Bourjasette Gris
  5. Capri-Q
  6. Carol's Fig Unk (Possibly Sodus Sicillian)
  7. Caviliere
  8. Cherry Cordial
  9. Cherry Pie
  10. Cilegia Dolce
  11. Craven's Craving
  12. Emalyn's Purple
  13. Hative d'Argentiel
  14. Hmadi
  15. Italian-258
  16. Izbat an Naj
  17. Malta Unk
  18. Negra d'Agde
  19. Pastilliere (PB)
  20. Red Lebanese Bekka Valley
  21. Siblawi
  22. Smith
  23. Unk Pastilliere


Anyway any flavor categories im missing LOL
 
snarfing said:
You guys have created a monster. I started out wanting THREE FIGS
Heres the list of all the varieties im growing / have cuttings for
  1. Adriatic JH
  2. Atreano
  3. Black Zadar
  4. Bourjasette Gris
  5. Capri-Q
  6. Carol's Fig Unk (Possibly Sodus Sicillian)
  7. Caviliere
  8. Cherry Cordial
  9. Cherry Pie
  10. Cilegia Dolce
  11. Craven's Craving
  12. Emalyn's Purple
  13. Hative d'Argentiel
  14. Hmadi
  15. Italian-258
  16. Izbat an Naj
  17. Malta Unk
  18. Negra d'Agde
  19. Pastilliere (PB)
  20. Red Lebanese Bekka Valley
  21. Siblawi
  22. Smith
  23. Unk Pastilliere


Anyway any flavor categories im missing LOL
Click to expand...
You know you wanna throw a CdD in there just because…
 
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