A contest, well sort of, I really want to hear your fig story.

[DCallahan]

I’d love to hear members share a story about how figs are a part of their lives — whether that’s now, in the past, or from where you grew up.

I’ve been selling quite a few figs lately on Figbid, and I keep seeing all these different surnames on the invoices. It makes me wonder where everyone’s roots are and how figs are regarded in those different cultures.

For the contest, there will be two winners:

1. Best Story – Judged by the most “likes” from forum members.
2. Farthest Fig Grower – Awarded to the person who has lived and cultivated figs the farthest from me (outside of North America).

This is meant to be a fun, easygoing contest! As a prize, I’ll work with each winner to fulfill a wishlist item from my collection.

For distance calculations, my ZIP code is 21015 — it should be easy enough to measure using Google Maps.

 

[Jigfig]

About three years ago I got clean off meth. I started gardening as a way to help with my anxiety and help keep my mind busy. Shortly after a fig video caught my attention due to the fact they did well in pots and didn’t have to be grafted. I got my first fig tree two years ago. Ever since I go look at the new growth, or stare at the leaves when I’m stressed or my mental health takes a turn for the worse. They give me pride and remind me my continued growth will reward me. Also teaching me some patience.

 

[superdave336]

My story is simple. My family has always lived in NC on the same farm land. My grandparents had figs and my grandmother made the best fig preserves. They passed in 2020 with each living almost 100 yrs. We finished the last of the fig preserves she had canned and I really wanted more. Decided I would check into getting cuttings from their homestead and root them. I was granted permission and took many cuttings and suckers as backup. Although they are very common figs they are my most cherished figs. Celeste and Brown Turkey although I think it's been determined to be Brunswick instead. Anyway, that's what started me down the rabbit hole of figs.

 

[Jigfig]

My story is simple. My family has always lived in NC on the same farm land. My grandparents had figs and my grandmother made the best fig preserves. They passed in 2020 with each living almost 100 yrs. We finished the last of the fig preserves she had canned and I really wanted more. Decided I would check into getting cuttings from their homestead and root them. I was granted permission and took many cuttings and suckers as backup. Although they are very common figs they are my most cherished figs. Celeste and Brown Turkey although I think it's been determined to be Brunswick instead. Anyway, that's what started me down the rabbit hole of figs.

I hope one day after I’m gone my kids or grandkids eat a fig and think of good memories of me.

 

[ClayFig]

My parents bought a house many years ago that had a fig tree in the back yard, at that time I had never had a fresh fig. My dad was very excited about the tree because he loved figs, but hadn’t had any in a very long time. Finally got to eat my first fig and I LOVED it!!!! I finally decided I wanted one for my yard, so my dad did a ground layer on a low limb, I cut it off and potted it. That winter I left it out in the cold by accident and I thought I killed it, I told my dad I needed another one. I was going to pull it out the pot, and my wife said no just put it over there with the other sick plants that she was caring for. Well spring came around and it finally started pushing out green buds, my dad wanted me to try to find out what variety it was. I started searching varieties and a whole new world of different varieties opened up to me I had no idea existed, the fig community is quite amazing. My dad passed away suddenly and I became attached to my little fig tree, and my addiction just grew from then on. I hope everyone feels the same joy I feel when I am walking around my trees, they are a great comfort to me.

 

[ClayFig]

About three years ago I got clean off meth. I started gardening as a way to help with my anxiety and help keep my mind busy. Shortly after a fig video caught my attention due to the fact they did well in pots and didn’t have to be grafted. I got my first fig tree two years ago. Ever since I go look at the new growth, or stare at the leaves when I’m stressed or my mental health takes a turn for the worse. They give me pride and remind me my continued growth will reward me. Also teaching me some patience.

@Jigfig that is great!!! Now when I have a rough day, I can simply go walk around my yard and fig trees and it seems to calm me down and reminds me of my dad!!

 

[Motherwise]

Mine is just a simple love story. It’s about how much my husband loves me. After years of moving around the country for my husband’s company, we finally were able to buy an old Arts and Craft Bungalow home with a large yard and permanently settle down. He began restoring the house while I tackled the yard. My husband’s idea of romance is a bouquet of cut roses with a box of chocolates but when he discovered that I preferred a ‘living’ plant he would bring home a new house plant instead. After we bought our home, he began surprising me with outside plants. Five years ago he brought home a Brown Turkey Fig tree with an attached homemade heart card for a late Valentine’s Day gift! While I had planted peach, plum, blueberry, and blackberry plants, I had not even thought about figs. Now, I’m truly addicted to not only growing figs but all the recipes I can make with them. (Different figs make a huge difference in taste in a recipe.) And, my husband who previously didn’t even like figs is now also addicted - being the first to check for a ripened one - addicted to the point where he planned our vacation this year around a fig tasting/swap in another state!

 

[betdempster]

About three years ago I got clean off meth. I started gardening as a way to help with my anxiety and help keep my mind busy. Shortly after a fig video caught my attention due to the fact they did well in pots and didn’t have to be grafted. I got my first fig tree two years ago. Ever since I go look at the new growth, or stare at the leaves when I’m stressed or my mental health takes a turn for the worse. They give me pride and remind me my continued growth will reward me. Also teaching me some patience.

I'm in your corner. So proud of you and don't even know you. I was a mental health nurse many years. You have my total support and respect. So glad you can look at that new growth and find yourself anchored and strong. You go!

 

[betdempster]

Mine is just a simple love story. It’s about how much my husband loves me. After years of moving around the country for my husband’s company, we finally were able to buy an old Arts and Craft Bungalow home with a large yard and permanently settle down. He began restoring the house while I tackled the yard. My husband’s idea of romance is a bouquet of cut roses with a box of chocolates but when he discovered that I preferred a ‘living’ plant he would bring home a new house plant instead. After we bought our home, he began surprising me with outside plants. Five years ago he brought home a Brown Turkey Fig tree with an attached homemade heart card for a late Valentine’s Day gift! While I had planted peach, plum, blueberry, and blackberry plants, I had not even thought about figs. Now, I’m truly addicted to not only growing figs but all the recipes I can make with them. (Different figs make a huge difference in taste in a recipe.) And, my husband who previously didn’t even like figs is now also addicted - being the first to check for a ripened one - addicted to the point where he planned our vacation this year around a fig tasting/swap in another state!

Love this figgy love story!!!

 

[superdave336]

I hope one day after I’m gone my kids or grandkids eat a fig and think of good memories of me.

Absolutely!! That's my whole thoughts of reclaiming the overgrown land and making an orchard. I told my daughters the other day they might be at the apple tree one day with their grand kids telling them how they planted the tree with their father.

 

[Jigfig]

I'm in your corner. So proud of you and don't even know you. I was a mental health nurse many years. You have my total support and respect. So glad you can look at that new growth and find yourself anchored and strong. You go!

Thank you.

 

[bushdoctor82]

A tornado came through South Jersey September 2021 and took out many trees and homes in the area. My Mothers fig tree was spared at the time, but it got me interested in the history of her tree. A month later, I took cuttings and propagated my first tree to preserve it. Since then, I have continued to propagate the tree to spread to family members, friends and neighbors.

 

[JudyB]

I never like Fig Newton's just too crunchy and cookie part too soft. Never gave thoughts to fig trees. A organic farmer neighbor gave us some fresh figs, I fell in love. Knowing nothing I bought a Kadota in 2020. Then I started searching groups on FB and here I am! A proud mama of 10 well established potted trees and 10 trees started this year. I am addicted to fig life. Some may say I have anxiety but I say I like to stay busy and the fig trees help fill my time. This year I went to the Fig Fest in Chattanooga, TN and had a great time. Met a few ppl and hope to see them again in 2026. Oh, the Kadota "tree" , for near 5 years tried hard to make it a tree. This year I told the Kadota, "you win" you are now a bush.

 

[DavidNC]

I've been a gardener my whole life, and I've always had an affinity for distinctive/oddball plants. Few plants are as distinctive as the fig, for a native Ohioan as myself. The Brown Turkey growing out in my yard started as an Ohio specimen, and provided the cuttings I brought to NC last year, along with cuttings from a Chicago Hardy. Moves being what they are, the cuttings suffered horribly. Lost all Chicago, amazed BT pulled through at all. I replaced Chicago early this year with a starter from Lowe's, currently doing amazingly well.
It might have stayed that way, but then I saw a video of the Fig Boss slamming on Brown Turkey! I have nothing but praise for that BT, so I took offense!

Seriously, it did begin a bit of an identity crisis. Other than the memory of a nursery tag long lost, I really had no idea what kind of fig that tree was. Long story for another thread, probably the main reason I looked into the fig community.
They only way to know for certain was to start comparing, and make a hobby of it. I live in a good climate for it now, so why not? And so the adventure began. I currently stand at 10 trees and a couple dozen cuttings. Even after finding varieties that far surpass BT on any particular metric, as I know I will, BT will always be a special one for me, for its all-around workhorse performance, and as a first.

 

[Jigfig]

I've been a gardener my whole life, and I've always had an affinity for distinctive/oddball plants. Few plants are as distinctive as the fig, for a native Ohioan as myself. The Brown Turkey growing out in my yard started as an Ohio specimen, and provided the cuttings I brought to NC last year, along with cuttings from a Chicago Hardy. Moves being what they are, the cuttings suffered horribly. Lost all Chicago, amazed BT pulled through at all. I replaced Chicago early this year with a starter from Lowe's, currently doing amazingly well.
It might have stayed that way, but then I saw a video of the Fig Boss slamming on Brown Turkey! I have nothing but praise for that BT, so I took offense!

Seriously, it did begin a bit of an identity crisis. Other than the memory of a nursery tag long lost, I really had no idea what kind of fig that tree was. Long story for another thread, probably the main reason I looked into the fig community.
They only way to know for certain was to start comparing, and make a hobby of it. I live in a good climate for it now, so why not? And so the adventure began. I currently stand at 10 trees and a couple dozen cuttings. Even after finding varieties that far surpass BT on any particular metric, as I know I will, BT will always be a special one for me, for its all-around workhorse performance, and as a first.

People bash BT, but it’ll always hold a special place for me. Not to mention I actually enjoy the peachy flavor mine has.

 

[Ikibahd]

I grew up in Texas, and while there is apparently plenty of cool fig related history in different areas, I never really truly even knew what a fig was. As a child, I remember reading a childrens' book called "The Sweetest Fig" but it may as well have been a made-up fruit in my mind!
Fast forward to 5 years into my career after college when I was finally able to put money down to buy my house. It was mid-February when we did the walk-through and our realtor pointed out that the prior owners had put in several fruit trees in the back yard - I was very excited! There were 2 apple trees, a big peach tree, and a Fig tree! I went to inspect those while my wife was checking out more of the inside of the house, and the fig tree was about knee-high.

When we moved in around mid-March, the weather was warming significantly enough that spring was coming around (a far cry from here in Maryland!!) and I noticed that the fig tree was dead, much to my disappointment. The branches were dry and brittle, and I remember commenting to my wife that I'd have to dig it out when it got a little bit warmer.

A few weeks later, however, I noticed 2 green buds growing out of the base of the dead wood! I thought "oh, that's cool! it's a zombie tree coming back from the dead!" and let them grow... By the end of Summer both of the tiny buds had grown 4 feet tall! The following season (after not dying back in the winter) I even got to taste my first ever fresh figs from the tree (turned out to be a Celeste) and loved them!

After tasting the fruit and still thinking of the miraculous re-emergence, I figured I'd google figs to learn more about them since my curiosity had been well and truly piqued. I ran across the fig forum (that shall not be named here) and learned about all of the many, MANY different figs available, and that was "all she wrote." Between my obsessively deep-diving into anything that is really interesting, and my "gotta catch 'em all" collecting type habits, I began to acquire "sticks" (as my wife calls them) and air layers and buy new pots and soil and on and on, as one does once the fig bug bites.

The humble Celeste caught me in the fig web. I grew my collection in Texas, then since I moved to Maryland and gave away my trees to my cousin, I have regrown a new collection that continues to evolve.

 

[Motherwise]

I hope one day after I’m gone my kids or grandkids eat a fig and think of good memories of me.

All of our fruit planting was done with our grandchildren in mind as they love helping with yardwork - especially during fruit picking season! Hung some swings and hammocks just for them, living arbor nooks for reading and now can’t get them to go home…haha!

 

[DELFIG]

Going for the distance one, 98281 to 21015 is up to 2,970 miles, almost 3000 miles away Wow!,,,hand me my cuttings now! ...

My story is not as good as many others that posted here but....

I grew up with a fig harvest every year. I liked them but really never paid much attention to them....then my father (an Italian immigrant) passed away and after about five years I began to realize that I really missed eating them. So I inherited some rooted cuttings from my mother (sourced from my father's 30 yr plus trees) and started my own mini orchard....three potted trees. Unfortunately, my father had only had three varieties available so I tried one of each. For the first few years I would get a meager two or three figs a year from each tree. Most of the time the squirrels would get them before I could. Disgusted with the poor productivity, I gave away two of the trees thinking that figs could only be produced if they are grown in the ground. I didn't want to plant one in the ground because I didn't want a massive tree in my yard. So, I kept the one tree in a pot just for ornamental purposes.......then Utube came along......Game Changer!!!...Oh....man.... you mean you are supposed to water and fertilze them regularly? Use well draining soil containing perlite, pumice, peat moss, bone meal, oyster shells etc.....Keep it sheltered in a greenhouse to extend growing season and keep away from pests... Well this year that one tree produced over fifty figs!!!! Also Utube enlightened me that is more than just three varieties of figs available!!!!.....It's a shame my father never expanded his orchard with the varieties that are available.....I don't think he ever researched it....anyway he would have been blown away by the taste of the different figs that are readily available.....a mistake I do not intend to make....Cheers!

 

[Jigfig]

Going for the distance one, 98281 to 21015 is up to 2,970 miles, almost 3000 miles away Wow!,,,hand me my cuttings now! ...

My story is not as good as many others that posted here but....

I grew up with a fig harvest every year. I liked them but really never paid much attention to them....then my father (an Italian immigrant) passed away and after about five years I began to realize that I really missed eating them. So I inherited some rooted cuttings from my mother (sourced from my father's 30 yr plus trees) and started my own mini orchard....three potted trees. Unfortunately, my father had only had three varieties available so I tried one of each. For the first few years I would get a meager two or three figs a year from each tree. Most of the time the squirrels would get them before I could. Disgusted with the poor productivity, I gave away two of the trees thinking that figs could only be produced if they are grown in the ground. I didn't want to plant one in the ground because I didn't want a massive tree in my yard. So, I kept the one tree in a pot just for ornamental purposes.......then Utube came along......Game Changer!!!...Oh....man.... you mean you are supposed to water and fertilze them regularly? Use well draining soil containing perlite, pumice, peat moss, bone meal, oyster shells etc.....Keep it sheltered in a greenhouse to extend growing season and keep away from pests... Well this year that one tree produced over fifty figs!!!! Also Utube enlightened me that is more than just three varieties of figs available!!!!.....It's a shame my father never expanded his orchard with the varieties that are available.....I don't think he ever researched it....anyway he would have been blown away by the taste of the different figs that are readily available.....a mistake I do not intend to make....Cheers!

That’s awesome you have a clone of your dad’s tree. Congrats on the successful year as well

 

[Figless]

I hope one day after I’m gone my kids or grandkids eat a fig and think of good memories of me.

@Jigfig I loved your story. I too had to gather my determination to quit a couple of bad habits in my 70-year-long life. I'm so happy to hear of your successful Journey to sobriety. It's not always easy, and what was troubling you is one of the hardest to quit, but I'm so happy to hear you did it.