The $1000 fig tree

[Figsee]

I think you're correct. Definitely if the value is being considered for a tree that will produce lots of good quality figs for your home.

But, legitimately, there are some people make the informed decision and who are willing to pay big bucks and take a chance on something new for the excitement, and the potential of what it might be. Someone who is a collector vs, just someone who wants to grow excellent figs... They want the rare and harder to get fig. I feel it's valid... at least for them.

Then there's the buyer who pays $2500+ for a tree... not because they feel it'll provide them $2500 quality figs... and not because they are collectors... They're investing. They figure they can grow it out fast enough to sell it and make a profit. In my opinion, as long as nothing is being misrepresented there's nothing wrong with that either. I think Angelito is a good example of this. It's an outstanding fig. One of the best. Would I have ever paid $2500 for a tree? No way. I just grow the trees for myself. If I was a seller and felt I could grow it out and share cuttings and trees as an investment.... Sure

Will the cost come down over time... definitely.

My $0.02

@coop , You've been growing figs a long time and have a stellar reputation... If I sold figs and had I new variety that I thought was really hot, I'd want to send it to you gratis just for your endorsement!

People grow figs for any number of reasons and they are all valid. Also what people do with their own money is none of my business. I grow figs and have a large collection because it’s a fun hobby. I have been known to dabble in some pricey ( now nothing extreme ) varieties because I’m curious of all the different flavors you can get. If my kids are interested and it gets them outside with their hands in the dirt then it’s priceless.

 

[BucksCountyFigs]

People grow figs for any number of reasons and they are all valid. Also what people do with their own money is none of my business. I grow figs and have a large collection because it’s a fun hobby. I have been known to dabble in some pricey ( now nothing extreme ) varieties because I’m curious of all the different flavors you can get. If my kids are interested and it gets them outside with their hands in the dirt then it’s priceless.

Oh, absolutely 100% on the kids thing!

While my older daughter has the gardening gene, my younger daughter seemed to have no interest…until I planted her a strawberry bed. She came up to me so excited, “Did you know that garden strawberries taste nothing like grocery store strawberries?!! They are amazing!! And they don’t have that yucky white core.”

Then I saw my daughter making a point to get up early every morning, to go out to the garden with a colander, to see if there any strawberries that she can take to school to share at the lunch table. And all her friends saying when they come over, that they didn’t know strawberries could taste like that.

Because of my back, I spend most of my time in bed, and last night my daughter FaceTimed me from the dining room (aka the indoor baby fig growing room), “Mom, I think some of these figs are ready for picking! They are really soft! Come downstairs!”

I wasn’t able to come downstairs, so a few minutes later, she brought up a small bowl with 2 Atrenos and 1 VdB. I have never tasted an Adriatic or Adriatic-adjacent fig before, and boy, even though it was an end-season fig on a tiny, tiny plant, it was SO GOOD! NOW, I finally get it when you say it tastes like strawberry jam. It was so fun to try it with her and laughing at the one I tried that had gone bad. way bad.

 

[TorontoJoe]

I sort of see it this way... and nobody needs to agree with me.

Consider three different types of fig enthusiasts... And anyone can some combination of these.

Fig grower - Person who wants to grow good figs for themselves and/or their family/friends. You don't need an expensive haute couture fig for this. And for anyone in this category, of course it (probably) wouldn't make much sense to spend thousands on a tree. All you need are some good Etna's, some Celeste and if you're feeling spicy, you can get I-258 and Smith and not break the bank.

Fig collector - Someone who wants the latest and greatest. Something rare and special. They still mostly grow figs to eat but really want something different. Perhaps where the trees that cost hundreds of dollars go. But at say, $250 or $300. That's what a common pear tree goes for at my local nursery. So, I don't think that's out of whack... At worst, maybe it's retail?

Fig Investor - And this is for anyone who feels that $2500 is a crazy amount to spend on a fig tree. Why would anyone do that?

Scenario A: You have $2500. You put it in a bank. For that you make say 2-3% per year. That's (a taxable) $125 and nobody would consider this crazy

Scenario B: You have $2500 and you know something about how to grow figs. You see Angelito make a decision. You live in a warmer climate or have a greenhouse maybe. You figure you can grow it out pretty quickly and generate say, 250 good cuttings in a pretty short time ... and you would sell these hot cuttings at the (reasonable?) price of $20 each. Right there you've made $5000. Doubled your money. 100% return. In this scenario, was paying $2500 for that fig tree wise? Just food for thought...

FWIW, I have never paid anywhere near that kind of money for a fig tree.