Which variety would you plant in ground?

[whitey]

I live in 7b, maryland, and i have 5 figs cuttings that have rooted. Out of the 5 listed, which do you think would do well, in ground?

Smith
Chicago hardy
Black celeste
Italian long neck(yellow long neck)
Green ischia

I plan on keeping all but the italian long neck in pots until next year. Thank you!

 

[julie]

Welcome! Smith can be sensitive to colder weather and I was not a fan of my YLN and culled it (it tasted like water with the essence of melon). So I would put Black Celeste or Green Ischia in ground since Chicago Hardy you can get anywhere.

 

[Kompakfigs]

Definitely CH. Unfortunately, my Smith died to the ground this year. I could've provided better winter protection but it was an experiment. I have standard Celeste which does well in ground so I am assuming Black Celeste should be fine.

 

[TorontoJoe]

In ground I have a random Etna (CH), I-258 beast and Vince #3

 

[Kompakfigs]

In ground I have a random Etna (CH), I-258 beast and Vince #3

How old is that I-258 to be grown in ground in the frozen tundra of Toronto.

 

[TorontoJoe]

How old is that I-258 to be grown in ground in the frozen tundra of Toronto.

This is my in ground I-258 in 2024. A lot bigger now. Maybe 5 years at time of photos

 

[Kompakfigs]

This is my in ground I-258 in 2024. A lot bigger now. Maybe 5 years at time of photos

Man, the trunk is huge.

 

[Charlie Dodgson]

it tasted like water with the essence of melon

It didn't fully ripen, possibly a feature of that cultivar in your climate. Even when ripened down here in southern California it's not an outstanding fig.

 

[ktrain]

Welcome! Smith can be sensitive to colder weather and I was not a fan of my YLN and culled it (it tasted like water with the essence of melon). So I would put Black Celeste or Green Ischia in ground since Chicago Hardy you can get anywhere.

Same here, due to lots of rain.
And they split like crazy which then attracted the wasps and bees among other creatures.

 

[hambone]

In 7B MD I'd plant Green Ischia and Chicago Hardy. GI may die to the ground after bad winter (unless you bury in mulch mid-Dec) but you'll be glad you have it. Puts CH taste to shame IMO.

 

[JC Figgy]

In 7B MD I'd plant Green Ischia and Chicago Hardy. GI may die to the ground after bad winter (unless you bury in mulch mid-Dec) but you'll be glad you have it. Puts CH taste to shame IMO.

Yep, mine died to the ground this winter. Unprotected of course.

 

[JC Figgy]

Green Ischia, black Celeste and CH

 

[Figgerlickinggood]

I’m the same as @Kompakfigs, Smith and Black Celeste.

 

[paupau]

I vote for black celeste so you can get a big tree that you can share cuttings with people who have it on their wish list

 

[whitey]

I vote for black celeste so you can get a big tree that you can share cuttings with people who have it on their wish list

I plan on it at some point. Bought the cuttings from a person off of figbid. It was the first fig purchase i ever made.