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.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

We have several fig trees. Mostly brown turkey (15-20?), black mission (1) LSU gold (2).

Last year I got a lot of figs from the brown turkey trees. I had read/watched they needed to be pruned (see Lazy Dog Farms youtube). I barely got any off this year. So much for that. I will let them alone the following year (2026) and see how they fair.

When I pruned them back I propagated about 10 new BT figs. One of those is about 5 ft already since Feb. I ill be planting the propagated ones soon. I have a fig patch I am building out.

Figs left unpruned can reach 40-50 feet as seen by the one up at Monticello. I am planning to control the height to under 10 ft so for easier picking. I am also experimenting with a method called "espalier". I have a section on the farm that used to be seedless grapes. They didn't make it so I am redesigning the rows (10* 125') to something different. I have started one row of the espalier and figs. Still have a few grapes but looking for ideas to make the most of that area.

It's always a wise idea to get the soil tested where your figs are /will be. That can affect "performance" of the trees along with moisture.

the below pics are a snapshot of our fruit tree farm. White area is figs, yellow is pawpaw, Green is plums and apricots, red is pears, purple are winegrapes (they are now a place holder for when I can get them back like I want them. The second picture shows the 10 rows of the seedless grape rows I am redesigning. White is the espalier in place now.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

WHOA!!! That is one happy fig tree. That one filled out FAST.

Just looked at my picture of bringing them home, looks like my memory is failing!

They are the two pots on the left side, so maybe 12"-14" ...

 

[HawkinsHollow]

We have several fig trees. Mostly brown turkey (15-20?), black mission (1) LSU gold (2).

Last year I got a lot of figs from the brown turkey trees. I had read/watched they needed to be pruned (see Lazy Dog Farms youtube). I barely got any off this year. So much for that. I will let them alone the following year (2026) and see how they fair.

When I pruned them back I propagated about 10 new BT figs. One of those is about 5 ft already since Feb. I ill be planting the propagated ones soon. I have a fig patch I am building out.

Figs left unpruned can reach 40-50 feet as seen by the one up at Monticello. I am planning to control the height to under 10 ft so for easier picking. I am also experimenting with a method called "espalier". I have a section on the farm that used to be seedless grapes. They didn't make it so I am redesigning the rows (10* 125') to something different. I have started one row of the espalier and figs. Still have a few grapes but looking for ideas to make the most of that area.

It's always a wise idea to get the soil tested where your figs are /will be. That can affect "performance" of the trees along with moisture.

the below pics are a snapshot of our fruit tree farm. White area is figs, yellow is pawpaw, Green is plums and apricots, red is pears, purple are winegrapes (they are now a place holder for when I can get them back like I want them. The second picture shows the 10 rows of the seedless grape rows I am redesigning. White is the espalier in place now.

Quite the envious orchard you have there!!

I have heard the BT figs are not the greatest for fresh eating, is that true? In my research I have found that there are differnt kinds of figs in the way they fruit. Brebas figs put fruit out on last years wood, maybe your pruning had something to do with that.

I have heard of that espalier method, basically training them to grow up against a wall or barrier is the way I understood it. But I guess you could train them to grow up a trellis, which is I imagine what you are doing if that was old grape vine area.

Yeah I want to train mine to gr=ow low as well, easier to pick. How far apart are you growing your trees?

 

[kenmbz]

My fig tree, pruned back to about 6 feet, is now about 8 feet tall and will need pruning again this winter.
I get about 5-10 figs turning ripe each day and have been dehydrating them.
I think they are the Chicago variety.

I had one at my first house too. In both plantings they were facing south with the house blocking the wind.

I get many pounds of figs each year, but leave some for birds and bees/yj.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Thank you. Lots of work behind the scenes. My Fig trees in the "orchard" are 20 ft apart. In the espalier I have them 10 ft apart.

Right now I have the LSU gold and Brown turkey figs on that same row.

OH.. I ordered brown turkey figs and Celeste from Willis Orchard in 2010. We as you know it takes a while to get good fruits from any fruit trees. Fast forward about 5-7 years come to find out, I have what I think is a honey fig instead of a celeste. Same kinda thing for many of our pear trees. I ordered some asian pears along with several other varieties. Well about 5-7 years I find out several of the pears are bradford pears. Makes a 3/8 in football shaped fruit. Ticked me off. I don't buy from Willis Orchard any more.

 

[kenmbz]

Bradfords are famous for dropping branches if I remember correctly?

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Bradfords are also very "thorny" and cross pollinate with your other pears ... They grow wild (invasive species!) in SW Missouri, I cut down every one I see on my property!

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

You could make a crucifixion crown with the bradford limbs. Brutal.

 

[Alan W.]

My wife also loves figs. We have the Turkey variety planted next to the house for as much winter protection as possible but in this bottom we live in the temps drop to where it dies back to the ground. Always comes back with a passion but I have to pinch the tips to force the fig production before frost. I am going to have to remove some of them because they will spread and take over.
I also have two potted Chicago varieties that we keep in large pots we over winter in the basement. Have another variety that is also potted but it is very slow growing and hasn’t produced yet.
I would add pics but we are on vacation.

 

[ultrarunner]

In 1985 bought a home with a very old decrepit fig tree… home built 1910.

I asked and was told came from the ground of the old Spanish Mission San Jose.

Mom planted a shoot and the tree produced so muc she no was selling at the produce store for about 20 years until the Pandemic.

Large deep purple and very much sought after…

Many co workers given shoots… some great producers and others not so much.