Desert King, Brown Turkey, Lattarula, Neveralla, Peter's Honey (or Italian Honey) are [some] early varieties that will ripen reliably.

Check http://figs4fun.com and use your browser to search for the word "Washington" in the pages of the site.

Raintree nursery is a good resource, and is located a bit East of Olympia. I think that their recommendations are reliable and appropriate for Seattle. Their varieties should be well adapted for local climate.

Seattle is slightly cooler than Vancouver (WA) where I live, but it might help to know that Brown Turkey and Petite Negri both seem to do well here (my trees are still too young to know for sure). From what I have heard, you are also right about King.

Anybody heard about Vern's BT. Was told that it was
specially developed for short cool summers like in the NW.

George (NJ).

Yes, heard of it, but don't have any specific info.

Source= http://www.permacultureactivist.net/nurseries/plantlist.htm

I have Vern's BT - it is a 2 year old and has yet to
ripen fruit for me. The leaves are clearly different
from English BT; they are deeper lobed and less rounded.
I have heard that it is able to ripen in cooler climates.
From the pictures I have seen of the fruit Vern's BT
is larger, almost spherical shaped with a long neck. If
anyone actually has first hand experience, I would love
to hear it.

Michael

I live in San Francisco where we get even less summer heat than you guys, but still falls into the pacific north west category. In my climate, I highly recommend to skip the Brown Turkey. Not that tasty, and I don't consider it reliable ripening. Didn't work for me, and the figs just sit there for a long time without doing anything.

If you want a fig that changes color from green to purplish / brownish that is ultra reliable in terms of ripening and juicy, you've got to try Osbourne Prolific instead. That'll beat Brown Turkey anyday.

This year my Osbourne even ripened its figs during 14 consecutive days of fog, and mid 60s temperatures. The taste was still yummy. I even hear some people claim that Osbourne can even ripen a crop in partial shade.

From what I tried:
Osbourne and Desert King works.
Excell works too, but not to the same extent as Osbourne and Desert King in terms of ripening reliability under cool conditions.

I heard Laturalla works, but can not verify it yet. My Laturellas haven't bore any fruit yet.

Conadria hasn't worked for me.

Lattarula is the best for me in Seattle areas . Always has the good crop with super quality. The only fig can perform and harvest 2 times a year in Pacific Northwest without any problems.

I have a Brown Turkey and if I don't prune hard get a huge breba crop that is delicious!! The second crop rarely has time to ripen..usually rots. BUT it is close to the house facing west and it is getting waaay to big(really wants to be 25')..so I am going to remove it. Have had no problems with it at all. even when it snowed. Guess I better check out the Lattarula. I'm going to build a corner wall out in the yard and plant a new fig there..I love figs!!

I've decided on a Violette de Bourdeaux. I have a south facing house wall and can grow ginger (haven't flowered yet!)so figs should work..but not to close..gotta watch out for the roots..good so I don't have to build a wall!!

I can hardly wait..One day my husband was up the tree handing down figs and he looked down and asked "where are all the figs?" Me standing there with my mouth full..as fast as he handed 'em down in my mouth they went!! hahaha Always best right off the tree! Now if I can just get my Chinese apricot to produce!!

Check out the BenBinSeattle videos on youtube. He grows many varieties in the PNW.