If you had to pick 6 fig varieties from your collection, which would they be? I'm starting up with figs, and would like advice from other northern growers.
Thanks.

Hardy Chicago ,Malta Black, is good for area.

That being said i grow mine for their taste quality not hardiness.

B. Madeira and others i grow can be difficult and i would not suggest them as they are long season types for this climate.

Martin

Mine are showing signs of impending dormancy too. Smith is dropping leaves. Hardy Chicago and Petite Aubique still have a lot of unripe figs. I think my summer figs are sweeter and juicier, but I do appreciate the fall figs.

Martin,

Hopefully we don't have a repeat of the last winter so the plants can grow in a timely manner.

Almost everything started late and left early this season.
I am discarding more unripe figs than ever this year. My harvest wasn't as good either.

But the upside is I did not lose as many plants as I first feared. Many just woke up much later than expected.

Yes Rafed not a great season for some, here also they woke up late .
Madeira still was tops in taste just not many along with the other plants had to remove many that just were late to appear.

Made spares of some of the ones that are enjoyed most and although lost a few others the herd needed thinning .

Inground Hardy Chicago survived but damaged to soil level with just snow cover and temps as low as 19 below , sprung up bushy and produced excellent tasting fig on personal palate.
Its spare produced in large container.

Was a long winter and a cold spring .
Martin