Fig varieties. What figs are you growing?

11 years ago

Here is a list of my figs. Which ones are you growing, what climate, and how are they doing? This is based on my flawed memory, but as close as I can get it.

My climate is Zone 7 to 8 - I have 2 locations in Southwest Washington, north of Portland Oregon. One is 1/2 zone cooler due to higher altitude and out in the country. This area is cool summer. Winter gets a few freezes, but mostly is wet and chilly.

Fig varieties.

Champagne - started 2013. In-ground froze to ground last year, too rank growth. I gave it too much fertilizer the first year. It grew back again, we'll see if it survives this winter. Also container grown, very sweet, fairly small, yellow figs. Lots of figs 2nd year in container.

Tiger - same story as Champagne. Much bigger figs, and more productive. Lots of figs the 2nd year in container.

Smith - same story as Champagne. Smaller figs. I only had a few figs, late in the season this year, so may not have had a chance for full sweetness. Kind of a complex flavor. Small, good.

Hardy Chicago - about 12 years old, in ground only. Very productive main crop. With our cool summer and rainy fall, I lose some of the last ones to mold. No breba crop. Having tasted a lot of others, flavor seems sort of average, but it produces when others do not.

Lattarula - about 12 years old, in ground only. my most productive. Excellent breba, equal to King, and good main crop. Very big sweet juicy figs.

Brunswick (Vancouver). - 13 years old, in ground only - No breba. They set, then fall off. Main crop, my biggest and sweetest, but the vast majority are late and lost to mold. I can't recommend this one but don't have the heart to cut it down.

Carini - started 2013 and 2014 - Sicilian NOID from Frank on F4F Forum - For me, bore quite a few figs the first year from cutting in ground and container. Otherwise same story as Champagne. Big juicy really tasty figs. Very promising fig.

Dominick - started 2014 - Italian NOID from Coop on F4F Forum - 1st year from cutting, no figs yet.

King - about 7 years old. In ground only. My most vigorous tree. Big breba crop, rare main crop. Super sweet and juicy. Not as complex flavor as Petite Aubique.

Petite Aubique - Petite Negri - 14 years old.In ground only. Good breba and main crops. Lose some main crop to mold. Richer flavor, less sweet, compared to Lattarula and King.

Atreano - 2 years old. Similar story to Champagne but no figs yet. I planted it in a chicken yard, and it grew,

Sicilian white - started this year, no figs yet.

I hope this isn't too long and drawn out. It is interesting to see what people are growing and how they are doing, and where.

Featured Answer

Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b

11 years ago

That sounds like a new topic you should post. My favorites have a drip of honey at the eye and are really juicy and honey flavored. Mary Lane Seedless and Kadota fall into that group. Some varieties I have I've never tasted. You might like Flanders. It's kinda purple/brown when ripe with a crunchy rich taste and texture.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

JesseSt
11 years ago
Nice list, Bear. Always good to hear other growers' experiences, especially those who are in less than ideal climates. I'm in my first year growing figs, so my collection is small. I've tried to concentrate on varieties that will produce well in containers here in my zone 5 Maine location. Maybe in a couple years I'll try a few in-ground.
MBVS- Started these this year from cuttings, now 3' tall.
Brown Turkey- Probably graft these over to something earlier.
LSU Purple- too good a price to pass up at the Whole Foods.
Celeste-small 1st year plant
Salem Dark- same
Now starting some cuttings to have a bit of greenery indoors through our long winter months.
Desert King, Hardy Chicago, Petite Negri,
Genovese Nero, Nero 600, Magnolia, LSU gold, Galbun, Celeste.
No figs yet, but I got the bug! I'm open to recommendations for 'must haves' suitable for my location.
binbin9 - Seattle
11 years ago
Digging up a slightly old thread here but I'm a first yr fig grower and I'm in Renton. WA. It's hard not to feel OCD when you get into figs or when they get into you. =)

Currently i have:
Black mission
Brown Turkey x2
Celeste
Chicago Hardy
Chicago Hardy
Col De Dame Noir
Conadria
Cordi Stella
Desert King
Green Jolly Tiger
Kadota x 3
Lg peters honey
LSU Gold
LSU Purple
Magnolia/Brunswick/Madonna
Mission Small
Negronne VBD
Negronne suckers
Peters honey
Petite Negri/Black Jack/Black Spanish
Petite Negri/Black Jack/Black Spanish

Violet De Bordeaux/negronne
Longue D'Aout
Black Madeira
King
Oregon Prolific
Latarulla

I'm Glad I saw your list. I've been trying to determine which ones to plant in the ground.
Related Professionals
Lafayette Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Cumberland Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tulsa Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Columbia Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Harrisonburg Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Richmond Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Orange County Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Longview Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Saint Joseph Landscape Contractors · College Station Landscape Contractors · Chicago Landscape Contractors · Plattsburgh Landscape Contractors · Tallahassee Kitchen Remodelers · Johnson City Kitchen Remodelers · Las Vegas Kitchen Remodelers
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
11 years ago
Black Mission, Violette De Bordeaux, Panachee, Flanders, LSU Scotts Black, LSU Hollier, LSU Gold, Paradiso, Verte, Marseilles Vs Black, Hardy Chicago, Kadota, Norman's Yellow, Baud's Sucrette, Native de Argentile, Bourjasotte Gris, Mary Lane Seedless, Alma, Adriatic, Rhonde de Bordeaux, and a few whose tags got lost in the move, and a couple unknowns.
TheNewLandscape.com
11 years ago
I am a first year fig grower, have one Black Mission in a large pot, so far it is doing well (I posted its progress here http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3026992/first-harvest-from-my-first-fig-tree - which reminds me, I should upload a recent pic of its 2nd crop ).

We are not a big fig consuming family. I've heard fig, especially when the tree is mature and all, can produce quite a bit. Just out of curious, for those of you who plant multiple trees, what do you do with all the fruits? I remember having a plum tree at my previous house, and one year we were plum victims, wayyy too many we didn't know what to do, ended up handing out bags and bags to family, friends, and coworkers :)
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
11 years ago
They taste great BBQ'd stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in bacon. Lots of ways to do that. Some people make preserves. Not my thing. We have a vineyard, and if they are sweet enough, I'll try making fig wine. Other than that, gift to friends and family. Lots of neighbors here love my figs. Our trees are in ground and we prune them so they don't get too tall to reach the figs. Lots of critters here also, and they take part of the figs.

Some varieties are early bearing and others late, so if you achieve a balance that way you will have figs from June through Nov. (depending on the weather).
TheNewLandscape.com
11 years ago
You guys are serious fig lovers!!! judging by the list of figs you've got. I picked Black Mission b/c from research it is one of the most popular and well loved. If the fig bug gets me and I am to add a 2nd tree (well, I mean, just in case! :) ) which variety is your personally favorite ? Just running a poll from personal tasting/growing experience of folks here.... I probably prefer to add a variety that's more firm/crunchy in the texture.