I was planning on trying improved celeste and ronde de Bordeaux next year, from what ive read they are two of the earliest main crop ripeners and are supposed to have good production and fruit. florea is up there too but ive heard mixed reviews on quality. white Marseille and mt etna types like hardy chicago arent supposed to be far behind. figs with good brebas are even earlier, longue de aout and desert king seem to be two of the most popular but from ive read mixed opinions on quality and productivity on those. I live in zone 5 and the only plant ive personally grown is hardy Chicago, and yeah Id agree that early is more important than super hardy if you are growing in a pot anyway because some years it can be tough to get a decent crop in before the weather gets too cold

Growing figs in pots is not as limiting as growing figs in ground. You can easily extend the season by using a sun room or moving the figs in and out of a garage in early spring and fall.

In zone 6 only need to avoid smyrna type and late ripening figs such as black madeira and the Coll de dames varieties. Most others grow and ripen fine.

My earliest figs are the good breba producers start early July. the main crop figs in pots start in mid august and keep ripening until hard frost.

Moses here in our cold area in large containers Ronde De Bordeaux is our earliest followed by hardy chicago around 3rd week August sometimes little earlier depending on the spring temps getting them awaken from dormancy by doing the fig shuffle etc.

Each season can be little different again because of weather regardless Ronde is 1st here to ripen followed closely by hardy chicago.

This season Ronde 1st ripe fig Aug 19th followed by Hardy Chicago Aug 21st.

I do not suggest this type in cold zone for most growers but here is a ucdavis black madeira in time stamp dated picture when a few early main crop figs came in not common as mentioned, usually around mid September they start to ripen main crop.

Ronde in time stamp dated pictures August 19th

Martin

Martin

Thank you all for the valuable info!

Moses