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2011 Growing Season in the Low Desert

I'd like to post an update on how different varieties are growing here in Mesa, AZ.  Some varieties seem to grow better in the desert heat than others.  Here are MY BEST GROWERS SO FAR:


Desert King grows like a weed here.  This one has added almost 3 feet of new growth so far this season.


LSU Purple died back last winter and has put out this new growth so far this year.


Joe's Jersey (my unknown) is growing into a dense, bushy plant.  It appears to be one of my most drought tolerant plants, and naturally shades its base.


Violette de Bordeaux curls its leaves in the heat, but grows vigorously despite of it.  Strong grower and very productive.


Black Madeira is still small but is putting out dark green, healthy looking foliage.  It does not seem to mind the heat at all.


Figs have formed so far on the following varieties:
Violette de Bordeaux (good grower, good fruit producer)
LSU Gold (average grower, good fruit producer)
Celeste (poor grower, average fruit producer)
LSU Purple (good grower, good fruit producer)
Barnisotte (too small to tell yet)
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I think you need to remove the excess spaces between your URL link and the IMG tags.  It's preventing the images from showing properly
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Thanks Jason.  I did that and the photos are showing.
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Hi Joe,
thanks for sharing your fig plant pictures.
Always nice to see fig plants in different climates and how folks grow them.

Hope more of the 1000 members do the same.
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It's good to hear Fig trees do well in Central AZ heat.

Lived in Chandler for 6 months -10 yrs ago.
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Thanks for the report--nice plants. Have you gotten any fruit yet from your Desert King? I never considered it for Tucson, since I mostly read people's comments about how well it does for them in northern, short-season areas, and figured the heat would be too much for it down here.


Your Black Madeira looks great! Hopefully mine will break out of its FMV-induced dwarfism and start growing normally one of these days. My VdB looks similar to yours, but is smaller.

I know you're usually quite a bit hotter in Phoenix than we are in Tucson, yet your figs seem to be doing fine without shade? I finally decided to give all of mine some mid-day shade because most were starting to look a little stressed.
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Ken,


My Desert King hasn't fruited for me yet.  It was still small this spring, but I am hoping to get fruit next year from it.  My source is Burnt Ridge Nursery.  I figure if it gives me a good early season crop it might be worth it.

All of my figs are planted in the ground in full sun with no shade.  They use a lot of water.  I fill the basin that they are in every second day and I mist them a few times a week.  It seems like as long as they have enough water they will continue to grow in the heat.
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Joe,
Thanks for posting this. Your trees look great!

A good friend of mine is moving to Wilcox this fall. I've promised a few fig trees to him to try out there. I'm guessing if you can do it in the Pheonix area, he ought to be able to make it work at a slightly higher elevation.

I appreciate the info on your watering schedule. I'm assuming the summers are pretty hot & dry in Wilcox in spite of being a bit higher in elevation.  
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