so i'm going to stop collecting after 42 varieties. 42 seems like a good number. so far i have following. what am i missing that is unique and will add to the list? of course, if some of them don't make it.. then i'll replace with other or same.

i'm already looking into Maltese Beauty and Col de Dame Gris. Paradiso Broze Dusan, Moscatel Preto, and Long D'Aout is also being looked into.

here is is the list of what i have already. and martin, i'm not getting rid of my light figs :)

1. VdB
2. Kathleen's Black
3. Paradiso Gene
4. White Greek
5. Niagara Black
6. Col de Dame Blanche
7. Green Ischia
8. White Ischia
9. Calvert
10. Genovese Nero
11. Ronde dB
12. Salce
13. Fico Preto
14. Socorro Black
15. Persian White
16. MVSB
17. Unknown Syrian/Turkish
18. HC EL
19. Conadria
20. Stella
21. St. Rita
22. Nero 600M
23. Paradiso Nero
24. Paradiso Bronze
25. Pastiliere
26. Tocoma Violette
27. Paradiso Nero Mario
28. Noire de Caromb
29. Qudssaya/Big Yellow
30. Unknown Greek
31. Col de Dame Noir
32. Black Madeira

Macool. 

Allegedly it was one of the best tasting figs of 2012

That looks like an excellent list.  Not sure how you can stop at 42.  I have 60 varieties, either rooting, rooted or in large gallon pots or ground, and several more promised and on my wish list.  With my UC Davis order, I may make it to 100 varieties, or just under that number.  Every single variety I own has certain attributes that made me desire to enjoy it's flavor.  I have many varieties that were sent as bonuses, which forced me to learn about those, and I'm pleased with every single variety I have.

Good luck keeping that list at 42!

Suzi

That's an odd number. 50 sounds a lot better. You say you'll stop, but that's what all addicts say! Lol

not that i want to stop, but i have to stop. i'm completely running out my room. my study where is root the cuttings already have 3 bins containing total of 36 cuttings in cups. there are about 5 more being rooted in baggies. there are 3 more rare types coming in not to mention UCD. i barely have room to put my foot into that place along with our piano and computer desk. and my garage also ran out of room. there are about 30 1 gal container and few 10 gal containers and a 3 gal container with trees. any more will be pushing it and running out of place to store them.

i have few that will survive winter in NC with little protection outside. which means i'll put some in ground. but the soil around my house is clay. i know that will hold the water and possibly cause all the figs to blow up. so.. yeah... 42 is the number :)

I hear you about that having room thing.  It's tough to find places for all of them for sure, and they keep needing larger pots as they grow!  Sometimes lack of spaces forces us to get creative.  Like going vertical, or something like that.

Good luck to you Pete!

Suzi

oh.. i totally forgot about very very special fig that might come my way.. that one will get royal treatment and will be placed in the front of the house in special pot. i'm even keeping the name a secret until it's in my hand.. lol

I know that feeling. I was talking to another member about how we have cuttings, bins and potted trees all through the house and garage. I was planning on stopping at 5 good trees, then it became 12 now I have no idea how many different types I have. I need to do some serious thinking of which ones to keep and which ones to get rid of. Some are small so I don't know their full potential as flavor and production. I think I'll be content with the ones I have now and the ones that will be coming in some trades. What to do, what to do??

42 varieties for a fig addict...Might start getting the shakes!   lol

I think 1371 is a better  number.

com'on jon.. 42 is the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything".

I think I have surpassed the 42 mark now (Need to do inventory and see what actually roots this year). I consider it experimentation. This was the first year that I got any figs from my little trees. I kept note of those I liked best and those that I hope will get better in time. Nothing is a reject yet. Eventually, when we get a property that will allow planting inground, I plan to grow those varieties that taste and perform best here in coastal NC. Those trees that do not meet that mark will be moved on to others who may find them to be just a special as my own personal favorites. It's all about personal taste and climatic conditions. Like wine grapes, there are a myriad of conditions that influence the final product and if one favors it. Besides, I have to leave room for the other plants I plan to grow.

Ah, but to understand the meaning of the ultimate answer, you must first understand the real meaning of the question.

(Hint:  it is not the same as "What is your favorite color?", nor is it "What is the air speed velocity of a coconut-laden swallow?"... er, that is, "fig-laden swallow").
 
Smiles to you for your choice of number, Pete.  But if you're looking for ways to approach Jon's number (without turning it upside down), you could research this pyramid/stacking technique for potted trees (another member told me about it... it's how I got 42 pots in the floor space of 28).

Mike

Pyramid/stacking?  I think I can picture it!  I stack my coffee mugs that way!

So if you water the ones on top, does the water trickle down to the others?  And what if there is a big wind?  Sounds like a plan to me!

Suzi

Hi Suzi.  I guess I misinterpreted / misstated which space problem the stacking solves.  I just stack them during winter storage (in the garage). So I don't have to worry about big wind.  But you've got me curious -- I wonder if it would work while they're growing?  (I feel another experiment percolating :-)

The water does trickle down through, and also since the pots are round, I can snake the watering can spout down in between.  

Be well!

Mike

This is how I grew 130 trees in a small backyard:

... Sorry there still is not a way to insert an image using the iPad.

James, like like like, Love the Idea all you need is wheels to roll in , roll out .

And to all who want to shed excess fig, Pm me we might strike a deal, I still did not reach my limit for this year.
Mark

mike,

unless i hit a jackpot somewhere.. win lottery or something, there is no way i can handle over 1,300 varieties of figs.

while spending my time in pubs, bars, and any place that would serve beer, i noticed that sooner or later, the question really doesn't matter. answer is always "beer".. or 42 in this case.

One important thing to consider.
Hows your back ?
I only ask as it sounds like you grow them all if not most in containers.

To keep them at optimum they need root pruning every 3 to 4 years even when in 25-30 gallon containers.
Smaller containers sooner.
Divide that number x amount of plants this is how many you will have to do each year on a rotating basis.

Its something that must be considered as i see on forum folks with so many plants just starting out in last year or so .  ; )

martin,

my back is messed up. i'm getting hand truck next winter. but most of my trees are still small. so not much lifting yet.

You can stop,no one told me that.Rex.

Yes hand truck helps with moving them around but thats about it not much to do with labor of root pruning .  ; )

I dont want to discourage you in any way sounds like you need some more white types as you can easily get rid of them and not have to painstakingly root prune them when the time comes. 
Send em to Rafed he eats anything ! ; )

i just showed my 11 yr old how to use knife and saw. so he will be doing some work come spring. my 10 gal containers need root pruning in spring. they are packed. i'll have to get rid of about 1/3 of the roots and make sure nothing is chocking it down there.

i'm sure rafed has better taste than me.. :)

I stopped at a specific number of figs as well, about 6 or 7 times. First I just wanted 2, then ten, then 30 was the limit, ok let's shoot for 40 and stop there, man I have over 50 now!, stopping at 60, currently over 70 with cups all over the place.   

i might have to let go of my '68 vespa 180 ss.. that things been in my garage waiting for me to make enough money to completely restore it. fig or classic vespa.. fig or vespa.. hmm..