Hi all!

I'm a new fig grower...bought a Chicago Hardy back in June.  It's doing great, even has a tiny fig coming on.  I'll probably pinch it off to let the tree focus on growth before the cold hits.  I also have a brown turkey that has turned into quite the bush.  A friend of mine found a brown turkey at a local nursery on sale and got it for me.  It has figs on it, about to be ripe!  Because I already have one and don't have much winter storage space I'm probably going to regift that one to my Mom...after I eat the figs, of course.

So, here's my question...I'd like to add one more variety to my tiny collection.  I've been lurking on here gleaning as much as I can on what would grow in my zone  (6a, I think...I am just west of Columbus).  The Dark Portuguese seems to be one that comes up often as good for my conditions...as does Sal's.  What other ones would be good and where could I get them?  Also, is it too late in the season to buy a new tree?  Oh, almost forgot...I grow in pots for now and plan to put them in a cool basement in the winter...it gets down in the 40s in there so I think they will be safe.

Thanks for any advice you can give...I just love finding great communities like this on the net.  I'm an orchid grower (Japanese neofinetia falcata varieties), too and learned so much about how to grow them just by reading and asking questions on forums. This fig forum is no different!  There's no substitute for passion and experience and this place has tons of both!  Sorry to be another newbie asking the same ol' question...but my searches haven't come up with quite the answers I am looking for.  Thanks again!

After they have reached maturity, five to 7 years, and planted in a protected spot, Marseilles Black VS, Hanc's English Brown Turkey, and LaRadek's Englsih Brown Turkey. should be able to handle a zone 6a location, without winter protection.

With some winter protection. Danny's Delight, Bayernfeige Violetta, Hardy Chicago, Hardy Hartford, Sal's EL, and Brooklyn White.

Bob Zone 5 Connecticut

Robert,
 Have you been impressed with the taste of Danny's Delight so far?
 
  Thanks,
   Peter

Latarolla, Latarulla, Sal's Corleone, Gino's, and a few more are all good for your zone. Yes they should be fine in your basement at those teemps, just give them a little water about once a month so the roots don't dry out and die.

Now maybe you can help me out too. I have a nice bean leaf Neofinetia that has not flowered in 3 years. It is growing nicely and is outside currently in partail sun. I moved it to a 3" pot in sphagnum as air roots were hanging out all around the smaller pot. It has good size. I have been feeding more this summer as I really want to see flowers. Any hints?   

Be sure to post some pics of your figs and the trees leaves. Often what you buy at a nursery will not turn out to be as advertised. Trees can sometimes be gotten on sale in the fall at nurseries and also Herman2 is selling some trees now on eBay, you should do fine with any of his favorite varieties.

I love wind orchids, could not grow mine well on a windowsill though, I had it in a tiny basket that I made and it dried too fast. Are you saying there are different varieties of the same species? Or hybrids? I think mine was a seedling, i gave it to somebody who owns a greenhouse.

Hey Dalein, 

I'm in Westerville right off of 270.  Let's trade some cuttings in the spring!

Right now I have 9 species that are doing very well in our weather.

-Greg

BLB:  I love the bean leaf varieties.  Are you letting it get cold?  I am no expert, but I hang my neos outside in a huge lilac bush where they are mostly shaded with dappled sun in warm weather.  I also leave them out to get some cold nights in the fall and I always get blooms.  I've even had them get frosted and do fine...though I wouldn't let it happen much, I may have gotten lucky.  Also, when you bring them in for winter, put them in the brightest coolest window you have and water them VERY little.  As for feeding, I use very weak MSU fertilizer a couple times a summer.  I hope this helps...I don't think there is a better smelling flower in the world.

hoosierbanana:  Yep, same species and oh boy are there ever different varieties!  If you guys think fig growers are nuts, check out some orchid forums and the different neofinetias.  Do some googling and see some of the Japanese sites on them...there are huge shows dedicated to them and some go for $10,000 or more.  They are fabulous little orchids and you can have a lot of them in a small space.  Check out my advice to BLB above...as they love to be outside in warm weather.  Also, for windowsill growing, I prefer clay pots...the baskets just dry out too fast if your house has pretty dry air.  What medium did you use?  I switched to all sphagnum and mine all do very well.  Let me know if you want to try another, I can help you out.

Thanks for the tips...I will post a pic of my BT leaves and figs when they ripen.

Hi Greg!  Good to hear someone local is having luck!  I'd love to trade cuttings...I'm afraid my selection is a bit small right now, but if you are interested in them, I'd be happy to trade.  What figs are you growing?  Do you grow in the ground or in pots?

Thanks Dale, I do leave it out in the fall, came in sometime in Novemeber last year. I may not have a cool enough window or perhaps I watered too much during the winter. I usually think not enough light when something doesn't flower but I'm pretty sure that is not the issue. From what you are saying I am probably feeding more than you. I see no negative effects from that, so it must be either watering or temps preventing the flowers.

BLB:  I don't think the way you are feeding would be keeping it from blooming...but definitely try the dry, cold treatment this winter.  For me, it almost feels like total neglect...it's kind of hard if you're used to being right on top of caring for your plants.

cold and dry are the keys for many cacti too. I winter most of them in my garage with my figs, no light required. don't think that would work for Neofinetia though. I have to discipile myself or relocate it to where I keep my conophytums who also thrive on neglect. Thanks again, I had no idea it would need that sort of treatment.  

Thanks Dale, I will let you know what I have to trade in October. I used Sphag moss as well but it was drying too fast in the basket still.