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Best French Figs

I would like to graft a tree that has all of the best french fig varieties on it. I only have 3 varieties so far (RDBD, VDBD, and Kathleen Black in the mail). I would like to use the most vigorous for the rootstock and go from there. From what I've read, Kathleen Black is very vigorous but it needs to be pruned to really produce well. I thought this might be a good base. Any thoughts? I then want the most flavorful and diverse flavors to graft onto it. This is obviously going to take some time, but I would like to start the project at the end of summer or spring 2016. I am trying to collect the best ones in the meantime. What types would you recommend?
Also, If I wanted to do one that was done with cold tolerant varieties, what types would you use?

The following should help (varieties & ripening schedule/order at Baud's location)....
http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1901206/the-top-25-fig-varieties-for-pierre-baud

This sounds like a really cool project. The French figs that I've tasted are extremely good.

Troy,

I think the cdd series ( blanc, gris, noir) would be cool. Violette soleis, sultane, longue d aout, and any other Baud recommended varieties would be good. I think that is a very cool idea/ project you have there.

OttawanZ5 - Thanks for the list, that's really helpful. Bill, I've been seeing that the CDD series is very popular, I think that sounds like a good place to start. Thanks for the input.

I have some from the list. Didnt know that they were french wee wee.

Troy you ARE IN pA.
Only Ronde de Bordeaux will work for your location,to graft on,and have a french variety as rootstock.

Anyone know the origin of St Rita?

I've been disappointed in the few multi grafted trees I've grown in the past. Always one variety wants to become the main tree and the others become small twigs or die off all together. Some people are able to maintain a variety balance with regular and rigorous pruning, but the tree isn't happy with this.

The nice thing about them is that you get to try several different varieties of fruit for a year or two, see how they grow and ripen in a specific location and can judge which ones you like best. Then get the trees you like best and grow them on their own, letting the dominant variety graft on the first tree take over.

I grew a Zee Sweet Nuggets Semi-dwarf Multi-Budded Pluot tree. I liked all the varieties and they produced well here. When Geo Pride took over the tree, I bought Splash, Emerald Drop and two Flavor Grenades(my favorite) to plant around it. Pruning is difficult each year to keep them in their space, but I’m getting more fruit than I would have trying to make peace with four varieties at war with each other on one tree.

I grew a five in one cherry tree that had nice blooms each year but no fruit. I was told that I would get a crop every few years, but it didn't happen. I learned that we didn't have the chill here for those varieties of cherries. It was replaced by three crowded low chill cherry trees that are the first to produce beautiful heavy blooms each year and drip cherries. 

 

I've had this idea as well. My list would include Grise de St. Jean, Noire de Caromb, RdB, Bourjassotte Grise, and Pastilierre for sure.

On two accounts I had the same experience as Mara.

1. I had a few multi-graft fruit trees (sweet cherries, apples and pears).  The lower grafts on these trees were dominated by the top graft and stayed like a twig and eventually dried up. Partly my fault as I did not do the pruning required for balancing the growth.

2. My sweet cherry trees are big with good growth but fewer cherries (a dozen per tree may be) and all taken by squirrels. I have more than enough chill hours, every second of it from October to mid-April.
They are to be removed this spring.

Instead of multi-grafting fig trees I will try planting three different varieties in the same pot and it will help in dwarfing effect as well. I can realize that root pruning may be difficult but I will try.

The Frankenfig is the complete and unmatched example of fig grafting.  IN STONE!  Doesn't get bettah!

Suzi

I have noticed that the grafts nearer the top of the plant do oftend perform better. This occurred when I purchased an espaliered apple tree that had 6 different grafts - one for each branch of the teir. However, I would say that 4-5 of the 6 did do well, and that the main problem was the lower branches were getting shaded out. I think it could be more successful if I get a multistem trunk and try to graft them at the same height. I'm pretty good at pruning though, so I'd be curious to see if diligence could help keep the other branches going strong. I do like the frankenfig! I wish I had that climate. Thanks for the cautions though. The project may just be a flop, but in the meantime, I'll gain skills and new varieties.

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