i've noticed the really high prices these command.  even higher than sal's corleone.  is this really that great a fig?  of course, i must have one!

I guess I am lucky that it is supposed to be a late ripener.  The last thing I need is a fig that dosent ripen in my area.  Otherwise I might  have jumped on the bandwagon. 

I got my tree from Jon. Jon was honest to caution me that it may not work out for my zone. Well, if it doesn't I will send it to my brother or put it out for auction. The nurseries here even sell CA grown orange trees. Thus, I am hopeful.

Here is the tough point. It is, IMO, the best tasting fig. BUT, it has issues: needs long , warm season, uninterrupted by cool periods while ripening, often splits, is no easy to root, small plants can die in first winter, etc.

So it might be better to plant Celeste, Black Mission, Marseilles VS, or some other variety which is more adaptable, has less demanding requirements, and produces a larger useable crop: the whole cost-benefit thing. Like many things, there are trade-offs.

This season I have eaten 50% of the BMs which ripened so far, for a total of one fig. Second one split and rotted. Third one is no where in sight, in terms of showing any sign of ripening, and we are a couple days from the equinox, following and unusually early fig season.

I'm not saying don't grow it, only that you ought to be realistic in your expectations.

i'm sure i'll end up giving it a shot. let's say it dies and i lose a hundred bucks or so. well, i am sure that worse things have happened to better fig growers. so i am gonna try it.

3 cheers for you papayamon "hip, hip hurray" or we commonly said here "right on". Good luck.

what zone would ya'll say a person needs to live in to grow this fig?  Im in South Carolina zone 7b. I usually have hot summers but cold winters.  This year was a cooler and wetter summer than normal though.

11. ;-))

HAHAHA

Jon, YER baddddd

I am in 9a and just picked one of these up. I think my problem will be the splitting more than anything else. We get pretty much daily rains from june-august. The rain starts to slow down around now. I am hoping they will not start ripening until september-october when it is a bit dryer and still plenty hot.

JSVAN5,
i dont know how you grow your figs but i only wish to be in a warm climate like your cause i would sure have a field day!
Consider some sort of cover for that one plant during the rainy season if possible. Course you probably grow inground?

martin, i grow in the ground, and all i can say is WOW can i get the growth here. i'll be posting a pic of my one year old brown turkey tommorrow. considering that i let he weeds overrun it and only gave it good care for the last 4 months, it's simply amazing how well it's grown.

here plants grow as bushes, because it doesn't get cold enough to encourage proper dormancy, then the temp drops from 70's to freezing, which pretty much nails the plant above the ground. my ag agent has a fig bush that comes up yearly and grows to 12 feet high and 12 feet wide, then freezes to the ground in the winter.

when i get my hands on a black madiera, i will really give it some pampered care. i don't care about getting figs the first couple of years - i'm growing the plant.

For a long time now this one has been on my 'no wish' list because of Zone 5 with shorter often cooler summers; and all this because of the information shared on the fig forums.

Mike, i really wish i could have that weather.
Perhaps one day. It sure would be fun id be like a kid in a candy store growing in those parts.

Deiseler, we don't have it too perfect. Last year we had a few nights hit 20 and as papayamon said there is almost no warning. I am about 30 miles south of Papayamon, so I am hoping the extra degree or two will keep my plants from freezing to the ground. I am keeping all of my newly aquired stuff in the pots and with my tropicals in the greenhouse till spring and then they are on there own in ground.

Hmm,
we get warning , i watch the weathman , for instance.
Today Jan 5th snow flurries , total accumilation 5 inches, snow lingering thruout tonight with an additional accumilation of several inches expected, temps today will be around 30 degree's, tomorrow snow will end with high temp 10 to 15 and wind at 20mph  OUCH.
It always turns cold and windy after a darn snowfall the next day.

The lowest temperature in Illinois, -36°, was recorded on January 5, 1999 at Congerville

Last winter coldest day in my town minus  - 23

Figs shivered good in attached garage for several days then with temp in garage at 6 to 8 above zero and many days in the teens last winter in the garage. But no wind chill of course in garage or they would have been dead.
Coldest winter they have seen in storage since i have had them, did i worry yup but no damage to them thankfully as all limbs made it .

I can see why unprotected  if you grow inground and weatherman predicts fig lousy temps you would have to protect trees or let them shiver and die to the ground possibly.

Hmm maybe i would grow some in pots depending if i move that way like we are thinking one day and grow some in ground ,

oh heck i should just go to Hawaii and forget about the worries.  ; )

Really though it would be a whole new experience for me in a warm climate , i know one thing for sure no more wearing long johns when venturing outdoors.

For you nice warm climate folks thats long undewears, i have several pair of 100% fine worsted wool that dad brought back from Italy many many seasons back and yes they itch but not when outdoors in cold its when you come inside and start to warm up.   ; )

How old are the big ones in the pots? 

Believe it or not Dieseler, I would trade your weather for mine any day. I love the cold and hope to be back up in PA some day.

Eldest first on left 7 or 8 seasons old im giving away to a forum member, El. Sals bought in 2003 will now be eldest then hardy chicago 2004 one far right last toward street was destroyed italian unknown but i kept a sucker probably like a sucker as it produced 1 total ripe fig in 4 full seasons they always drop.
Other dozen trees not shown are younger.

JS you must miss the white Christmas we tend to have.  ;)
be about the only thing i would truly miss.

That was the point of the song "White Christmas". Living in Southern California, dreaming of the frozen northeast, but not actually going there. It was a great dream, but not worth giving up paradise for.

I  see what you mean Jon.
For us it was the Beach Boys and some of there songs.
Visions in a song, the woman in there swimsuits, beaches, convertibles, etc,etc.
Never thought about figs though in California at the time as we had those here.  ; )