I'm still sorting my thoughts on this, but after reading lots of threads including the recent 'Black Madiera A Love Story' http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Black-Madeira-A-Love-Story-5835379

I find myself falling down on the side of tired and true, proved, prolific, sturdy, fast growing, easy to root varieties of figs. I want great taste to be sure, but a 9 will do. For now. The Missions, Negronnes, Adriatics, Paradisos, LSU Purples... I want my fig growing experience to be successful, especially at first.

I want so many yummy fruits I won't know what to do with them all. I want to be tired of fresh, grilled and dried figs. I want to try fig pizza and sandwiches too. I want my friends to fear answering their phones. I want my neighbors to hide behind their curtains when they see me knocking at their door with another basket of fresh figs. ;) And I don't want to have to wait too many years to get there.

I started late and had to act fast, but am pleased with ones that are currently rooting. I've moved outside just over 25 to acclimate, with more soon to be exposed to the sun and weak liquid plant hooch.

And come fall, I'll scour the UCDavis and Jon's list of offerings, ebay and here, and go for more. My list will be a mixture of some holy grails (because I like a plant challenge), and a few more tried and trues that I didn't know about a couple months ago. I'll love trying to root and grow the holy grails, the 10s, but my heart will be with the tried and trues. The dependable work-horses. The sturdy, attractive, tasty fig-fraus. :)

even if all my cuttings fail and die, i still have by VdB (negronne). that's good enough for me :)

pete

If you were left with only one, that seems to be a good one.

People can seek and start any varieties they want, and for whatever reasons. I was just starting to feel that I was missing the boat on some of the tastiest varieties some here are growing... and had to take stock in my own approach. Realizing I am currently rooting many really good varieties that are far tastier than the bland brown turkey that is commonly grown locally helped calm my fig-envy. :)

I am also in Southern California and I will have cuttings/plants available this fall. I can't promise any tens but I will try to help your cause.

Thanks James, that's very nice of you.  :)

What do you consider your best-tasing varieties for SoCal?