I still have about four small-ish (3' high or less) fig trees I dug out as one giant clump from my neighbor's yard last spring that I need to get rid of. Last year the ones I planted in full sun made about four dozen figs despite being uncovered all winter (actually for at least 15 consecutive winters!) and uprooted after they had broken dormancy, so this is a tough variety good for new growers and morons like myself. The figs themselves were slightly larger than a quarter, light green on the outside and pink/red on the inside with a great berry taste. Sorry, if I stopped eating them long enough to take a picture I have misplaced it. My neighbor's uncle, the former owner of the property, supposedly brought this over from Italy in the 1970s, but I don't know what town he came from or what he called it.

Having said that, these are free to good homes. I have two small children and no free time, so you would have to pick them up but I can help you dig them out. I live in the Beechview neighborhood of Pittsburgh, just south of the Liberty Tunnels and two blocks from the best pizza in the city, Slice on Broadway. I can also probably spare a few cuttings from two of my other trees (a lattarula, and a mystery "dwarf"). I can also air layer the lattarula if you are the patient type. I'm interested in swapping varieties if you have a good hardy fig from Calabria or Sicily, but I am more than happy to give these away to forum members to repay some of the generosity I have encountered here.

PM me if interested. Forum member tonycm can (hopefully) vouch that I'm not the Craigslist killer.

Aaron

Lol yes Aaron I'll vouch that you're not a Craigslist killer!

The only thing he's guilty of is being a figaholic like everyone else here.

Just in case you guys missed it, the Post-Gazette printed a couple of articles about growing fig trees recently: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/life/garden/for-the-love-of-figs-687179/.

Matt:
I thoroughly enjoyed the little movie from the link you posted. Thank you so much.
I would be interested in knowing what variety of fig Mr. Garafolo brought back from Ita when he immigrated here.
Leon

Too bad I just ordered from bass this morning...

I wouldn't say that was too bad at all, indestructible. Bass has a great reputation and you know what you are getting from him. I'm just a dumbass with free mystery figs. ;) That said, if you want to add another one, just let me know. 

I did see that article Matt and man do I wish I could spend a few hours with Mr. Garafolo! My wife said he reminds her a lot of her late father who came over from Italy in the 1950s.

Oh, and since you guys are from the greater Pittsburgh area, check this site out: http://italiangardenproject.org/ . It looks like most of the gardeners featured are local and they are sponsoring a monthly class on fig care in Sewickley.

Matt...great video, and thank you for sharing...that started the day off on the right foot.   :)

Thanks to those who posted links of this post. Great to see the love spread around the world, of those who love figs and gardening in general. Again Thank you.

Zone 8
South West TX

Aaron i  sure someone will pick up the figs from you.

Matt thanks for posting the video as it was a trip down memory lane , my family came here form Italy and Uncle's every year buried Grandma's tree in Chicago.
There all long gone including my brother Anthony who used to sit on the wooden fence with me as we would eat Mulberries across Grandma's coal gravel alley.

Now i grow for first time mulberry in a pot.
Thanks

Martin--now you're sending me down memory lane. My grandparents' backyard in McKeesport, PA led out into a gravel alley. The house was on a narrow lot, and my grandfather packed in so many pear trees and tomatoes and beans that there were just little strips of clear space for walking. There was a huge mulberry tree in the neighbor's yard right where the side fence met the back fence. I also spent some time eating (and occassionally throwing) the berries when I was visting there in the summertime.

Matt -lol Grandma had veggie garden with boards laid down between to walk on.
Dad always complained on the Sunday's ride home when the bugs would crawl out of the paper grocery bags in car from the greens she insisted on giving us.
Her and neighbor had adjacent apricot and cherry tree's and everyone back then always had some peach trees.
I could go on and on with the stories i recall quite well.
Meh 

Aaron--I went to a class on winterizing fig trees that the Italian Garden Project put on a couple of years ago in Sewickley. It was a great time. I got to meet some really cool people, learn a little about traditional Italian gardening techinques, and they served hardy kiwi, biscotti and espresso at the end. I definitely recommend it. One of the gardeners from their program is having his garden included in the Smithsonian's Archive of American Gardens: http://triblive.com/mobile/3809680-96/garden-gardens-italian. I got one of my best figs from him. Really nice guy, and his garden is absolutely incredible.

I was considering that class so thanks for sharing your experience Matt. Michele Vaccaro sounds like a hell of a great guy.

Hi Aaron,

I found your post while looking for help on my "hanging on by a thread" fig tree, its my only. I would be interested if you still have trees available, it sounds like my type of tree if it can survive on its own and might increase my odds of getting a fig next year.  My husband will also be happy that its free to balance out the price of the one I bought on Rt51 a few years back and your near a pizza place we haven't tried.  Also, thanks so much for sharing the post on the gardener in Sewickely, love the message boards but sometimes my brain gets boggled, really hope to get a chance to attend this summer/fall. Feel free to email me at jaemep@yahoo.com.

Jamie

Jamie (and anyone else who might stumble across this), I gave out my last "extra" tree last night, unfortunately. I have a large, vigorous lattarula I was planning to air-layer though. If you don't mind waiting about a month I should be able to give you a decent tree from it. The trees I have left from the variety I was giving away are a little small to get a decent air layer from, but I should have a few cuttings available in the fall.

Tonycm, I still have your tree! Also, it was great to meet the local forum members who dropped by for a tree and a chat.

Aaron

Thanks for the quick response Aaron, if you happen to have an extra down the road please put me on the list, thanks for sharing.

No problem. I also sent a copy of the post with a little more info to your yahoo email.

Pittsburgh people--

How'd your in ground trees fare this winter? My one in ground tree died to the roots, despite some moderate protection.

Matt, what do you have in ground and how old is it? I planted one this year, wanted to plant a few more but I'm gonna hold off til next spring.

Matt,

All of mine died to the ground also despite being wrapped up pretty well. A neighbor across the street also had his die back to the ground and his was wrapped in burlap and tarps and then enclosed in a little shed made from 2x2s and foam insulation panels. The only trees in the neighborhood that didn't take a hit are the two a block away from me that the owner buries. Some times the old ways are best, I guess.

Aaron

Travis--the in ground tree is a four year-old LSU Tiger. It's been in ground since 2011. The roots may still be alive, but everything else died over the winter.

Martin, your comment about bugs reminded me of something from years ago.  My mother in law liked Swiss Chard,  and we were growing a bunch of it.  I was more than happy to pick a bunch.  I don't use much in the way of pesticides and I didn't wash it beforehand so it wouldn't rot.  Apparently there were slugs in the chard and I heard about that for awhile.  And I think it all went in the trash.  Escargot???  

Hi Matt,
I'm new to the site.  Bought my first potted fig last spring from a guy in Massachusetts and wintered it in our garage.  I think it has died.  Can you recommend where I can get another one here in Pittsburgh?
Thanks!

Hey mbm,

Some of the nurseries around town sell fig trees. I've seen them at Brenckle's, Hahn's, and Soergel's in the North Hills and Trax and Bedner's in the South Hills. Lowe's usually has some for $10 or under. I've seen trees labeled Hardy Chicago and Brown Turkey. Some places don't name the variety. I haven't bought trees from any of them, so I can't vouch for any place in particular.

Personally, I'd recommend buying a tree from a reputable mail order place or a forum member. Hardy Chicago and Violette de Bordeaux have both done well for me. They're both widely available and relatively cheap.

If you're still looking for something in the fall, send me a pm. I'd be happy to send you some cuttings.