But I've been a Fig-ophile for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, I knew figs were wondrous things and I always worked hard to endear myself to friends and family that had the trees!

I was born and raised in Coastal Ga but I'm living in the foothills of eastern Tenn. I never thought to pot a fig tree besides my Weeping ornamental Ficus, so I never had a real fruit bearing tree. My knowledge of fig trees was that they were huge and in the ground. My aunt used to hang fake snakes in her tree to keep the birds at bay. I found that out the hard way one day and nearly dropped dead of a heart attack. I'm terrified of snakes.

Hubby and I just recently purchased a home and I'm itching to get my first tree in the ground. They tell me that Brown Turkey and Celeste are the best for this area (zone 7b) and a local nursery told me they would get some in around Sept. for Fall planting. I'm just wanting to do it Now! Been lookin on eBay and reading lots here. Thanks to all the wonderful folks here for the great info. Knowledge is Power!

From one GA Peach to another, welcome! Sorry to see you have abandoned us for the Big Orange. There are a couple of TN folks on the
forum that I am sure will give you some information.

welcome to the forum. don't get BT. Celeste.. depends on which one.. they might drop all the figs. get VdB ((Violet de Bordeaux/Negronne). perfect first fig tree. it readily available and has that "wow" taste. easy to grow and very productive.  

Welcome! I got into growing fig trees by just knocking on the door of a family down the street with some gorgeous fig trees in their front yard (maybe Celeste?) and taking some suckers off of their hands. Clearly, if someone in the neighborhood has a productive tree, it should do well in your yard. As I'm finding with my first mature plant, though, don't trust the tag on anything you purchase unless it's from a F4F approved seller. :-)

Pete, just out of curiosity because I have one on order to come once the weather cools off, is a VdB a good one to start in-ground?

JustPeachy, WELCOME !! I think you can do better variety-wise, but I have both Brown Turkey and Celeste. They aren't as tasty as others I have but I like all ripe figs. All of them.

Pete, have you had a VdB/Negronne in ground in zone 7? I'd heard they wren't that cold hardy but I can't find that reference any longer so I'm wondering just how cold hardy they are. thx

Welcome to the forum.  Hope you enjoy it here.  Check out some of the "start here" threads that Jon (the forum moderator) has listed... there's one on "Best figs in my location", where you can get advice from others in similar climate/zone.  Here's that thread:
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Start-Here-The-Basics-FAQ-Recommendations-Links-6111601

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Best-figs-at-your-location-4800578

Mike   central NY state, zone 5a

Welcome!  VdB and Hardy Chicago are great starter figs.  Hardy Chicago will do fine in the ground.  I don't know about the VdB.  Edible Landscaping in VA has both but their prices are a little high.  Their plants are good quality, though.  Desert King is another good one that fruits early giving you a longer season.

not too sure about in ground. i keep all my trees in container. i move them into garage in winter. it's mild enough here, but i rather not chance it. i hear Hardy Chicago is another great variety that will do well in ground here. my Hardy Chicago is still very young, and it will also be in container. 

Welcome Peachy, nice to have you. I have to agree with other members, don't get a brown turkey ;(
I know some people love them but most, not so much. I will second the suggestion for Hardy Chicago in the ground. Easy to get and cold hardy, delicious too.

Peachy, nurseries will tell you that about Brown Turkey and Celeste because that's what they carry and propagate. If you want some good tasting figs, here's my recommendation:

Improved Celeste
Marseilles Black VS
Atreano
Emerald Strawberry
JH Adriatic
Tacoma Violet
And many more!!!!

Stay here, we are a great bunch of folks with a passion for figs!

Hi! I just ordered some fig plants online from Rabbit Ridge Nursery ( Coats, NC). They sell well known varieties. They came beautifully packaged and the shipping price was very reasonable, as well as the price of one-gal. plants. Elizabeth.

Welcome to the forum.  I'm new here too.  I just received my first trees a couple of months ago as gifts from my brother, who is on this forum also.  Good luck with your figging.  =)

Welcome.

Howdy. You should get rid of the Ficus benjamina,it can cause you to develop an allergy to eating  figs by exposing you to allergens on a daily basis through household dust. Rare, but possible. Welcome.

I grow many non fruiting ficus, I think the chance of developing an allergy is pretty slim. Wouldn't want to give up my ficus collection!!!! As has been said several times you can do much better than Brown turkey and Celeste, although there are some very good cultivars of both. Welcome and good luck!!!

Just peachy. I sent you a personal message

Welcome to the forum, I also am fairly new here. Started out with one fig last year and got hooked. My collection now has 15 figs and I am rooting 6 Panache which are all thriving. Now I am looking for more to root and new varieties to collect.  This hobby is addictive so be prepared.

Thank you for such a warm welcome! I'm really lookin forward to getting my first fig in the ground here and putting down some roots. And thanks for pointing me toward some non-standard trees like the ones at the local nursery. Ignorance is bliss. I've seen lots of different types on Ebay but had never heard of any of them before. 

And I didn't know about the houseplant ficus causing allergies. It's a monster of a plant that I've had for over 9yrs and it lives on the porch in the summer. I actually use it for my Xmas tree in the wintertime, so I doubt I'll be getting rid of it anytime soon, but it's nice to have the information.

brown turkey is a good fig common people .
maybe not a shiny and juicy one but still good.

If anyone is worried about developing the sensitivity over the winter, or friends or family who may already be allergic, then the thing to do is take a tiny bite of the first fig (of the season, or ever) and chew but do not swallow, spit it out and wait 5-10 minutes. If there is no reaction then hurray! no allergy. The reaction can be life threatening if a large amount is eaten fast because of airway swelling. Ficus sensitivity also extends to other fruits like kiwis and bananas.

It is also a good trick to know when trying a new species of mushroom, people think they are either allergic to mushrooms or not. Not the case always, many times people will be allergic to one single species or a family of mushrooms.

Hi, I am also in the foothills and zone 7









Welcome.  I am also in zone 7b but in the SC side of the mountains. Neither my husband or I are Korean, but my daughter is currently attached to a Hospital in Korea. When I started growing figs, I started out with what I thought was a BT and a Celeste. To make a long story short, it appears that my BT is a Brunswick/Magnolia. All of my figs produce every year with no drop and are growing inground in red clay that a brickmaker could love. I covered the plants the first couple of years and now I just pile up a thick layer of mulch and leaves around my trees in early winter and pull it back when the worst of the freezing and thaw cycles are past. I have added 3 new varieties to my mix this year and hope they will do as well. Happy to share whatever I have learned about protecting my figs in winter. I have only been growing for about 6 years but am having a lot of fun with them. Also growing pears, peaches, plums, apricots and assorted berries. Climate here is so much more amenable than it was in Maine or Upstate NY where I lived before.