Hello Fig Friends,

As some of you may know, I'm really new to figs but this "dreaded fig disease" has really got me good.. Even though I've yet to even taste a ripe fresh fig, my fascination with this fruit began many years ago with my now 96 y/o grandmother who shared stories with me about how her father brought their fig tree to their new home in Newark, NJ from Salerno, Italy. She smiled & laughed about how she & her 13 siblings would feast on the delicious fruits their special tree gave them every summer and fall for many years. I never tired of hearing her tell these great stories & I told her one day I would grow a fig tree for her again..

Fast forward to present, although thank God we still have my gram with us, she has developed dementia over the last 5 years. After a series of falls, (the last one broke bones in her face) last year my parents, aunts, & uncles reluctantly decided it was time that she needed around the clock care & she was moved into a nursing home about 7 miles from my home. I visit her weekly (she never forgets who I am thank goodness), but I often find her staring out the window looking at "the beautiful trees". This sparks her memory of her most favorite tree, and she will excitedly tell me the stories again that I mentioned earlier..

This got me thinking.. Could I possibly find her a variety of fig tree that is particularly well suited to container living and could be happy in her south-facing window in the home? I know if anyone could advise me on how to make this happen it's all of you.. With your combined experience, wisdom, and know how behind me, I just might be able to pull this off in time for Christmas.. If anyone has a particular variety that just screams "PERFECT" or even "just might work" please do share that with me.. Or any other tips on how to make fig trees primarily kept indoors fruit, please do let me know any ideas you may have. I was thinking of getting her a small lamp for extra light, but I obviously need to clear that with the nursing home first. She does have a huge south facing window though.. Hoping that may just be enough..

Thank you for reading & just know that any advice at all you may share with me on how to make this gift a real possibility for my gram will be appreciated more than words can ever express!

Hey, my family is also from Salerno. I wish I knew of a variety of fig that would work for growing indoors but I'm afraid I don't. Does the nursing home have a garden? Or perhaps you could get special permission to plant one outside.

Agree with above, I doubt an indoor plant would ripen figs but have never tried it.

Perhaps just having a potted fig in her room would be pleasant for her. Or a potted one outside the window where it could fruit. Or have her take a ride every week with you to your home in fig season to sample yours.

Good luck Jamie!

What a beautiful story, Jamie0507. I'm new at growing figs so not much help. Maybe first confirm your options with the nursing home is the first start. If they dont allow a tree then maybe order something made of figs is a good option. Not sure what is available near u but i imagine there is something. If they allow your grandmother to have a tree, I would ask your local nursery if the can special order a fig tree that they recommend. Goid luck and do post the outcome. Very touching story.

Thank you all for taking the time to answer my posting, you've definitely given me plenty of food for thought..

@Aaron That's so cool to hear your family is from Salerno too.. Who knows, maybe we are distant cousins! Lol, stranger things have happened as I do have a really large family & we are from the same general area in Jersey too :) I've often wondered if there was a particular variety of fig that is known to come from that part of Italy.. Maybe you know of one? What a wonderful idea too about inquiring with the nursing home to see whether or not they would allow me to plant a fig tree outside, perhaps within the view of her window like Ed suggested.. They don't have a garden of any kind but perhaps this is another idea that I can also introduce to them! I would be happy to volunteer my time to help out with a project like that, I'm sure it could bring back happy memories for many residents .. Thanks a bunch!

@Ed That is another idea I've thought about with taking her for weekly rides to my house during fig season to let her pick from my potted plants (hoping to definitely get figs by next season!) I've also given a tree to my parents that we named after her lol, so that she can have one there too :) The only problem is I'm wishing I could bring one into her everyday view.. Unfortunately though, fig trees are made to bask in the full glory of the sun to produce that heavenly fruit she so fondly remembers.

@Meg thank you for your encouragement! I think we both have only recently been bitten by the "must grow more figs" bug lol, but I want you to know I value your support & advice very much. That's a great suggestion about finding a local nursery but there aren't very many in the local area that carry fig trees. The one I did find really didn't know much about them other than to say "protect them in the winter" lol, but that's probably due to the fact that I live in a state that I like to refer to as "The arctic tundra of PA" lol! Although the weather is beautiful here from late spring until late Oct, so I shouldn't be so dramatic.. Hehe..

The tundra? Lol...well i get what u mean. You have a good idea about bringing her to your place for figs. She will love it! And naming the tree after her is sweet. Grandmas are special...

Hi,
If she has a balcony, you could put the pot there during the growing season and bring it to your basement during the winter.
Try to find a tree with a good breba crop. The usual suspects are "Desert king" and "Brown turkey".
"Dalmatie" is able to ripen both crops here, and should be able to ripen most of them for her.
You then have all the unknowns that might do well... But you'll have the test them yourself ...
Good luck !

I didn't catch where you are living currently, but I wonder if you are close enough for a road trip to see Bass and his nursery? Healthy trees, a wealth of info, and he is always really nice about answering questions later about tree care/health. Google his interview about saving rare figs and NPR, he may have ideas on some varieties that come from Salerno. This is such a sweet idea, best of luck to you!

Sorry to hear about your gram. I don't think a potted fig is a great idea. Id think even a bonsai tree of some sort might be better. One that doesn't require a lot of work, if such a thing exists.

Get an artificial fig tree and supply it with figs during ripening season? Just a suggestion. Fig trees also have a scent that might like go through out the rooms and offend other people. I dont know if you guys are used to the fig smell but others might not.

Hi Jamie, my Grandma was from Salerno too!! I loved reading your post and you are so thoughtful wanting to get your Gram a fig tree. I don't know what variety you could get. If it isn't possible to get a fig tree, maybe you can get a nice framed print of a fig tree to hang on the wall for your Gram. Good luck and best wishes.