I’ve learned a lot from this forum and have been impressed with the depth of knowledge about figs that many of you have.  I just started growing figs last Fall when I began rooting cuttings.  I live in Maryland zone 6B and started with a highly recommended unknown variety that a friend who lives nearby had growing in her yard.  I figured I couldn’t go wrong since this variety grows very well in my climate.  It produces figs with yellow/golden skin and reddish flesh.  I then collected three others: Violette de Bordeaux, Celeste and Chicago Hardy.  I plan to put three figs in the ground and keep a couple in containers.

I only have room for one more variety. Given the four varieties that I already have, the mid-atlantic location, and given that our climate seems to be getting warmer and wetter, what variety do you think I should get?  From what I have read here and elsewhere I would want both cold hardiness and tolerance for wet conditions as well as other qualities we all want in figs (i.e. excellent flavor, good production, etc).  Anyway, my thinking is that with 5 varieties that complement each other, and have their own strengths and weaknesses, that the chances of have a good crop in any given year are greater.   Thanks, Steve

Sals genes strain, marseilles vs are 2 with cold hardiness and tolerance for wet weather.  There are many others but that should be a start.

R d Bordeaux.
Desert King.

Thanks for the suggestions.  Most of these I hadn't previously considered so this is indeed useful.  I have read a lot of good things about Ronde de Bordeaux but so far haven't had any luck getting cuttings and am not sure spending nearly $100 on ebay is worth it since there are a lot of other interesting varieties that I don't have.  On the other hand, if anyone will have extra cuttings of RdB later in the fall I would cover all costs of shipping/handling!

Both of the above suggestions are good (Sal, Marseilles VS Black, RDB..).
If you don't get RDB cuttings this fall, my RDB plant may be able to yield a cutting or two next fall if you wish to check with me then. I will not pay that much on eBay (for a different reason!).

Thanks for the offer Ottowan.  I'll keep it in mind but I've done some reading on the other varieties and am leaning toward the Marseilles vs.  If you or anyone else reading this will have cuttings for this variety later in the fall I would be very grateful.  Alternatively I'll look into getting cuttings from Encanto farms or UC Davis.  I have Marseilles vs is difficult to to propagate via cuttings - is this true?

Rewton, Contact me via PM.

I had no trouble at all propogating Marseilles VS from cuttings.

I just planted the cuttings in-ground in the Spring in a bed of good quality potting soil on the south side of a large mother fig tree (to give them some shade in mid-day through the summer) and keep them well watered. By the end of the summer they were solid well branched 2 to 3 foot trees.

Get your cuttings from a top quality source like Herman and you will do fine.

Best wishes.

John