Hi everybody!

First off I want to say this is a pretty cool site.  I started researching fig tree varieties looking for something interesting and found you guys!  Well, my situation has become difficult suddenly hahaha.  Does anyone have advice as to what variety I should plant for my first fig tree?  Typically you see brown turkey or black mission figs at the nursery along with the occasional kadota.  I was hoping I could get some advice from someone who lives around here.  I've been scanning through the forum and there is a lot of choices and information to look at!  Any help would be appreciated.

Best Regards,

Jess

This is information from your new fig buddy, Suzi!  You can't go wrong with Black Mission, BUT, it's common and really, really good... hard to beat!  You could go really, really wrong with Brown Turkey.

However, we here like to live on the edge, and try the unusual and exciting figs.  Our climates dictate what will or will not work for us.

Welcome to the forum, and put your location and wish list in your signature under the control panel link.

Take care and welcome!
suzi

Welcome to the forum, Jess! Not from your area so I will defer. Good luck!

Welcome.

If you are in the central valley, you will have the heat to grow anything. Skip Kadota and Brown Turkey. Black Mission will be good. Find a Panache. If you don't, I'll have them available end of February. After that, the world will be your oyster.

Why not be ambitious?  You might be able to get caprified fruit.  Get a Zidi!

Thank you Pitangadiego, I will avoid the kadota and bt.  Black mission and Panache sound good.  What about the Black Madiera?  The notes say it's the best tasting fig.  Is this true???

Oh and thanks to everyone else that replied!

There are many mission types.  Get one of Jon's Vista figs.  or a Mission NL.  They're better than the average Mission.  How many figs do you have room for?  A JH Adriatic will be good also.

Look here

http://encantofarms.com/2012_available.html

1.3 Acres, about half of it is landscaped and the other half is empty pasture.  I have had what I believe was fresh mission figs from a friends house years ago and they were quite good.  It was from an approx. 10 ft tall well established tree.  I'd like to plant 2 trees and see how it goes, and I prefer to get quality stock the first time so I can avoid wasted effort on something that may or may not be good.  

You are set with all that land. Get one of all the good ones you read about here. Limit yourself to just 1 black mission if you are going to get it because once you get hooked you want variety.

You need at least 5.  Vista (Mission), Kathleen Black, Adriatic JH, Maltese Falcon, and at least one of (Atreano, Bataglia Green, Panache, Alma, Stella).  Then there's Ronde de Bordeaux, Black Madeira, Ischia Black, Sal's Corleone, Violette de Bordeaux and on and on.  0.6 acres is enough to start, though  :)

Shah, I'm not yet familiar with what a capri fig is yet.  Sounds interesting and could be a possibility because it's always fun to tell your friends a what kind of  cool variety you have growing in your backyard.  I must look up the Zidi now...

What Shah8 was suggesting is your being in the central valley you should have the fig wasp flying around due to the commercial orchards. With that in mind you should be able to grow fig trees that need pollination (caprification) to set fruit such as the Zidi or Calimyrna which are Smyrna (female) figs. If you go that way you might want to invest in a caprifig (male fig) to ensure you have the wasp on a continuous basis.

Until you get more into figs I'd stick with the Common Figs which do not need pollination like the ones Jon (pitangadiego) mentioned. Panachee is one of my favorites as is the Mission. Bob's list of fig varieties is excellent too.
Sue

Hi Sue! Thanks for the advice.  Well, then as far as mission figs go.  What would you think is a good start.  I know there is the Mission NL, Vista, etc.  I was starting to veer strongly toward vista.

Jvan,
Both are excellent. I have the Vista, I've not tried the Mission NL but hear it's excellent. Violette de Bordeaux is another excellent fig and readily available thru Jon and others as well as online nurseries.
Sue