Hi,

I've been casually following the forum and decided it was time to plunge in.

I don't have any trees yet but would like something with flavor instead of just sweet; small trees that may be grown in pots. A closed eye would be nice as I have severe ant problems, but I guess I can keep them away from the fruit with Tanglefoot.

I'm considering Black Jack, Chicago Hardy and Violette De Bordeaux as they are easiy obtained. Would these suit my needs?

Any other suggestions? Maybe a light variety?

Thanks,

gary

Hello "Waiting"....

Welcome to the forum.  Nothing in your posting, or personal data, gives us a clue about your growing experiences, or, your location...how you plan on growing the trees, and how you will overwinter.  Do you plant to grow in ground, or, in containers?

Members on this forum can be very helpful...just give some more details.

Good luck, and keep the postings coming.

Frank

You're lucky to be in Cali - seems like you guys can grow nearly anything you please down there. 

Welcome!

I think Panache would be good for you, you lucky duck.

Welcome, Gary!

There are lots of variaties that will meet your needs (especially if you can control the ants). Consider Marseillaise Black also.

Welcome Gary!  Where in Central California are you?  Do you get snow?  If so, how much?  If citrus and olives grow where you are, figs will surely grow!  They will definitely grow anywhere, but in colder areas will need protection.

We have so many sub-climates here, and it's tough to know the borders.  That's where Sunset Western Garden Magazine comes in great!

Violette D Bordeaux has an open eye, and might not be the best choice for your ants.  They taste delicious though!

On your profile in the control panel on this site, you can put your planting zone in your signature, and also your wish list.

Suzi

If you are in the central valley, you can grow any fig you want, because you will have the heat for them. Fresno/Madera area is where the commercial growing is done.

Welcome ot the forum, Looks like you are in an excellent fig growing area.

Thanks for the "welcomes" and recommendations. Thanks to Suzi for noting that Violette De Bordeaux is open-eye.

I'm in Modesto (USDA 9/Sunset 14). Winter is pretty mild, we may get a few days in the high 20s. It's snowed here 3 times in my lifetime.

Fresno (90 miles south) is seldom a destination but often on the way to somewhere else. I was always curious about the well tended fig orchards along the freeway near Chowchilla, especially wondering why the trees were so widely spaced.

I grow citrus, pomegranates, cherries, apples, peaches, grapes and brambles. I prefer in-ground planting but that's not practical for me right now.

Containers only seem to exacerbate the ant problem, giving them places to nest in and under. Due to the ants, scale is a problem, especially on the brambles. I don't bother with cucumbers or melons because of the aphid "farming". They even farm scale in the blossom end of the pomegranates. Even if I could control the ones in my yard they just migrate over from the neighbors.

Hence, my preference for closed eye, though I think that severely limits my choices. I think I can squeeze in four small (8') trees, so suggestions are welcome.

Regards,

gary

Gary, Tanglefoot applied to the trunks of your trees will eliminate your problem with ants.  Google that!

Suzi

Recent ant problem thread

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Ants-on-my-fig-tree-5481147

Thanks, Suzi and Barry. The ants don't really affect the fruit I currently grow (their aphid farming will kill a vine plant, though), but I figured with the open eye they would be all over figs.

Tanglefoot should keep them off the canopy but I'll have to make sure the trees don't contact unprotected trees.

I didn't mention earlier but it would be nice to have varieties that ripen at different times

gary