Hey everyone. I'm a newbie to figs. I live in zone 6a in Ohio. Any suggestions for my zone? I was doing some reading and came across the Brooklyn White variety as a possibility. I'm hoping there are endless possibilities. I live on 26 acres that has been in my family for four generations. I am attempting to fill the six acres that are not farmed with a wide variety of edibles. I've made some great headway and have established close to 20 different edible fruits and berries. Would love to add figs. Suggestions and advice welcome.

Welcome to the forum!  Hardy Chicago is a good variety for your area.  This fig is in the Mt. Etna category.  Anytime you see 'Mt Etna' fig, it usually means they are productive, cold hardy, and reliable.  Violette de Bordeaux and Ronde de Bordeaux are excellent figs that are fairly cold hardy too.  Expect die-back of your trees every winter, but 99% of the time, they grow back from the roots.  Providing adequate winter protection will reduce/eliminate die back.  If we keep having winters like last year, die back is inevitable.

Welcome, you'll find plenty of info and suggestions from other  fig growers in your zone.  Here's a couple for you: Nero 600 and Florea- both these are cold hardy and Florea is very early as well- another important trait for northern grown figs.

Welcome to the forum. I recommend waiting untill all danger of frost is over before you plant.

Another in Ohio willing to take up the challenge!

Welcome to the forum.

Welcome to the forum, there are several cold country members who will give you rewarding advice.

Welcome to the forum

Welcome

Welcome aboard!

Here is good starting point for hardier fig varieties: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/cold-hardy-fig-list-by-flavor-7034227?pid=1283905781. The attached spreadsheet there has a lot of good info.

Everyone has made good suggestions, but don't be afraid of trying varieties that you find in your area that have no name. My short list of recommended varieties would be: Florea, Ronde de Bordeaux (RdB), Marseilles Black vs (MBvs or MvsB), Improved Celeste, Malta Black, and Tacoma Violet (or another Mt Etna type such as Sal's, Gino's, Hardy Chicago, etc).

Even if space is plentiful, I'd suggest planting near buildings to minimize winter loss. Every degree helps!

From one newb to another welcome!

Welcome to the forum of the most helpful fig people from another learning newbie.

Welcome!
All of us were newbies once - some of us still are :)

Andrae,
Welcome to THE forum where it all happens :)

Welcome. You will find great info here. If you are planning on planting figs in the ground there will be a little effort involved in getting them through the first couple of years. Like wrapping them in the winter. But it is certainly possible. There are prob 15-20+ varieties that will be good for you. I currently have cuttings available for a Yellow Greek variety that will work for you.

Welcome.

I think MNedelcu lives in Ohio.  If so he's our resident expert in your area.  Search for his posts to see what's done well for him.  He sells great quality cuttings on ebay very inexpensively for the variety they are.

Thanks everyone! I spent a lot of time yesterday reading about different varieties (hence my wishlist). I've only ever had dried figs and of course fig newtons haha...never eaten a fresh fig (I hear a collective gasp from the community) and I don't want my first experience to be from the grocery store. My goal is to keep them more bush form versus tree form to make winter protection easier to handle. My ultimate goal is 20 to 30 varieties. I would like to acquire some not suited to my zone and keep them potted perhaps and move them inside during the winter. Once again, thanks for the welcome everyone. :-)

Btw... See this thread for cutting information..

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/cuttings-info-for-f4f-newbies-2015-7143720?pid=1285098638#post1285098638

Welcome to the forum.

Welcome.  I never had a ripe fig till a few weeks ago.  When you do I hope it is as good as mine was. 

Welcome to the forum.  Good luck as I think we have many northern grower who can give you great advice.  You've already got some good suggestion.   I believe Black Bethlehem is cold hardy too.

Thanks Chuck, I'll have to check that guy out. No worries man. If it's not good for my zone in the ground, then I can grow it in a container and bring it in during the winter

I am a newbie myself. You might want to try an Olympian. They are hardy to zone 6 by what I have read. I have one and live in zone 7. They are said to have large fruit. I hope to find out next year. Good luck with all your figs.