Charles,
You are welcome.
Why are you greenhousing Col de Dame and VDB?
I am greenhousing VdB. I am not greenhousing CdD. Why? I am relatively new to growing figs. While at the start of the ficus carica learning curve, I read about the virtues of CdD and VdB. They are said to be really special. Meanwhile, I can root them successfully but I have not had any luck with growing them through any two consecutive seasons. They usually die after growing slowly through the spring and summer. Thus when I learned that daygrower was able to successfully grow VdB, I was impressed. He gave me a healthy, 3 foot tree (in October 2011) with several ripening fruits. I had questions. Daygrower had answers. What I recall most was that he said it was grown in a greenhouse. Given my lack of success to date, that was good enough for me to continue the practice.
Is the cold or frost the issue or just cooler weather it doesn't like?
In the past, it just has not grown. I followed the general procedures that are detailed throughout this forum: winter rooting, spring shade hardening, and summer growing. So I am not sure why the CdD and VdB have not grown. It could be me, watering, soil, heat, humidity. I doubt it was cold or frost because they just have not survived to the winter even though each year for three years have ordered (from UC Davis), rooted, and potted them.
What issues are you seeing with the LSU Golden Celeste?
I would not call them issues. There is not enough information and data to evaluate and categorize them as such. I can offer a 6-month observation: 1) When you search the forums, there is very little information about LSU GC. 2) I purchased one fully loaded with unripe figs (50+) in July 2011. I thinned them (50%) in hopes of tasting just one. All dropped. Maybe I should have thinned them. Maybe not. Difficult to say.
Concerning your list. Please consider daygrower's comments about Alma: "Also Alma Frank has that one and it does very well for him". Check out the early posts by FMD (a.k.a. Frank). His Alma are prolific and produce good figs. On the other hand, I have a potted Alma (different source) that has not produced a fig in 2+ years. Several factors contribute to being "Best" for a particular fig in a specific year not to mention a region, zone, or location in the backyard. Weather is a primary factor. If you read any of the best of lists from year to year, there are a handful that are consistently top performers. I look forward to reading about your choices, actions, and how it works out.
After reviewing my notes, I also highly recommend Black Bethlehem, Camuna Small Black, and Celeste (get cuttings from the best one that you can find growing in your area). Next, I would strongly consider Atreano, Gino's Black, JH Adriatic, and Sal's EL. Although I had a limited sample (four or less figs) of each of these four this season, the figs were very good and have great promise. If those figs are what they were (and there are more of them) and if they are all of what they have been said to be, then it will be a good fig season.