Why do we spend so much time, money and sweat working on our figs?

It's our own little private piece of Paradise, a personal window back to the Garden of Eden.

I feel a sense of peace in the fig orchard I find no where else.

Thanks to all my friends here who have helped me to get started with this great hobby.

The figs are amazing, but even better is the fun.

I took this picture this morning of pomegranates blooming in the fig bed.

Very best wishes to all.

John

Great looking pic John.

If I may suggest that you add a Loquat tree in your own "Little Garden of Eden".
This fruit is another hidden Gem. Not too many people care for it.

I purchased one last year and accidentally left it all Winter long in the garage with the figs.
Leaves where dead and dry but to my surprise it is growing new leaves.

I think the trees are almost carefree.

loquat is tough here in GA.  the tree blooms and fruits early.  this year is the first in a decade that anyone i know has managed to have fruit on their trees.

i concur, it is a damned overlooked fruit and they're tasty as all get-out.

Loquat is a pretty tree with big leathery leaves and the fruit is tart but tasty.  At our home in Fla, there is a volunteer young tree that had fruit first time this year and I never thought about it until I saw a bird eating one and gave it a try.  It is a taste that has to grow on you but it didn't take long, so now I take better care of that tree.  As for pomegranates, in 09 I bought 3 from Willis and since being planted, I believe the local deer saw me and they keep them browsed down almost to the ground.  Guess I will move them this fall to the back yard where my dogs can watch them.

sirlampsalot,

I remember a couple years ago I went to Palo Alto, Ca. to pick up a load.

There in the compound ( Palo Alto ) was a Loquat tree with young fruits about the size if a pea so to speak.
I asked the person there if he knew what it was and said no and never had it. Really didn't care for it either.

Breaks my heart to learn that people have the luxury right there within arms reach but don't take advantage of it.

Same goes with figs, I see many many fig trees in front of peoples homes or just about any other part of their property sitting there neglected!

Damn shame.

Thank you GeorgiaFig, that was a beautiful and true way of expressing our attraction to the Fig trees. You captured it in words real well. I really appreciated that.

Eve
Near Buffalo, NY

Well said, John. I love every minute I get to spend among my trees. I love seeing the sun shine through those tender new leaves early in the morning. It's a little oasis of balm for the soul.

After reading Bass' adoration for Jujube, that is something I may add in the future. But I do feel that the apple gets a bad rap because the typical varieties are released into supermarkets.

But for me the following I have had or would like to add because of good recommendations.

Jonagold

Mutsu-Best tasting apple i have had-taste like a cross between a yellow Delicious and a Granny smith-I believe also known as Crispin

Irared-Good dessert apple very sweet

Cox Orange Pippin

For me in the Northeast, the apple is a run away success.

If a person could plant one jujube only, what variety should be chosen? Zone 6 and warmer.

I have heard Lang is a popular choice. Even Li.

Lang is not a good variety for fresh eating, I would recommend Li. Do what I did, I started with one tree, and still have one tree, but I have 9 varieties I grafted on it. 

I purchased two Jujube trees last year from Fanicks in San Antonio, Tx.
They were well over 7-8 ft tall each.

One was Lang and the other was a numbered one, Bass knows, he told me about it.

I planted them in pots and put them in the backyard shed over Winter.
You know the rest.

I have a loquat tree..And this one produce big size fruit..If any one interesting..I can send seeds next year..I don't know if this is a right way to start this kind tree..But if any one want to get the seeds, just let me know..
Olga.

Growing good loquats from seed is unpredictable--you might get lucky, and you might not. Several years ago, a fellow fruit grower ate some great loquats at a restaurant in Spain, so he pocketed the seeds and brought them home to plant. He gave seedlings to anyone willing to keep them till they were mature enough to fruit, so I took one and planted it in the yard. I don't know how the others turned out, but the fruit on mine isn't very good, and it seems prone to what is probably fireblight. I keep thinking I should replace it with a named variety, such as 'Champagne,' but haven't gotten around to it.

That's the problem with fruits and vegetables. The ones you find in stores are most likely only ones that are shelf stable. The best fruits, to me, have no shelf stability.

Most people only taste what's available at the store. Until my wife met me, her knowledge of a fig started and ended with a Newton. Sad...

Jujube are new to me but I love fruit and vegetables. Paw Paws are another fruit I would like to try. I love Persimmons as well. Mulberry's (red) are favorite berry type fruit. There are so many better fruits than what's provided in stores.

Even different varieties of the fruits in stores are better than what's available to the general public.

I think starting Loquat from seed is almost like starting Citrus from seed.
It can take up to ten years or longer before they have fruit. If you are lucky.

Of course there will be one here or there that will produce fruit much sooner.

Dominic,

There are many things I would love to grow but just don't have the time or the space for them.

Did I ever mention the love I have for Roses?

Maybe when I get out of the trucking business or maybe the long hauls where I can be home everyday then that would be a different story.

It seems like every time I go home I have to clean up and get everything going again and when I return I get disappointed.

But I'm working on the trucking part of my life.

Love Roses-Favorite flower- pain with bugs- I have given up growing - Bugs won

I'll stick with knockouts even though they are boring.

Dom,

You must get the: Sharifa Asma by David Austin collection.
Breath taking.

The fragrance will Knock you out!

Mine died but will be ordering another one in the Fall.

Love English Roses- Look like ruffles

I have tried to baby the ones I have but the bugs have destroyed them every spring-tried commercial spraying, Fruit sprays, on and onOthers

I have or had:

JFK
Heirloom
Fragrant cloud
Blue Girl
Oranges and lemons
Americana
Others but can't remember