1.  I read people saying XXX fig has a strong berry taste.....what would the experts opinions be on the fig that has the most berry taste that would grow in the humid south.  Just so I know what fig to buy.  Having only ever tasted Celeste it is all knew to me but I sure like berries.

2.  How do figs do growing near mature trees?  I have a couple of very tall live and water oaks in my yard.  Those trees have a very sparse and widely spaced limb growth habit so under them even near the trunk is almost 100% full sun.   yes no?  Just looking for fig spots:)  

Well, I can't answer your deep south question because we have very little humidity here.  Many of the dark black figs and green figs with red/pink flesh have a berry flavor.  Some split in humidity.  The ones with the yellow or gold or brown outsides and brown/gold flesh have more of a figgy/honey flavor.  But nothing is in stone.

As long as the mature trees don't have too many spreading roots, figs should do fine as long as they are in sun.  But old roots may have depleted the nutrients in the soil so you might need to cut a few roots and really ammend the soil.  Trees consider another tree, competition :-)

Suzi

WillsC,

You are most likely going to want to grow your fig in a container being down in Florida. The soils in Florida are extremely acidic from being a hystic type of soil for starters and are full of nematodes. You really ever get low enough in temps in the winter to worry about brining indoors. When I lived in Orlando, Fl the winters never got below 40 for the most part. 

Go to older neighborhoods and see if you can find in ground fig trees. I am rooting about 30 cuttings of a 60 year old tree that has been in ground it's whole life and has been exposed to snow with temps down to zero and summer heat up to 110. The neighbors around the tree call the tree "berry delish" for the berry flavor. 

Chris,

I am fortunate to live on a lake and have very nice soil (by Florida standards).  We do get cold, sometimes in to the mid 20's.  I have zero nematode problems here.....have never seen a gall or messed up root yet and I have a large veggie garden.  I do put down about 20 tree company truck loads of chips a year that they deliver to my home and I use a lot of rabbit manure so that could be why the nematodes don't bother me. 

Yes the soil here is mildly acidic but our well water is very alkaline as we are on a limerock aquifer well. Each plant gets put on a micro sprinkler I have yet to put lime on my figs and they do great in ground.  For example the green Ischia went from 2' to 8' feet just since this spring.  The limerock water sure gives my blueberries fits though:)  I ended up having to put in a 300 gallon contact tank and acidify the water for them down to PH 5.  They are on their own pump and irrigation lines. Takes 3 fills of that tank to water all my blueberries.  

Maybe Hardy Chicago would be a good one for you.  It has a sweet berry flavor, and most people here in colder climates would have cuttings of that.  I already promised a baby plant to somebody else, but I do have Marseilles Vs Black.

Suzi

Willis,

Others who have trialed more varieties might be better resources than myself, but I have read a lot of postings on here that rave about the berry flavor of violette de Bordeaux ( VdB). It would grow in your area, and a good source is edible landscaping. I have a small VDB, but it isn't big enough to produce fruit yet.

On site selection you can grow figs in partial shade just keep in mind that the shadier it is the taller the bush will grow, and the less fruit it will produce. I would plant as close to full sun as I could get.

Celeste is more brown sugar and almost no berry flavor at all, really.  I've had plenty of both and can firmly assert that this is a major difference between it and the 'berry flavored' figs.  Celeste is sweet and figgy, if dried it has overwhelming brown sugary fig newton quality to it. 

JH Adriatic, Negronne or VdB, and Sal EL/Gene will offer you awesome berry flavor and will grow readily in the south.  All are dark red interior, JHA is green while the others are darker/black.  Sal EL/Gene is a bit more acidic and reminds me of raspberries.  JH Adriatic is like a thick, dark berry jam, as is Negronne.  My VdB hasn't fruited yet, so can't comment.  I'm told it's similar to Negronne.

Thank you Suzi.  I will add those to my "get" list.

Womack,

I will look at edible landscaping, thank you.

Satellitehead,

That helps more than you know..is exactly the kind of information I was after.  I will start looking for those varieties today.  If you happen to read this reply can you suggest an other good commercial sources I can trust?  Womac suggested Edible landscaping and going to go look at that site now.  

Again, thanks all it is appreciated by a newbie.  

Negronne or VdB in large container should do ok. even with weeks of rain, my VdB only had one or two that splitted. and it retained the taste of strong berry.

WillisC,

Once you hang around here and learn which figs do well in your part of the earth, go to the control panel link above, and in the signature part, under your zone, add a line for your wish list.  You will be surprised at the generous offers of cuttings you will receive from members here.  My wish list has changed a dozen times over because my wishes are fulfilled.  But nothing is free :-))  Pay it forward is not mandatory, but certainly appreciated by everybody here.  Many of us have received our collection free, almost free, and some we pay for from trusted members.

Good luck to you!

Suzi

Suzi,

I have already seen the generosity of this forum....quite an amazing place.  

If more people  shared the attitude of those in this forum, imagine what the world could accomplish!