Hi all,

I'm a newbie (as in, haven't started yet) to the world of fig growing, but am interesting in planting a Marseilles/Oregon Prolific up here in the western Oregon Cascades (zone 7b, I think). There are no other fig trees growing within a bunch of miles as far as I know, and it's just now occurring to me that if the right kind of wasp isn't around, I probably won't get any fruit. Do the wasps follow the trees? Any insights/advice?

Many thanks,
Anna

Welcome Anna. Although I doubt you get the wasp as far north as Oregon, the standard Marseilles doesn't need wasp. Most 'American' trees don't. Even Desert King--a popular PNW variety--can have a good first crop without wasp. Calimyrna (aka "Sarilop" ) is the only popular fig I can  think of readily bred on West Coast that needs wasp. We usually call self-fertile figs "common" figs. "Smyrna"-type figs require wasp for any edible fruiting. "San Pedro"-type figs bear a first crop without wasp, but need the wasp for the second or main crop. 99% of all figs traded and discussed in the US will be common types as very few places in the US can sustain wasp culture.

Welcome Anna, you can grow tons of figs without the wasp. Go for it!

Welcome.  I used to be in Oregon.  You might want to PM OregonRain, who just joined and lives near Astoria.  I grew figs in OR when I was there (near Roseburg) and got figs to fruit.  There are 2 guys near Roseburg who have small fig orchards with in-ground trees. 

i thought you work for NASA and was going to send a fig tree to space station or something... oregon will work :)

Ha ha! Next stop the moon!

Thanks so much for your replies, everyone. I'm deeply encouraged and hope this is the start of something really beautiful. Learning new figgy things every day. :-)

Welcome Anna

Hi Anna welcome to The Forum :)
maybe we can help you chose a better match for your zone if you like,  ...  would you like that? :)

Hello and welcome!

Hi Anna, and welcome! There has been much discussion here of a newly discovered variety called 'Olympian'. I think you may want to look into it, it is supposed to do wonderfully in the PNW. Also, Raintree Nursery in Washington state sells varieties for the NW. Figs are easy, have fun. Gary

Greetings Anna and be welcome..

Anna, welcome and you are surrounded by figs, you just don't know. Daniel and Sarah can make you drool with their collections. If you ever come up to Seattle, I have an excellent dark fig that I can share also.

Aloha and welcome, Anna!

Nate

Welcome Anna

Hello Anna and welcome to the world of figs.

Norhayat

What a welcome! Thanks, everyone. I'm definitely open to suggestions of other varieties, but am probably going to go with the Marseilles/Oregon Prolific since my local (well, local as in Portland, 2 hours away) carries it and I've read it's good for zones 6-9. Also want a greener fruit to help keep the birds off. :-) Negronne is another one the nursery recommended, although not green of course.

Really looking forward to fig season and the neighborhood gleanings to be had when I'm in town...

Anna, Negronne is very tastey !! One of my best producers so far. Lots of us are using 4x6 organza "favor" bags. 

Welcome to the forum, great place for us newbies to learn from the masters.  :)

Also welcome to the forum, Anna. I am learning from the master fig people here myself everyday!
I am in the same zone you are...sort of, 7b... and I think Negronne will be perfect for you. Looks like Olympian would be super for you in the NW as well. Good luck!  Joe, Athens, GA, the home of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Pattee, do you use one bag for each fig? Or how does that system work?

Also, what is FMV?

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum.  I can't identify.  I'm in Fig Paradise AKA Southern California, but there are so many here in your boat, and they are hugely successful with growing figs.  The variety is important.  You have many fig members in your part of the world who will give you lots of help.

Suzi