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Figsters in Connecticut/Rhode Island area?

I was just wondering how many fig afficicianados (afficionadas?) there are in my general area? What varieties have done best for you? Did any bomb?

I'm in RI.  

Florea, Gene's Paradiso, RdB, and Marseilles Black have been good in-ground.  Hardy Chicago was so-so, and actually proved the least resistant to cold damage.  Lattarula has yet to prove itself.  The only real issue among these varieties is that Paradiso, while delicious, is late, so the harvest comes in just under the wire.  I've recently added, or plan to add, Brooklyn White, Sal'S EL, Malta Black, and Improved Celeste to the in-ground collection.

In pots, Smith has been great; Takoma Violet ditto (as I'd expect for the Mt Etna group generally); and I have very high hopes for JH Adriatic. Blah, blah, blah. . . . This misses the point.

I don't think it's about "varieties" per se.  It's about traits.  In this area, we need fig varieties that (1) ripen early, or at least not late; (2) ripen without intense heat; (3) tolerate variable weather; and (4) tolerate humidity and rain.

So you might want to grow Black Madeira, but the figs probably won't ripen in our short season.  You might want Atreano, but the figs might turn out watery or may split in the rain.  You may want LSU Gold, but it may not thrive without high heat.  And you might want Desert King, but the brebas may drop when the mass temps go from 35 to 65 and back again.

Tony at mountainfigs does a great job evaluating the best prospects.  Visit his website.  You could also look at the "Top X" lists of experienced growers such as Kerry in NH, Herman in NJ, etc.

Of all the traits, I think that the most important is timing.  Cutting through the hype, any ripe fig is better than no fig.  An early variety can give ripe figs from early/mid August through late October.  An early-midseason variety might give ripe figs from late August, a late-midseason variety from mid September.  But a late variety might start ripening figs only in late September -- or never.

Hi.  I'm in northern RI, Z 6a, though I swear the backyard is in Z5 ;>)  

Joe nailed it.

Good to 'meet' you all!

I've been lucky. My area is 6a or 6b, and I get boosted up a notch because of a microclimate behind my garage, which seems like 7a.
I have a black, noid fig in the ground since last fall, and Bari and Danny's Delight, planted recently. I'm looking forward to next summer to see how they all do.
I also have Chicago hardy and Sandy, which I'll keep in pots, to compare....

Seems like all "Mt Etna" types (except maybe Sandy, which I don't know).  You need some variety in your life!

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