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spiff2

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 

Hello
I have these in the ground, Ronde de Bordeaux, Strawberry Verte and Zingarella. I plan on getting a cutting of Violette de Bordeaux this winter when they come available. I have room for 2 more. My question to everyone is for suggestions of which types you would chose. I live in Greenville SC zone 7.

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Frankallen

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Hey William, the two I would suggest is Gino's Black and J H Adriatic ! : )
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Frank from Bama-  Zone 7-b Alabama

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rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
A lot of people want a variety of figs based on flavor, some want all their figs ripening at once and some want ripe figs spread out over the season.  Some prioritize but want more than 1 thing.  If you get some idea of what you want these 2 threads may offer some help.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/cold-hardy-fig-list-by-flavor-7034227

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/fig-flavor-group-master-list-8109253
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Sas

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
If I had to chose between a Violette de Bordeaux and a Chicago Hardy, I would go with a Chicago Hardy especially that you have a Ronde de Bordeaux.


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Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B
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brettjm

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Just for contrast, I might get myself something sweet and sugary.  I've got an Excel in ground (we'll see how it survives the winter) that made me half a dozen figs this year.  They were excellent.  Some splitting with all the rain, but nothing severe enough to keep me from enjoying them.  Even when they were 1-2 days away from really being ready, they were really good.  It's been a phenomenal grower too.  LSU gold or Peter's Honey might make good alternatives, but I've tasted neither.  Another member with a lot of experience says Excel is simply fantastic in the south.

After that, I've really enjoyed my Marseilles Black.  I know its hardy in ground in zone 7 (well, it better be, based on all the reports of it of folks growing it in the NE...guess I'll find out this winter).  It's nice and tangy, has a touch of an acidic bite, and was very rich.  I haven't tasted enough varieties to know for sure, but I would say it embodied the "rich berry" flavor profile pretty dang well.  I thought it was a nice contrast to the Ronde de Bordeaux I've got in ground, too.  Arguably the most flavorful of those I've tasted, honestly. 

Anyways, as a third choice I might recommend Adriatic JH.  I aaalllmmoooooossst put mine in ground, then decided I was too paranoid it would die in the winter.  Mine was pretty good in a pot.  It was my biggest fig in my collection, without question.  Sadly, I never got a truly ripe one.  One was bruised, and the rest all ripened during two massive downpours (4-5" each).  Naturally, they starting splitting, so I ate them.  Decently good, but I'm guessing they will be much better if I let them ripen 1 or 2 more days.  I've got 2 left on my plant I'm excited to try.  Notably, it was my latest ripening variety, just so you know.

Finally, I might consider brooklyn white.  I was a damn fool, and grew 3 plants of it.  Gave 2 away.  Mine 3rd one died :(  I plan to re-acquire it this winter, if I can find cuttings.  Supposed to be excellent, dependable, cold hardy, and makes decent brebas.  Pretty much an all around winner.  It's a good grower (you know, before I gave them away) as well.

Hope this at least gives you something to mull over.
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spiff2

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
No consensus yet. I can see this is going to be a difficult decision since these will be my last 2 spots. And I guess the cuttings that come available will be a major determining factor.
pino

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
For a cool zone you have selected a nice set of figs! 
These will ripen main crop figs in several flavour groups from late August to freezing.

You may want to add some good breba producers that will ripen figs in July and Early august.  Desert King, Sicilian red and black and some other figs are good breba producers that fill the gap nicely.
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Pino, zone 6, Niagara,  JCJ Acres
Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.
spiff2

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Hey Joe
I see one of your hobbies is winemaking. Ever make any fig wine? Muscadine wine is the big thing around here.
spiff2

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
I had not given much thought to breba crops. Most everything I had read is that they were somewhat inferior to the main crop and were very sparse in their production. Is this correct.
jdsfrance

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Hi,
Longue d'aout and Desert King.
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pino

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Quote:
Originally Posted by spiff2
I had not given much thought to breba crops. Most everything I had read is that they were somewhat inferior to the main crop and were very sparse in their production. Is this correct.
Hello

For most common figs the 1st crop (breba) are looked at as extras they are nice to have but the real production is in the main crop. 
Breba figs really do depend on the location.  It seems in places like California with the regular drought and heat stress (like we had this year) the slightest stress to the tree will cause them to drop or produce inferior fruit.  So they don't seem that popular there.

However in cool zones like the PNW and here in the NE when protected San Pedro type (desert king) and some common type (red and black Sicilian) will produce a sizable 1st crop.  These 2 varieties I can attest are delicious and much better tasting than many main crop figs.

The other great benefit is that they give you ripe figs in July so you don't need to wait for the main crop in ground figs that are starting to ripen now.

Having said that for many other common figs it seems to be a struggle to produce 1st crop and it delays the main crop so I drop the brebas on my main crop producers so they focus on the main crop.

By the way I haven't tried fig wine yet.

Attached a couple of photos of my breba producing figs;

Attached Images
jpeg dk_fiorone_e_fichi_IMG_1507.jpg (127.40 KB, 12 views)
jpeg dk_breba_overripe_IMG_1534.jpg (190.79 KB, 11 views)
jpeg sicilian_black_jr_60_g_IMG_2299.jpg (209.32 KB, 15 views)
jpeg sb_IMG_20160721_202019.jpg (106.11 KB, 12 views)


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Pino, zone 6, Niagara,  JCJ Acres
Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.
Windowsill_Gardens

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Personally, I'm trying to represent a diversity of the fig flavor groups in my little container forest. That way I can experience a range of what figs can offer. You don't have sugar or honey figs represented yet, so getting one of each of those might be fun for you. I'm still waiting for my first sugar and honey figs to ripen (might have to replace my TC Italian Honey/White Marseilles as it hasn't fruited in two seasons). Celeste seems to be the most popular sugar fig; I went Salce and it seems a good match so far for my short growing season.

If you have a strong preference for dark figs and simply want to continue with those, Hardy Chicago is terrific. It is both productive and delicious. It's also quite hardy.
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Danielle: Massachusetts, zone 5
spiff2

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
I have been giving a lot thought to the Italian Honey or Peters Honey. I thought my Strawberry Verte would be under sugar. Even though it has berry in the name the Verte and the Green Ischia show listed under sugar. 
sbmohan

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Don't overlook southern Brown turkey and Celeste, if you are looking for maintenance free, never splits n the rain, dependable crop year after year. Cold hardy variety as well.
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Mohan B
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Windowsill_Gardens

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Quote:
Originally Posted by spiff2
I have been giving a lot thought to the Italian Honey or Peters Honey. I thought my Strawberry Verte would be under sugar. Even though it has berry in the name the Verte and the Green Ischia show listed under sugar. 


Sounds like we are following different lists. This is what I followed: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/fig-groups-comments-welcomed-6530525?highlight=flavor+groups&trail=50

The list I followed listed them under Adriatic berry. That basically covers your green outside and red inside figs with a berry flavor. I have heard them described as having a rather strawberry jammy hint to them. I should get my first ripe SV in around a month or so, and I'll be able to comment from personal experience then.

The sugar ones seem to have amber interiors with a number of possible exterior colors. Tasters describe them like sugar, caramel, or maple syrup flavors. Celeste, Brown Turkey, Salce, Paradiso, Magnolia, Alma, etc...

Honey group is pretty clear. RdB and VdB would go under Bordeaux berry. Hardy Chicago and the Mt. Etnas would go under Dark berry. Black Madeira and Fico Preto would be Exotic berry, which I haven't attempted in my short zone five season. That group needs long hot seasons, which I'd need a greenhouse to provide.

If a variety interests you, it is usually pretty easy to figure out the grouping from reading a few threads about it. You've got a great start on varieties already.
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Danielle: Massachusetts, zone 5
spiff2

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
I'm kind of leaning toward Peters Honey to cover my honey fig. I believe the Zingerella that I have is in the sugar group. I was thinking about the Smith for the one to finish off my collection. I have read a lot of good things about it can not find what taste group it is in.
don_sanders

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Ronde de Bordeaux - Bordeaux berry
Strawberry Verte - Adriatic berry
Zingarella - Mt Etna dark berry

Peter's honey would be a prolific honey addition. Atreano too.

Smith seems to be a good Adriatic / exotic berry choice that gets rave reviews and fruits early for a lot of people at least for an Adriatic berry. Adriatic JH is another one highly recommended.

Florea or Improved Celeste could be good early and hardy sugar varieties but lack flavor by most reports. I personally like Florea and the fact that it will fruit first. Hoping Improved Celeste's flavor improves on my young tree. Celeste would be a good sugar choice as well and a standard in the south.

Gino's black, Black Greek, MBVS, and other Mt Etnas are great if you want more dark berries.

Negronne, Nero 600M, and VDB are good Bordeaux berries if you wanted more of those and I think they taste different than RDB.

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Don - Columbus, OH. Zone 5b/6a Wish list: Rafed/Adriano's Genovese Nero, Your favorite fig.
MariannaMiller

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
I am also in 7a.  Atreano, VDB, Nero 600 have all done very well for me. Salem Dark (plum flavored INHO) is a Mt. Etna variety and it too has been a superior performer for me. The criteria for me has been wanting a variety of flavors and cultivars which will be hardy enough to survive in our climate in ground with a minimum of effort on my part once established.  

If space is an important consideration VDB, Petit Negri, Negronne seem to be more compact plants than something like Atreano or White Genoa which have proven to be very aggressive and spreading growers for me. Do not know how much space you are allocating per tree/bush but selecting some of the more compact varieties could mean having enough room for 3 trees instead of just 2 trees.  :)
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Wish list: Patlicans, Adriatic, Salem Dark, Lebanese Red, Conadria
In Ground: Alma, Brunswick,Bryant Dark, BT, Celeste, Dominic, HC, It. Honey,LSU Purple, Mission Black, Sarizeybek;  
In pots: Ashlan, Atreano, Blk Bethlehem, El Molino Unk.,Excel, DK, Gr. Ischia, Kadota, Lattarula, Nero 600, VDB, Olympian, Petit Negri, Unk. Plainfield, Unk. Slidell Blk, Sweet George, Unk Portuguese Purple, Unk. It. Yellow, White Genoa, White Tx Everbearing; Madison SC 29693 (7a/7b)
MariannaMiller

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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
Correction:  Its my Bryant Dark that is plum flavored.
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Wish list: Patlicans, Adriatic, Salem Dark, Lebanese Red, Conadria
In Ground: Alma, Brunswick,Bryant Dark, BT, Celeste, Dominic, HC, It. Honey,LSU Purple, Mission Black, Sarizeybek;  
In pots: Ashlan, Atreano, Blk Bethlehem, El Molino Unk.,Excel, DK, Gr. Ischia, Kadota, Lattarula, Nero 600, VDB, Olympian, Petit Negri, Unk. Plainfield, Unk. Slidell Blk, Sweet George, Unk Portuguese Purple, Unk. It. Yellow, White Genoa, White Tx Everbearing; Madison SC 29693 (7a/7b)
spiff2

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
Thank you Don for answering my Smith question.
Marianna I see we are not to far apart.

I have put my figs with 17ft between them. That is probably overkill but too many times I have planted things that were perfect for a year or two and then became this giant lump.

I found this web site for cuttings and also small trees. It looks like they have every variety known to man. Has anyone bought from here before?


http://www.figcuttings.com/p/custom-fig-tree-orders.html
greenfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
Quote:
Originally Posted by don_sanders
Ronde de Bordeaux - Bordeaux berry
Strawberry Verte - Adriatic berry
Zingarella - Mt Etna dark berry

Peter's honey would be a prolific honey addition. Atreano too.

Smith seems to be a good Adriatic / exotic berry choice that gets rave reviews and fruits early for a lot of people at least for an Adriatic berry. Adriatic JH is another one highly recommended.

Florea or Improved Celeste could be good early and hardy sugar varieties but lack flavor by most reports. I personally like Florea and the fact that it will fruit first. Hoping Improved Celeste's flavor improves on my young tree. Celeste would be a good sugar choice as well and a standard in the south.

Gino's black, Black Greek, MBVS, and other Mt Etnas are great if you want more dark berries.

Negronne, Nero 600M, and VDB are good Bordeaux berries if you wanted more of those and I think they taste different than RDB.


Don,
There are different Zingarellas floating around, one is a Mt Etna type and another from Richard Watts that looks like Grantham's Royal, it is not berry fig .
Not sure where the confusion started
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haslamhulme

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Figcuttings.com is GreenFin,he is a member here and from what I read(I haven't ordered from him as I'm in the UK) a respected one at that.Search GreenFin in the username search function and you will see what kind of guy he is,shouldn't have any worries about ordering from him
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Haroon,Birmingham UK,Europe,USDA zone 8

Growing:B.Turkey,Jerusalem,V.Dauphine,Pd.Dalmatie W.Adriatic, RDB,Goute D'or,W.Marsailles,Bavarian Violet,Ali Pasha,Falls Gold,
Alma,W.Broggioto,Conadria,G.Ischia,Celeste,a dozen unknowns

Deceased:Mission( received new cuttings from a generous member today,thank you!)
jrdewhirst

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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Smith tastes great -- good enough to persuade me to buy one and plant it a big pot.  But I'm not sure it's cold hardy.
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spiff2

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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
Rhode Island may be a little rough for in the ground.
garden_whisperer

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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
MvsB all they my most reliable fig
Even after totally being top killed in
Winter it quickly grows back and ripens main
Crop figs. More reliable and and hardy than my two
Strains of hardy Chicago.
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Dave Zone 6b Illinois

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don_sanders

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Posted Reply with quote  #26 
Quote:
Originally Posted by greenfig
Don, There are different Zingarellas floating around, one is a Mt Etna type and another from Richard Watts that looks like Grantham's Royal, it is not berry fig . Not sure where the confusion started


Thanks for the clarification.  I had crossed Zingarella off of my list because I have enough Mt Etnas but Zingarella RW sounds interesting.  

Here's a post with some history on the Zingarellas:
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/is-zingarellagypsy-the-same-as-sals-corleone-7116381?highlight=zingarella+rw&trail=50

I guess it would be good to figure out which Zingarella you have Spiff if you don't know already.  It seems the sugar one may be referred to as Zingarella RW.

Every fig has at least two names and every name has at least two varieties.  Gotta love them figs.
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Don - Columbus, OH. Zone 5b/6a Wish list: Rafed/Adriano's Genovese Nero, Your favorite fig.
adipose

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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
Quote:
There are two figs with very similar
names......Zingarella (mine) and Zingerella which is also called Gypsy and
isn't nearly as good. Mine came from Italy, went to Switzerland then to
Adriano in Canada. It is excellent......in the first year in my yard it was
already in the top 5


I'm not sure I agree with that characterization of the differences based on spelling.  About a month ago, Harvey was selling a tree with the title below.  I'm not sure why ebay can't load the old listing, but it was definitely there and I lost the bid :)

http://www.ebay.com/sch/sis.html?_nkw=Zingarella+Gypsy+Fig+Tree+Italian+origins+tasty+fruit&_itemId=272231371422&_trksid=p2047675.m4096

'Zingarella' ("Gypsy") Fig Tree - Italian origins, tasty fruit


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jrdewhirst

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Posted Reply with quote  #28 
Quote:
Originally Posted by spiff2
Rhode Island may be a little rough for in the ground.


For sure.  Theoretically, I'm borderline Z6-Z7.  But the winter low seems pretty reliable at -5F more or less, which I think is Z6b.  But is that very different for you?  Don't get me wrong -- I hope so, for your sake.  Also, the tendency for the variety to emerge from dormancy quickly when weather is temporarily warm (e.g., March thaw) may be more relevant than the capacity to endure cold when fully dormant.  So you may have to worry about variability of late winter temps as much as the extremes of cold.

I'd love for somebody in Z6-Z7 to test Smith outdoors.  If there's success, I'd plant it in the ground here in a heartbeat.        
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Joe D
spiff2

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Posted Reply with quote  #29 
If it went -5 in South Carolina the governor would have to declare a state of emergency. But we do have the same problem almost every year where things bud out and then a cold snap to bite it.
jrdewhirst

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Posted Reply with quote  #30 
Quote:
Originally Posted by spiff2
If it went -5 in South Carolina the governor would have to declare a state of emergency. But we do have the same problem almost every year where things bud out and then a cold snap to bite it.


The only difference may be that we have that problem two months later! 

I sometimes think that my winter cover is more important for how it protects the plant from unseasonal warmth than for how it protects from seasonal cold. 
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Joe D
spiff2

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Posted Reply with quote  #31 
Well I finally pulled the trigger. My 6 varieties will RDB, VDB, Strawberry Verte, Zingarella (which ever kind it is), Peter's Honey and Smith.

Now to wait 3 or 4 years to see if they produce in this area. If not dig them up and try something different. This is not what you would call a weekend project.
jrdewhirst

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Posted Reply with quote  #32 
Can you find a ~2-3 year old plant to buy?  You'd have figs that year. 

Also, fwiw, I've seen amazing growth on cuttings started this winter.  I'm pinching baby figs off most of them.   I left a few that I fully expect to ripen.  I'll be very disappointed if they don't bear fruit next year.

Do you really think you'll have to wait years?
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Joe D
spiff2

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Posted Reply with quote  #33 
You probably won't have to wait years to get figs. As a matter of fact I have figs on the ones I put out this spring but they are small and I doubt they will mature. I have read on this forum that most if not all varieties are not very tasty the first couple of years. So I will give them 3 years before making a final judgement of yea or nay.
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