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dremusicmd

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Hey everyone. I'm a newbie to figs. I live in zone 6a in Ohio. Any suggestions for my zone? I was doing some reading and came across the Brooklyn White variety as a possibility. I'm hoping there are endless possibilities. I live on 26 acres that has been in my family for four generations. I am attempting to fill the six acres that are not farmed with a wide variety of edibles. I've made some great headway and have established close to 20 different edible fruits and berries. Would love to add figs. Suggestions and advice welcome.
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Wish list...Sicilian Red, Brooklyn White, Violette de Boudeaux, Chicago Hardy, Malta Black, Marseilles Black, Lyndhurst White, Excel, Adriatic JH, Nordland Bergfeige
FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Welcome to the forum!  Hardy Chicago is a good variety for your area.  This fig is in the Mt. Etna category.  Anytime you see 'Mt Etna' fig, it usually means they are productive, cold hardy, and reliable.  Violette de Bordeaux and Ronde de Bordeaux are excellent figs that are fairly cold hardy too.  Expect die-back of your trees every winter, but 99% of the time, they grow back from the roots.  Providing adequate winter protection will reduce/eliminate die back.  If we keep having winters like last year, die back is inevitable.
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Frank
zone 7a - VA
zone5figger

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Welcome, you'll find plenty of info and suggestions from other  fig growers in your zone.  Here's a couple for you: Nero 600 and Florea- both these are cold hardy and Florea is very early as well- another important trait for northern grown figs.
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Jesse- zone 5, 1000' elevation
Yeehova

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Welcome to the forum. I recommend waiting untill all danger of frost is over before you plant.
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Brian
Wish list: Col de Dame
musillid

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Another in Ohio willing to take up the challenge!
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Dale
non compost mentis in Zone 6a
Hershell

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Welcome to the forum.
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Hershell Zone 8. Ray City, Ga.
waynea

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Welcome to the forum, there are several cold country members who will give you rewarding advice.
andreas

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Welcome to the forum
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andreas-patras
Patra   Peloponnisos   Greece     zone..9a  
RichinNJ

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Welcome
Ampersand

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Welcome aboard!

Here is good starting point for hardier fig varieties: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/cold-hardy-fig-list-by-flavor-7034227?pid=1283905781. The attached spreadsheet there has a lot of good info.

Everyone has made good suggestions, but don't be afraid of trying varieties that you find in your area that have no name. My short list of recommended varieties would be: Florea, Ronde de Bordeaux (RdB), Marseilles Black vs (MBvs or MvsB), Improved Celeste, Malta Black, and Tacoma Violet (or another Mt Etna type such as Sal's, Gino's, Hardy Chicago, etc).

Even if space is plentiful, I'd suggest planting near buildings to minimize winter loss. Every degree helps!
bigmike

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
From one newb to another welcome!
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USDA Hardiness Zone 8, Central Texas

Fig `till the End!
fignatic

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Welcome to the forum of the most helpful fig people from another learning newbie.
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joe paradiso 6B New Jersey
eboone

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Welcome!
All of us were newbies once - some of us still are :)
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Ed
Zone 6A - Southwest PA     
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Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid),  Col Littman's Black Cross.   And any cold hardy early fig.
Aaron4USA

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Andrae,
Welcome to THE forum where it all happens :)
ADelmanto

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Welcome. You will find great info here. If you are planning on planting figs in the ground there will be a little effort involved in getting them through the first couple of years. Like wrapping them in the winter. But it is certainly possible. There are prob 15-20+ varieties that will be good for you. I currently have cuttings available for a Yellow Greek variety that will work for you.
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https://www.facebook.com/From-The-Ground-Up-403313193085649/
drphil69

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Welcome.
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Phil - Zone 7A - Newark, DE Newbie fig lover just trying to learn.
rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
I think MNedelcu lives in Ohio.  If so he's our resident expert in your area.  Search for his posts to see what's done well for him.  He sells great quality cuttings on ebay very inexpensively for the variety they are.
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Zone 6, MO

Wish list:
Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.
dremusicmd

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Thanks everyone! I spent a lot of time yesterday reading about different varieties (hence my wishlist). I've only ever had dried figs and of course fig newtons haha...never eaten a fresh fig (I hear a collective gasp from the community) and I don't want my first experience to be from the grocery store. My goal is to keep them more bush form versus tree form to make winter protection easier to handle. My ultimate goal is 20 to 30 varieties. I would like to acquire some not suited to my zone and keep them potted perhaps and move them inside during the winter. Once again, thanks for the welcome everyone. :-)
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Wish list...Sicilian Red, Brooklyn White, Violette de Boudeaux, Chicago Hardy, Malta Black, Marseilles Black, Lyndhurst White, Excel, Adriatic JH, Nordland Bergfeige
RichinNJ

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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
Btw... See this thread for cutting information..

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/cuttings-info-for-f4f-newbies-2015-7143720?pid=1285098638#post1285098638
Otmani007

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
Welcome to the forum.
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Dallas, TX - Zone 8a

Wish List: Col de Dame Blanche, Brogiotto Bianco, Sicilian White, Panache

Otmani
Charlie

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
Welcome.  I never had a ripe fig till a few weeks ago.  When you do I hope it is as good as mine was. 
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Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas 
schaplin

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 

Welcome to the forum.  Good luck as I think we have many northern grower who can give you great advice.  You've already got some good suggestion.   I believe Black Bethlehem is cold hardy too.
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Wish List: @Hmari, @Maltese beauty, @Col de Dame Grise, @Bryant Dark, @Lynhurst White, @Melcedonia Dark,  @Panevino Dark, @Paradiso
dremusicmd

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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Thanks Chuck, I'll have to check that guy out. No worries man. If it's not good for my zone in the ground, then I can grow it in a container and bring it in during the winter
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Wish list...Sicilian Red, Brooklyn White, Violette de Boudeaux, Chicago Hardy, Malta Black, Marseilles Black, Lyndhurst White, Excel, Adriatic JH, Nordland Bergfeige
rx2

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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
I am a newbie myself. You might want to try an Olympian. They are hardy to zone 6 by what I have read. I have one and live in zone 7. They are said to have large fruit. I hope to find out next year. Good luck with all your figs.
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