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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Best Varieties for Zone 5a/4b
 
 


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LeanderFig

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Would like to leave in ground, but could put them in unheated garage. I do have a small space against the south side of my house.
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Zone 5a
zone5figger

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Ronde de Bordeaux, Florea, Improved Celeste, Malta Black would be worth a try..good luck!
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Jesse- zone 5, 1000' elevation
xenil

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Hello Folk, 
In your climate the most important thing is the length of your summers even in mine the summers are very short, and my guess in your are it is shorter. The other factor is the amount of rain, if you have rainy summers you have to choose the most adaptable variety. Fortunately our summers are dry.

I think if you have dry summers the best varieties are: Ronde de bordeaux, Florea, Improved celeste
If you have rainy conditions then the followings are the best : Malta Black, Saint Anthony, Gino's Black, Marseilles vs Black 

I hope i could help you. 
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Kristian

Location:Hungary,zone 6B 

Currently growing: Freckled Beauty, Saint Anthony, Saint Maritn, Martinete (Pérola), Armenian, White Marseilles, Ronde De Bordeaux, Hardy Chicago, Marseilles Vs Black, Gino's Black, Natailna, Sal's El, Laradek Ebt, Green Michurinska, Michurinska 10 , Vagabond, Negretta, Negronne, Orsara, Dalmatie, Laradek Ebt, Adriatic Jh, Improved Celeste, Kútfeji Black, Black Plate, Deszki mézédes
LeanderFig

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Thanks for the info! I keep hearing about desert king. Maybe I could put that on the south side of my house, along with a Chicago Hardy. Although you both agreed on the Ronde de bordeaux,Need to read more!
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james

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Desert King only produces a Breba crop on last years wood.  If it freezes to the ground, as it is likely to do outdoors in your zone, you will not get figs.
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In containers - Littleton, CO (zone 5b)
In ground - N.E of Austin, TX (zone 8b) 

2016 Wish List:  Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr, Viōlette Dāuphine.  Iranian figs are always welcome.
Serge

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Quote:
Originally Posted by james
Desert King only produces a Breba crop on last years wood.  If it freezes to the ground, as it is likely to do outdoors in your zone, you will not get figs.

Nothing freezes to the ground even -20F or -30C. As in zones 4, 5 fig trees are grown multitrunk, shrubs are bent to the ground and covered above with dirt or leeves for winter period.
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 Zone 5b, Ukraine, Europe.
LeanderFig

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Are there other varieties like Chicago hardy that fruit on new wood?
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Zone 5a
Serge

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LeanderFig
Are there other varieties like Chicago hardy that fruit on new wood?
If freeze to the ground, than these varieties will start groving later and will ripe late (in zone 4-5 will not ripe due to short warm season).
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 Zone 5b, Ukraine, Europe.
jrdewhirst

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
IMO, zone5figger gave you great advice.  These are four cold-hardy, early varieties.  .xenil's other suggestions are also hardy but a little later.  FWIW, I've kept Florea, RdB, Marseilles Black and Hardy Chicago in-ground (protected) over 2-3 winters here (Z6B) with minimal damage.  I planted Malta Black this year, so this winter will be a test; and I'm starting cuttings of Improved Celeste.  But its colder where you are, so you may find it tougher.

The good news is that all of these varieties are early enough that if they die back to the ground, you'll probably still get figs.  FYI, ALL "common figs" produce the main crop on new wood.

But don't plant DK outside.  It's a San Pedro fig that only produces brebas in our part of the world.  Brebas are born on old wood.  Even if the plant survives, the breba buds probably won't.  You could, however, keep DK in a pot that you shelter each winter.  That's what I do.
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Joe D
LeanderFig

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
I'd like to thank everyone for such wonderful information and advice! These forums are great!
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Zone 5a
LeanderFig

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Guess I need to start a wish list. If anyone has Ronde de Bordeaux, Florea, and Malta black, I'd sure like some cuttings. Maybe Niagara black also?
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