The fruit is medium size, green drying to gray/brown, and reddish pulp. The figs dry down to the perfect moisture for eating or storage before falling off the bush.

A picture of a recently planted bush in my greenhouse. The figs have a closed eye to limit mold.

Lots of people in short season areas grow figs and don't get ripe fruit until September. I've had fruit from this variety since early summer. This is the perfect fruit for a greenhouse.

There are plenty of figs you could grow. Check out the beautiful pictures on Trees of Joy, z6 Bethlehem PA. The main issue is that in your cooler climate the main crop doesn't come on until late summer. A greenhouse, or heated high tunnel, could add two months to your harvest season. I'm looking at a 4+ month main crop harvest of Strawberry Verte.

So what are the advantages of figs, esp for a greenhouse:
1. Very little chilling needed, 100 hrs
2. Easy to propagate
3. No rootstock needed
4. Self pollinating
5. Love heat
6. Very few pests
7. Easy to prune

There's probably more but that's enough to tell you how I feel about this crop and cultivar.

Man don't know where you read that but zone 9 is a lot better for figs than 5-6. Winter cold limits figs more than any other factor. Even zone 7 is marginal. I've had little luck outdoors and I'm 7b to 8a.

Your only issue might be humidity but figs are grown in the southeast. It does well in my greenhouse with a 300+ day growing season. I'd think you could find local info on figs adapted to your climate.

The joy of figs predates written history and includes many biblical references and stories. I do not recommend wearing fig leaf underwear like Adam & Eve, as contact with leaves and latex can cause photosensitive reactions for some people. So be careful pruning and harvesting on bright sunny days. Wash up after working with or around your fig trees as well.

I want to add a few points to fruitnut's list of positives:
8. There are outstanding naturally dwarfing varieties
- This is not a trivial matter as most fig trees are long lived and grow very large. I've been very happy with Black Jack and VdB which are naturally dwarfing trees.
9. There are a wide range of flavor profiles
- Not all figs taste like the filling in a fig newton cookie. Also, you will do a great disservice to many figs if you "try to dry down" all of them. Some are best when "jammy" and on the dry side, some are "honeyed" and better eaten when juicy (Black Jack), and some are great either way (VdB).

The joy of figs predates written history and includes many biblical references and stories. I do not recommend wearing fig leaf underwear like Adam & Eve, as contact with leaves and latex can cause photosensitive reactions for some people. So be careful pruning and harvesting on bright sunny days. Wash up after working with or around your fig trees as well.

I want to add a few points to fruitnut's list of positives:
8. There are outstanding naturally dwarfing varieties
- This is not a trivial matter as most fig trees are long lived and grow very large. I've been very happy with Black Jack and VdB which are naturally dwarfing trees.
9. There are a wide range of flavor profiles
- Not all figs taste like the filling in a fig newton cookie. Also, you will do a great disservice to many figs if you "try to dry down" all of them. Some are best when "jammy" and on the dry side, some are "honeyed" and better eaten when juicy (Black Jack), and some are great either way (VdB).

Some nefarious critter got to my 4 VdB figs, and I'm still waiting for my Peter's Honey to ripen up. I should also have a few Brown Turkey figs left, if the animals didn't eat those, too. No Panache this year, and I severely pruned the tree, which in now as tall as ever. Ugh.

Patty S.

Patty S.

Bay Laurel doesn't sell SV so are you ordering Ischia Green instead? And if so why do you or anyone else think these are the same or similar? I think bamboo inferred they are the same or similar. Does anyone know of a source that classes figs into groups that are similar? Then I could get a few from each group.

I've found Strawberry Verte and Paradiso to be similar. The later is maybe bigger and may have a more open eye.

Patty S.

Patty S.

Not one barb regarding my fig leaf underwear comment? Guess fruit talk is all business around here these days...

Patty S.

That RDB looks great:) I have one on the way soon.

The figs4fun forum is up......just the Encanto part is down. http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/

Steve,

The Green Ischia and the strawberry Verte are the same. That is the opinion of the experts anyway. That is the problem with figs...each variety has several names.

Patty S.

I have Vista which is supposed to be much like VdB. It's a small dark fig that has been good at times. But I like SV much better. It's bigger, sweeter, dries down better, and most importantly tastes much better. YMMV

Thanks,

Thanks,

Patty S.

One thing to consider is that I have a very long hot growing season. I've been harvesting SV since June. If you have a short cool growing season your results probably won't reflect mine.

Patty S.

Not only climate but growing conditions. I had a Brown Turkey and it was always too watery and not sweet enough. But that just may be my growing conditions in a pot. I've had the same thing with many of the other figs like Black Jack, just too big and watery. Strawberry Verte is smaller, but still nice size, and has never given me this watery fruit. Part of that is that they dry down nicely on the plant. I like them best after they shrivel and sometimes turn brown. They can look awful but taste grand.

Patty S.

Scott

I think your plan will work. Let them go dormant and get 100+ chill hours and you should be able to grow them inside all winter. I just received 26 different fig varieties about two weeks ago. They are currently in baggies rooting.

Yes all different. He sent 3 cuttings of each variety. It was a trade for some pomegranate liners.

I read the same thing about the nematodes and we have them here also. I have not had any trouble with my in ground figs yet but I keep them mulched. I already have the areas these figs will go mulched so it breaks down and is ready when the cuttings are months from now. A lot of people grow them in pots but that is a lot more work.

The new varieties are:

Panevino dark
Hardy Chicago
Giant Black German
White Triana
Takom Violet
Bronze Paradiso
Salem Dark
LSU Gold
Negrone
Excel
Panevino white
JH Adriatic
Sals el Gene
Sweet George
Black Mission
Morle Paradiso
Green Ischia
Ronde De Bordeaux
Genes paradiso
Violet De Bordeaux
Malta Black
Macool
Oregon Prolific
Lindhurst White
LSU Brandy
Kathleens Black

Already have:

Celeste
Latrulla
Black Mission
Pasquale
Celebrity