First time considering figs.
- Thread starter Jackson13
- Start date
Trees give you what you need right away. In our region, it's best to have started cuttings already, but you can do it if you want. I start cuttings between January and March, so they have enough growth to be set outside.
Chicago Hardy is a good start and easy to find. You should be able to find Improved Celeste. I don't have it, but I think it does well in cold areas.
Just know that big box stores often mislabel trees. But Chicago Hardy is common that it should be true to type. There are lots of other varieties - I probably have about 40 or 50 at different stages of age/growth.
If you remind me, I'll send you some cuttings when the season is over.
Chicago Hardy is a good start and easy to find. You should be able to find Improved Celeste. I don't have it, but I think it does well in cold areas.
Just know that big box stores often mislabel trees. But Chicago Hardy is common that it should be true to type. There are lots of other varieties - I probably have about 40 or 50 at different stages of age/growth.
If you remind me, I'll send you some cuttings when the season is over.
Hey, lexx,
Cornell has an amazing agricultural web service. gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/index.html
Along with great county extension offices. Yours, in Syracuse, would be:
cceonondaga.org/gardening
Give them a visit or a call. I'm betting they can give you all the information you'll need.
I do know that figs can be fickle. There are more hardy varieties, however, they can be pretty susceptible to the cold, too. There's a steakhouse owned by two Greek brothers near my home. There are 3 fig trees growing outside the restaurant for many, many years. This past winter, there was an extended period of very cold weather and all three died.
Cornell has an amazing agricultural web service. gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/index.html
Along with great county extension offices. Yours, in Syracuse, would be:
cceonondaga.org/gardening
Give them a visit or a call. I'm betting they can give you all the information you'll need.
I do know that figs can be fickle. There are more hardy varieties, however, they can be pretty susceptible to the cold, too. There's a steakhouse owned by two Greek brothers near my home. There are 3 fig trees growing outside the restaurant for many, many years. This past winter, there was an extended period of very cold weather and all three died.
The so-called "Mt. Etna" and "celeste" families of figs are considered the conventional hardy and productive varieties. Figs can fruit while very small (including one this year I had start fruit at 1.5ft tall) and even within the same season they are killed back from extreme cold temperatures, so you don't need to start with a huge expensive tree if you are impatient.
For good pricing on starter trees I would recommend Aaron's site at NJFigFarm, though the selection isn't the best right now in the off-season: https://njfigfarm.com/shop?olsPage=t%2F4-x-8-pots . The Celeste, Nero 600, U. Italian, U. Spadafora Dark, and U. Portugese purple should all match or exceed the hardiness and productivity of the regular Hardy Chicago, and some are probably a good bit tastier as well.
For good pricing on starter trees I would recommend Aaron's site at NJFigFarm, though the selection isn't the best right now in the off-season: https://njfigfarm.com/shop?olsPage=t%2F4-x-8-pots . The Celeste, Nero 600, U. Italian, U. Spadafora Dark, and U. Portugese purple should all match or exceed the hardiness and productivity of the regular Hardy Chicago, and some are probably a good bit tastier as well.