Figs

I’ve got a turkey fig that has been in the ground five years or so. This year, the early crop of figs set very well, but has been super slow to ripen. I believe I recall in previous years that the early crop was done by the start of June, and here we are two weeks past that and these figs are still hard and green. Does ripening take really hot weather? Haven’t had much of that so far.

Many fig varieties are relatively cold-hardy and can survive winter temperatures in certain regions without requiring special protection. Below are a few types that are recognized for their ability to withstand colder climates: **1. Chicago Hardy Fig:** As the name suggests, this variety is particularly resilient and can handle colder climates, even surviving in zones 5b or 6 with proper protection. It produces medium-sized, sweet figs with a rich flavor. **2. Brown Turkey Fig:** This variety is often recommended for colder climates because of its hardiness. It's productive in zones 6 and up, and can yield two crops a year with large, sweet, and juicy fruits. **3. Petite Negra Fig:** This dwarf fig tree is cold hardy and perfect for small spaces or containers. It can even be grown indoors. It produces small but flavorful dark purple figs. **4. Celeste Fig** (also known as the "Sugar Fig"): Celeste figs are cold-hardy and typically do well in zones 6-10. They are renowned for their sweet flavor and compact size, which also makes them a good choice for container gardening. **5. Desert King Fig:** This fig variety is well-suited to cooler climates. It is known for its large, sweet, green-skinned figs. **6. Marseilles Fig:** Also known as the "Marseilles Black fig" or "Marseilles vs Black fig", this tree is considered very cold hardy and has a delicious sweet fruit.

I’d love to hear what varieties everyone is growing. I’m somewhat new to figs, I’ve been growing a Chicago hardy for the past 3 years and absolutely love it. I’ve expanded my collection this year to include violette de bourdeux, celeste, beers black, and desert king. I doubt I’ll get any fruit from those varieties this year, but I will post some pictures regardless.

Such a tasty fig! I’ve heard it’s quite basic compared to other varieties, so I’m excited to try some others.