Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Figs

nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Doc Lisenby <longdistshtr@shtc.net>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Figs
  • Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 14:41:48 -0400

"Doc: Where are you located and what kinds of figs do you have? I am very impressed with my Celeste! It is a young tree, just planted three months ago, and it is bearing a great little crop and I don't see any kind of blemish on the leaves or any insects on it! We have a very hot, humid summer here, but the winter can be biting cold, too (6B). I'd like to plant other varieties of fig next year. I'm hooked on them now."

Hate to bring this up but you may not have a Celeste. Certified identification of figs is practically non-existent. The "experts" don't have a lot of credibility among people who grow figs. Roy Givans of NAFEX comes about as close to being reliable as far as identification of figs in his booklet as any I have researched. Years ago a guy named Sal who was successful growing a fig in Connecticut sent me a couple of cuttings. He didn't know the name of it so we called it "Sal's Fig". It has become rather popular and is available from several sources. (or at least they say it is a "Sal's Fig".) Chicago Hardy Fig draws praise from some who raise it in colder zones. I have both Sal's and Chicago Hardy in addition to several so-called "Celeste Figs". I'd advise not to get hung up on fig names. I have several Brown Turkey Figs and none of them match the several descriptions and identification criteria of published data. Discover what will grow where you are by experimental planting as many different kinds of "cold tolerant" figs as you can. You happened to hit it lucky with the one you have. Thank your lucky star 'cause you aren't in a fig raising region. I'm in the upper region of South Carolina and I get a lot of winter fig die-back some years. Wrap or cover your tree before winter and try to save it. Glad you're entering into fig growing. It is challenging. Sal's is my most productive here. Root nematodes, Japanese Beetles and June Bugs are the only pests which seriously effect production of figs here.
Doc Lisenby
Zone 7/8





  • [NAFEX] Figs, Zeugitai, 07/21/2006
    • <Possible follow-up(s)>
    • Re: [NAFEX] Figs, Doc Lisenby, 07/22/2006

Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page