Introduction and a Question

[Georgia 8b]

Hi, just wanted to introduce myself. I'm in Georgia (as you can tell from my name.)

I only have 2 fig trees- a Celeste and a Green Ischia. But now I am getting more and more interested and I think I want more.

I have limited space so I will never have as many varities as most of you on here, but I am looking to get a few more to round out my collection (for now...) and forums like this are really great to see some of the more rare varieties I might not have considered.

Question: is there a list of figs somewhere that aren't the best suited for here in the Deep South? I know some don't like the months and months of 90-95+ temps and high humidity.

Also, for a more specific question I was looking to get a RdB but have read some people say it isn't the greatest in very high heat areas. Is that true, and if so, is there another variety similar to that that would thrive here?

I'll probably be reading all the advice here as I don't know too much yet, but I think this is a great resource for beginners. Thank you!

[fitzski]

Welcome, Georgia. There are many folks who are in GA. newnandawg , strudeldog and Hershell that I can think of . The first two have been posting their harvests so you might want to use the search feature to see what varieties they have.

I can't answer the "what's best for my area" seeing I'm in the great white north in MA but I've heard the LSU varieties do well downthere.

Good luck trying to limit your collection to a few

[Taverna78]

Ohhhhh you ganna make a close personal friend on tis forum! I won't say who but he is pretty "Funny"

welcome me to you new home Amico!

as far as you questions .....

1) your first mistake is you "think you want more" and joined the worlds greatest fico forum. These members are the most helpful and generous people you will ever meet. I'm sure you are ganna find all the help you need in getting what you want.

2) "you don't have much space" that depends on if you're married or not....

3) YOU CAUGHT THE BUG! Start reading the past post. You'll be a Fig genius in 24 hours then head to the bank for a property loan. Call Funny Man. Hell walk to you new farm. Make you belle greenhouse and then it's all over ahahahahaha!!!!

[WillsC]

Welcome Georgia

[newnandawg]

Welcome Georgia. Where are you located?

[Hershell]

Welcome to the forum. What part of Ga. are you in.

[randy/ga]

welcome, you will find a huge amount of info/help here from many people who are very talented and quite knowledgeable.....what area of ga are you in? im located in n.e. not far from s.c. state line.

[JohnnyK]

Welcome to the forum.

[dkirtexas]

Welcome to the forum and thank you for the introduction.

As you know, there are real differences in the climates in Georgia. The southern parts have real intense sunlight so be careful with planting your trees in :Full Sun" areas. If you are in the coastal plains/marsh areas, the LSU cultivars should do well.

You have some good figgers over there so I am sure you will get plenty of good advice.

[figgrower]

Welcome to the forum! If you grow figs in pots, you may find that you have more room than you thought...

[cjmach1973]

welcome to the forum

[RegencyLass]

Welcome, Georgia!

[don_sanders]

Welcome. I know that Violette de Bordeaux (aka Negronne aka Nero 600m [maybe]) can wilt a little in the heat if it does not have access to enough water but I've even heard it do well in Arizona in ground once established. I would have thought that Ronde de Bordeaux would do well in heat and that humidity might have been more of an issue if your area is humid. Results seem to vary but it splits for some. Don't take my word for it though...I'm normally looking on the other end of the spectrum for figs that do well in the cold short seasons.

I agree Newnandawg and Strudeldog posts with pics and ratings would be a good start. Just pick a couple of their 10s and you should be happy.

[Harborseal]

Welcome! It's always good to tell us your zone and location... Oh wait.

You can grow tons of figs and ripen them to perfection. Panache isn't one of them. Avoid the ones that split in humidity.

And lawn space is highly overrated.

[RegencyLass]

Lawn space? What's that? LOL

[Wisner]

Welcome to the forum.

[jmaler]

Welcome.

[Fygmalion]

Welcome to the forum.... be prepared to become addicted.... be afraid.... be very afraid.... (in a good way)....

T

[Georgia 8b]

Thank you all for the welcome! A lot of Georgia fig growers here I see. Part of the reason I decided to try my hand at figs is because I am originally from PA and almost all the other fruits I wanted to grow aren't recommended here. (Sweet cherries? Nope. Apricots? Nope. Peaches? Maybe, but hope you enjoy spraying every week. Apples? Sure, but pick from this list of 5 varieties that won't die from disease or heat...). Ha!

So I've settled in with my figs and rabbiteye blueberries and seeing how everything goes.

I appreciate all the recommendations. My local nursery has an LSU Gold that is about to have my name on it, and I think my next big purchase is finding an RdB or similar, because everyone raves about the Bordeaux berries. I guess for that I'll have to go to trees of joy or something similar. (Maybe it was VdB I was thinking of that didn't like the long hot humid summers?)

[newnandawg]

Sooooo, what part of Georgia do you live in?

[Georgia 8b]

East Georgia.

about halfway in between Augusta and Savannah.

[randy/ga]

Hey Georgia 8B, Glad to know where you are! One of the positives of being that far south in the state is most varieties will suffer little to zero winter damage. That being said humidity is quite high in that area so some varieties will suffer because of that. I am still trying different cultivars to see how well they are adapted here in n/e ga. Violette de Bordeaux is a keeper for me so far, in its third season to fruit, both the breba and second crop was very good with not much spoilage. Celeste is a classic with a really sweet good flavor and early ripening that seldom sours. Several of my others are still too new to evaluate properly. One of my absolute faves is "Green Greek" which is from a Mr. Paul Starnes of Newnan GA many years ago. If you want I can share cuttings with you this winter. Fig is green with a reddish inside, fantastic flavor sours some in rainy weather and the birds love but otherwise the best! A couple of suggestions are asian persimmons and muscadines. I have four persimmons and so far and have been very well pleased. Persimmons have virtually no insect or disease issues. Muscadines of course are natives here...Isons Nursery in Brooks GA is a great source. Some of the newer cultivars have thinner edible skin. Check em out!! Happy growing....Randy