Opinions on panache/panachee outside of southwest?

[brettjm]

Got some cuttings from UC Davis. Sad to see that the "figs4fun varietal" page has commented on it with "In the south its flavor is mediocre." Anyone care to comment on that? I got 3 cuttings, split them all in half, and 4/6 of them have started to root for me. I certainly plan to trial it both in pot and in ground, regardless. There are quite a few threads on the other forum discussing panache, but most of them grow it in CA. Opinions for this fig elsewhere?

I'm in 7b/8a GA not far from Atlanta...but I'll take any opinions I can get.

Thanks.

[newnandawg]

I may be able to help you with that this summer. I hope my three year old tree will produce.

[Rafaelissimmo]

I am one hard-headed dude, I insist on trying to grow this in the frigid northeast, on March 2, this was the first tree placed in my greenhouse, and is now fully leafed out. Will report in autumn. Btw Bill in Flemington NJ grows one in a SIP, most fruit do not ripen but a few do. Since this variety splits during rains, I will probably do a shuffle back into the greenhouse in Autumn.

[COGardener]

One would think that a heated greenhouse with supplemental light should be able to extent the season and ripen fruit.

[Rafaelissimmo]

My greenhouse is heated but I am not doing supplemental light, it is what it is, a 9 month greenhouse.

[Gina]

If most fruits don't ripen, would it be helpful if a lot were thinned early, leaving only the most promising ones to ripen?

[Rafaelissimmo]

I will experiment and see, last year I got no fruits so hopefully this year it will happen. It'll depend on how many fruits form of course.

[Snaglpus]

In my research, growing Panachee in Charlotte is tough. The tree grows very and puts on plenty of figs but our summer and autum rain make them sour. I got 3 large 7 foot tall trees. This month, they go in my new GH. So, if you're gonna get one, I recommend growing it in a GH.

[Harborseal]

It definitely does better in a greenhouse. I cover mine with a plastic bag in the rain but sometimes it splits because of humidity. I keep mine covered with an Organza bag so insects don't get it when it splits. I let it ripen and it still tastes good.

[brettjm]

So early consensus...very doable, but will require rain protection at the least. Middle GA isn't actually as humid as rumor has it, fortunately. Many other areas of the SE and Atlantic coast get much more humid than here, at least in my opinion, so maybe I can make this work.

[COGardener]

I'm considering giving one a try here in Colorado. Being in a high plains desert, we don't much rain and we have never heard of this humidity thing....

The concern here is the extremely short growing season. I imagine the tree would need to be placed somewhere in late Feb or early March to start breaking dormancy and then have metal halide or other intense lighting to extend the photo period in both spring and fall. All of this along with a heat source to ensure the tree will ripen fruit. The question to be posed is only relative to the observer, and that is... Is it all worth it?

[brettjm]

Keep it in a big pot, and bring it inside for the winter after it goes dormant. My LSU purple leafed out in early February last year sitting in front of a window, and it grew happy as can be for a month and a half before I put it back outside. Great decorative tree in the house, actually, with bright white gnarly bark.

[COGardener]

All of mine are in pots. I'm not sure of I'm ready to deal with in ground fig trees at this time. I do want to expand my collection a bit more, just have to be aware of space and the involvement of doing the pot shuffle springs and fall.

[jkuo]

From the Trees Of Joy website: "An excellent tasting fig with beautiful striped skin. The red pulp has a rich sweet flavor, they start ripening in September in our area. The tree is very vigorous and will do well in containers or in ground."

If Bass says it will do well in PA, I'm willing to give Panache a try.

[Chrisk]

I bought a tree from groworganic along with a kadota Blackjack and Desert king! Unfortunately the panache did not make it but I would give it another try. I think here in the ATL area we get enough heat to ripen it and as for the rain! 4 years ago we had a severe drought and this year we re drowning so it depends on the year I guess!