Created Zone 6 Fig Growers Group

[chauqg]

Group to isolate needs and knowledge of those of us growing figs in Zone 6. Everyone is welcome to join, but posts, questions and information should be relative to Zone 6. I grow in SW Pennsylvania...Cheerz to all and welcome!

[sppsp]

cool, I joined,

PA 6B

[AscPete]

Chauqg,

Welcome to the Our Figs forum community.

IMO, You will get more input if your posts are made to the Open Forum.
Figs (Ficus Carica) are native to zone 9 - 10, so input form all growing zones will have some relevance to your zone 6.

[newnandawg]

Welcome to Our Figs Forum Chauqg and I agree with Pete about using the Open Forum.

[eboone]

Welcome from another grower in Pgh area. A nice thing about this forum is that you have the freedom to try something like your new group. But I know I am learning a lot from people in all areas, and others might gain knowledge from your experience as well. If your posts and pics are 'hidden away from plain sight' then others might miss helpful info. It would be different if this forum had massive numbers of active posters but at this point I don't see much benefit to splitting us up.

[jrdewhirst]

I agree with the last few comments. I learn stuff from people in every zone, and I don't feel that growers in cooler zones are crowded out here. As a participant, I/you just need to be sensitive to the context within which each grower operates and evaluate his or her contributions accordingly.

[xenil]

Accept my greetings from Hungary. Please feel free to share any important information with us.

[chauqg]

Thank you all for your guidance I'm sure you are correct. My intent is not to devalue information from other zones, but more to emphasize zone 6 relative posts (successes and failures).

FEx does anyone have successes with a named fig that is consistently producing tasty figs, is winter hardy in Sw Pa's variable winters? Thanks in advance! C

[mountainfigs]

I grow in-ground and potted figs less than 10 miles south of the SW PA border. As discussed at Low Limb Technique, using mulched low limbs and/or low cordons, you should be able to ripen many varieties in ground: http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-ho...through-winter

In my experience, upon sheer and total dieback to ground, the most productive or only productive varieties (especially for young trees) are the earliest ripening varieties. Currently, in my opinion and partial experience, which I go into in more detail at my fig site http://mountainfigs.net/varieties the top five fig varieties for growing in ground in cold and short growing seasons are Ronde de Bordeaux, Improved Celeste, Malta Black, Florea, and Mt Etna Unknown (or any good Mt Etna strain, such as Marseilles Black). These cultivars are early to ripen, productive, and robust – able to regrow well enough in summer to ripen fruit even if a harsh winter kills all above-ground limbs.

[AscPete]

Here's a Google spreadsheet compiled by Kelby (Ampersand)... https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...gid=1415597439
Check out the additional info at the "Tabs" on bottom of page...

[WillsC]

Chaugg,

Welcome

[Dale_M]

Somehow I think that what might be hardy in-ground in southwest Pennsylvania won't be hardy in north-central Ohio (also zone 6).

[crademan]

That's a good point, Dale. Microclimates vary across the same region or even in the same yard if it's on a hillside with high and low spots.

[kubota1]

I'm in western Pa and I'd say stay with containered figs if you want to eat figs every year. All of my inground trees bit the dust. All coming back from the ground or some not at all.

[indestructible87]

Chauqg, welcome I live just north of pittsburgh as well. Maybe were neighbors and dont know it.

[dobemom]

Zone 6ish? That's great! I realize my zone has been upgraded to 6a, but I still think the weather is more 5 than 6. 6sih it is! Thanks!!

[shawnjames70]

Im in zone 6b(Eastern Washington State), right on the edge from zone 5. Time to Overwinter the figs, How do you do it???

[Heystevo]

shawnjames70, how did you end up protecting your figs this winter? We really haven't had much of a winter, but I made cages around some of my figs........about 7 feet tall and filled them with leaves. I will uncover the figs probably in march sometime. By the way, I live in the Yakima valley and am zone 6b/7a. I know that our winters are not nearly as cold as they were in the 20th century (1900's). You probably benefit from a lot more snow in the winter than we ever get. On the other hand, the arctic blasts seem to hit your area a lot harder than they do us. Do you grow any in containers and do you have a problem with birds? My sister lives in Spokane and has problems with deer. Do they bother your figs?

[shawnjames70]

My figs are overwintered in my garage fig closet, or under t5ho lights inside. No inground figs yet.

[IrishFigMadness]

Looks Beautiful! Do you keep them under lights for the whole winter or do you let them go dormant first?

[shawnjames70]

ive had them in house all winter about to put them in the green house soon, but its 8 degrees outside. so im waiting a little bit