Room for 1 fig planted in a greenhouse

[Kelby]

At the garden center I work for we are moving things around. I convinced them that a fig tree would be great in the one area planted in the ground (once the gravel is removed and soil brought in). It is heated above 40F in the winter, gets hot on sunny days (near 90F yesterday). In the summer it can be brutally hot, not uncommon to hit 115F on the hottest, sunniest days.

Now the hard part...what variety to choose? I'm leaning toward a Black Madeira, Preto, or something like that which will benefit from the season extension. On the other hand, a biferous variety like Atreano that will produce for a long time sounds awesome. Any other ideas?

[eboone]

Not a bad choice, if you are the one getting the figs. If this is something that will advertise business for the garden center and customers or other workers will be helping themselves to, then maybe something with a long season of productivity like an RdB or Improved Celeste would have ripe figs over a longer period.

[COGardener]

As soon as started reading your post the Black Madeira came to mind, to take advantage of the long season in the greenhouse. Ed has a strong point as well with a cultivar that is very productive over a long period of time.

Have you considered a high density planting with 3 or 4 varieties in one hole? Or perhaps a quality base tree with several other varieties grafted on, get the best use of the greenhouse planting. Having a long season ripening varietie(s) and a varietie(s) that are very productive over the whole season.

[WillsC]

I would do 3 varieties in the same hole. This may seem a odd and definitely not a sexy choice but sals c. While it does not get a lot of hype, in a controlled environment out of the rain it is one of the best. In the weather it splits badly.

[greenfig]

I would go with a i258 or Bourjasotte Grise. They will grow much happier and everybody around you will be able to taste a high quality fig in a large quantity, not just one for all.

[drew51]

The CDD series need a long season too! Coll de Dama Blanca-Negra would be a conversation piece producing a black and a white fig.
And the ones you mentioned Kelby are all good choices. Makes me want even an unheated green house. Here I could grow the long season types with no problem.

[The Figster]

Will you be able to have a range of figs for sale nearby?

If its a talking point you want then go Panache or similar. I would not place to much emphasis on harvesting the crop but use it a a talking point


Ian

[mountainfigs]

Sal's Corleone (aka Palermo Red) is an interesting suggestion in that it is shapely and bears two crops and is very flavorful, however I wonder if splitting would remain a problem in a greenhouse with high humidity?

40 degrees to 115 degrees? Sounds like you need a fig used to extremes, not a coastal weather moderated fig. Violette de Bordeaux (or its like) might be that fig, used to extremes of cold and heat up and off the coasts. Plus VDB type figs are firm and durable and bear two crops and have top flavor.

Just guessing but also think it's best to go with a fig with finger-like leaves, which VDB has more than many as opposed to big sunblocking water heavy leaves. This is just a guess that could be exactly wrong, but is the type of leaf I would feel more comfortable trying in a confined space.

I would strongly consider Brooklyn White too because it is such a tough tree with a bright beautiful and very flavorful and sizable fruit, with probably a considerably more bountiful breba crop than VDB. I would be torn between VDB and Brooklyn White. Maybe some grafting of the two.

Plus these two are types that could be sold in the store that would work well in your growing zone.

[SarinaP]

Frankenfig it!

[don_sanders]

Hah, asking this group to choose one? I like the idea of three in one. Panache along with a prolific green and dark fig.

[drivewayfarmer]

Kelby ,
One thing you may want to add into your consideration is the leaf "fragrance" of different varieties of figs.
I'm in the same situation as you : the garden center owners where I work were kind enough to let me fit in one fig for display.
I picked JH Adriatic which has done very well and later added a young Maltese Beauty in another spot in the GH opposite the JHA.
Fortunately neither of these has overwhelming leaf smell for those who would find it objectionable , but some co workers and a few customers didn't love the smell of some of the 1 gallon pots I supplied the garden center with for sale such as Sal's GS and Atreano. Hard as it is to believe some folks don't love the 'resinous' smell of fig leaves like most of us do.
For up here in NH , RDB would have probably been the best selection overall in my situation , nice leaf smell and more importantly, the most appropriate early ripening , productive , excellent variety to sell to customers in NH that I have found so far.
The leaf smell is only a problem this time of year when the GH is closed up most of the time so the smell does get vented out like most of the rest of the year.
Good that you are going to be planting in ground. Mine are in pots and watering by several different people was slightly problematic so I changed them to SIPS just recently which will make it easy for everyone.
The display figs really have assisted fig plant sales for us.

[mountainfigs]

I agree that RDB should be given very strong consideration, exactly as Kerry details. My only concern would be that I have seen RDB begin to split when side-by-side VDB would not. RDB doesn't typically seem to split, so if the greenhouse conditions are adequate, then there's no reason not to go with it and every reason to go with it as Kerry notes. RDB hasn't shown me as many brebas as VDB but it ripens main crop so early that that factor is virtually canceled out or surpassed.

[PA Figs]

I agree with others above, if the garden center sells figs, you should use a fig they sell. My recommendation would be to plant one of the dark figs and one of the green figs in the same hole and then braid them (I can't remember the fancy name). Now if they don't sell figs and this is just a show piece, well then this is an easy choice for me, Black Madeira or Preto all the way. My Black Madeiras and Pretos are some of the most prolific trees that I have. Moving them into the greenhouse has given me fresh figs from August through February and they are still going. I still think braiding a green fig with it would be nice and a Green Ischia would be my first choice. It is a long ripening and prolific variety also and still one of the best green figs in my opinion. It also finishes ripening well in colder weather as opposed to some other varieties.

[mountainfigs]

What temperature do you keep your greenhouse in winter to allow such ripening? Do you have pictures of your Green Ischia fruit? My supposed Green Ischia has never fruited so I've been left to wonder about this variety, especially the actual color of its pulp. My Figo Preto does look like it would be very productive if the season were long enough. It set a lot of fruit last summer unlike several other cultivars immediately around it, though few ripened in the short season and somewhat shaded conditions.

[Kelby]

So I'm leaning towards RdB. Any thoughts on Malta Black?

[PA Figs]

As someone who doesn't care for the taste of RdB, I would prefer Malta Black

[don_sanders]

That's the first time I've heard that. Is there anything specific that you don't like about RDB?

[PA Figs]

Don't get me wrong, it isn't bad, I just prefer many other figs over it. It is one of my wife's favorites though.

[mountainfigs]

Malta Black is another good fig for your growing zone and should definitely be sold there. I consider it to be one of many Mongibellos / Mt Etnas. It's not as shapely as RDB fruit and not as early. Leaves might be blockier than desirable for indoors, lacking RDB's and VDB's and somewhat Brooklyn White's digitate type leaves. Would be productive and flavorful but I haven't noticed it to ripen much early than VDB which also would be productive and more flavorful (or at least sweeter) and hold better on the tree than Malta Black. Like VDB, RDB holds well on the tree though VDB might hold a fair amount longer.

I've noticed that adding lime sweetens up not only the soil of fig trees but also the leaves' fragrance. If I smell something in soil or leaf, I add lime to soil and that seems to do the trick. I haven't studied this, so maybe I'm imagining things, but so far so good.

[Harborseal]

I vote Panache. Stunning in looks and taste and really needs a greenhouse to shine. I also agree that whatever you grow you should sell. At least graft a branch on to whatever you do plant.

[Kelby]

Are you going to donate one to me ?

[jkuo]

If you really need Panache, I'll donate one.

[COGardener]

The nursery if I remember correctly only sells BT and Celeste. I would think that introducing the "normal" people in the area to something way out of the norm will not only promote the sale of the figs they normally carry but also spark interest in more "expensive / exotic" varieties.

[drivewayfarmer]

I vote for one in the ground and 4 more in SIPS on plant dollys that roll anywhere in the GH that's open at the time and outside when warm enough.
You'll still have the problem of choosing just 5 !

[mountainfigs]

Greenhouse #1:

1. VDB
2. Brooklyn White
3. RDB
4. Marseilles
5. Mongibello

Greenhouse #2:

1. LSU Improved Celeste
2. LSU Champagne
3. Figo Preto
4. Florea
5. Paradiso

Greenhouse #3:

1. CDDN
2. Panache
3. Grantham's Royal
4. Palermo Red
5. Atreano

Greenhouse #4 & #5:

• TBD

[rusty hooks]

Which ever variety you choose...it might be a good idea to carry the fig tree for sale...

[PA Figs]

Mountainfigs I try to keep the greenhouse above 40F, but when the temp drops below 15F outside, it gets colder. When the sun is out, it can reach 90F on the coldest days. Here is a video of my Green Ischia:

https://youtu.be/RPmXIFfH6GU

[mountainfigs]

Thanks. Striking how similar are a number of green/red figs: Green Ischia, JH Adriatic, Calverte. Wouldn't be surprised to find some duplication there. Meanwhile Paradiso and Battaglia Green seem the same to me but different from those three. Nothing certain.

[COGardener]

What.... no Ponte Tresa!!???!

[Rafaelissimmo]

I suppose a serious professional greenhouse might be different, but when the weather turned very humid in early october, I learned that even transferring figs into my small greenhouse was of little use, many varieties continued to split in the greenhouse, and even long after the humid weather departed. It was like a contagion. Very disappointing to be honest.

[PA Figs]

Good point Rafael, a lot of my figs split inside the greenhouse in late fall. VdB and Preto did better than most. Some like Brogiotto Nero split almost every fig.

[Kelby]

Man this is tough. Maybe I'll plant a banana instead !

[PA Figs]

There are two Preto cuttings on the top shelf of my fridge for you... might make your choice easier haha

[don_sanders]

I don't know. I haven't seen much posted about the banana fig. Might want to choose a more popular variety 😛

[eboone]

Kelby, does your garden center carry figs for sale? If so would they even be interested in expanding varieties? What is the reason for putting a fig tree there - is it just for YOUR enjoyment

[Kelby]

A few, just run of the mill stuff like Hardy Chicago, Celeste, and BT. I would have to furnish any other varieties for sale, which I've debated doing.