3 MUST HAVE FIG VARIETIES For Every Garden

[@Potato-Eye]

I'm in Durham and I have a massive fig tree and it's got loads of them growing... Been killing squirrels left and right to keep them safe

[@TheAllisonLab]

_Killing_ squirrels?🥺

[@vnxettitw4879]

I swear, every fruit I have, I always search your page and you have a vid on it. Thank you! So educational and Dale is a cute assistant.

[@rsz90182]

We have a Turkey Fig in Philadelphia, and it is directly planted in the ground. No issues with winter and cold.

[@uprightfossil6673]

Okay, look. Two minutes in and I found out more about figs than in years of growing them. I have successfully propagated them, have set fruit, but no harvest. Now I know why. Huge fan and so to be merch buyer. Thanks again for all the info. Priceless!

[@DN-kz7xl]

Never give dog figs. They will learn to love it and eat all the figs from the trees when you are not around.😄

[@MADFISHINREELS]

DAMN! I wonder if that’s what happened to my ripe figs. I went out the next day and they were gone.

[@masonjohn4433]

I made that mistake with tomatoes. My dog is such a tomato thief now.

[@GoodRidgeFarms]

Truth! 😁

[@ronhall4199]

My wife did that with our black lab. She went out to pick figs and she would pick one off the tree and feed it to her. Now she goes out and eat all the figs that she can reach on the tree.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you found this video helpful, please "Like" and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊TIMESTAMPS for convenience: 0:00 Traits That Make Fig Varieties A Must-Have 2:53 Must Have Fig Variety #1: Ronde de Bordeaux Fig 4:30 Must Have Fig Variety #2: Olympian Fig 6:28 Must Have Fig Variety #3: Chicago Hardy Fig 7:38 Why These Are Must Have Figs Over Other Fig Trees 8:44 Direct Fig Variety Comparison 10:24 Fig Taste Test

[@LittleRapGuy]

Can we water it every day before the figs come on there, if I may ask?

[@LittleRapGuy]

Like should we water them in a container every day?

[@pd6569]

MG, You read my mind! After watching your videos with your enormous variety of fig varieties, I wanted to ask you your opinion what would be your top victories. Many of us simply don’t have the space to grow more than a couple of trees so this video it’s greatly appreciate it. The rationale for your selection makes complete sense. Thank you as always.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! Just to be clear, these are not my *favorite* figs. Rather, these are figs that I recommend every grower try, because they are so versatile. If I were only allowed to keep one fig tree, it would not be one of these varieties. It would be, probably, either Col de Dame Blanc, White Madeira #1, or I-258. But, it would be irresponsible to recommend them because they require much longer growing seasons, I-258 does especially poorly in rains, etc. They will fail for many growers if they don't have the right conditions, and they're also expensive and harder to find. I recommend these figs because they're so easy to grow, so easy to find and do well in so many places. They're a great place to start!

[@pecintatanaman4190]

Saya ingin membeli olympian catting darimu

[@Lochness19]

@@TheMillennialGardener What do you like about I-258? My area (Toronto) only gets about 3 inches per rain in the summer, a fair bit less than Wilmington, but our summers are cooler. I heard of people growing it here though, the particular person I'm thinking of has it in ground, and wrapped in burlap, heated cables, home insulation and Tyvek to protect it from our Zone 6 winters.

[@maryse8]

You and Dale have one of the best gardening channels on KZbin. So informative!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I'm so happy to hear you enjoy it. Thanks for watching!

[@adam_1144]

Hey I'm not sure if you'll see this but a good video idea might be ranking varieties based on certain criteria like flavor, productivity, size, etc. Another idea could be categorizing figs by Honey, Berry, etc. and then ranking them. As someone new to growing figs, I find organized rankings very straightforward and informative.

[@margaretmarshall3645]

He did something like that in another of his excellent fig videos, on top 10 figs. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nojdkKWtap5-bMk

[@charlesdang2557]

Absolutely man, the best tasting fig is the one you have within reach

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That's what's so nice about these varieties. They're so common, affordable and easy to get. I don't like recommending hard to find, "premium" figs because they're so difficult to get and so expensive, you'll never convince a new grower to start by growing those.

[@simplysimple7628]

I received 2 different cuttings back in February of this year 2021. They were some unknown varieties. Took em anyway. Rooted them and they grew very well and gave fruit within the 8 months. Crazy. I’m pretty sure one of em is the “olympian” because the figs on that sucker is humongous. And taste exactly like a peach. Very delicious. The other I think is a “kadota”. Pretty good but not like the olympian. First time growing them and I’ll just say that they are better than I expected. My kids don’t give me a chance to eat em😂🤦🏽‍♂️👍🏼

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Olympian is a variety of fig known as “English Brown Turkey” or EBT. There are several varieties that are similar to Olympian, and they are all classified as English Brown Turkey. Olympian is very common, but it is impossible to know for sure. As long as you like the fruit and it does well for you, that’s all that matters. I very much like my Olympian.

[@Dr.Reason]

Wow, I didn’t expect you to say that! I have my very first fig tree in a pot and after learning it’s tells it is thriving. It needs to be SOAKED once a day, and twice on hot days. If I skip a day the leaves droop, if I don’t get right on it the leaves drop. It loves water.

[@dr.j5642]

If anyone is looking into these varieties, consider Kesariani, which is a Hardy Chicago / Mt Etna type variety, rather than the regular HC. Kesariani is like HC in many ways, but it has a better flavor, which I'd rate as borderline spectacular, particularly if harvested when the fruit is just beginning to shrivel/dehydrate. Millennial Gardener is always hyping up Olympian, it was never on my radar but now I want to try this fig . Hopefully I get a chance soon

[@dorettagallucci8406]

Thank you! I’ve been researching lately trying to figure out my fig tree type and now sure it’s Olympian! What a lucky dog!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@marcellasmith8942]

Can you tell us your zone?

[@dorettagallucci8406]

@@marcellasmith8942 I think zone 6? Central NJ. Just pruned and wrapped my tree today for winter. We’re suppose to get a lot of snow this year with el Nina. Picked figs right up until last week. Crazy prolific this year. I hope following your pruning technique was why? Next year I’ll try fertilizing.

[@chrissonntag3968]

I ended up getting an Olympian and a Yellow Long Neck and a Chicago Hardy. Excited to see them grow!

[@katalinaj3450]

I totally agree with you. Having a successful crop lift spirit and excitement more than fancy ones that do not deliver as well. I am growing Negronne as my first cos it is tested to be ok in OR and the size of the tree. Our house cannot grow tall and big ones that will block neighborhood view. I also will grow Siletz next season as my first determinate. I have learned so much from you and thank you.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Negronne is actually the same fig as Violette de Bordeaux. They are synonymous, so that's actually what you're growing. My very early tree in this video is Ronde de Bordeaux, which is considerably earlier. If you find your season isn't long enough for VdB, RdB will be an excellent substitution. They both have a similar flavor. They are small, dark purple-almost black figs with a fairly intense berry flavor. I think you'll really enjoy Siletz. It's a great tomato and will do well in your climate.

[@arrowlaylowpepper]

My Chicago Hardy tastes like white peaches and honey. I love it.❤

[@jaybailleaux630]

Fig preserves are the best tasting of any other preserve. Even better than strawberries. My Sicilian grand mother made cookies and pastries from figs that put Fig Newtons to shame.

[@GrowWhereYouArePlanted]

A peach with honey. Yum! I’ll put that on my list.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Olympian is an excellent fig. I'm serious when I say that if I were to blindfold you and give you this fig, you'd think you were eating a peach. It's really remarkable!

[@linlaonong]

love this guy! he is becoming more knowledgeable than a professor in the field of growing figs!!!!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I don't know about all that. I just like sharing my results and promoting what works for me. Thanks for watching!

[@amandalerch9074]

I have a 4 year old little ruby fig in the ground. Its growth has been amazing. It was about 18" (bare stick) when we planted it. Now its over 7ft tall and bushed out about 8-9ft round. We had an amazing crop from it this year. Its a berry type, so smaller fruit, but they were so sweet. If you get the chance to trial this one, I highly suggest it.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Figs are amazing trees. They can go from a dormant cutting to giving you ripe fruit in 7 months. What other fruit tree can do that? There aren’t many. There are so many great varieties out there.

[@BlackJesus8463]

Chicago Hardy does taste really good! 👍

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It struggles for me some, but then again it may just be my personal tastes. A lot of people love it, and it is one of the MOST adaptable figs, so it is a must-have to try for everyone in my opinion.

[@nancynyberg1123]

I have a Chicago Hardy and never seen a single fruit! Maybe it doesn’t like the spot - I’ll dig it up when it’s dormant and try it in a pot. That has worked for me when a fig is struggling, thanks to inspiration from The Millennial Gardener!

[@orangetuono38]

Thank you for field trial level videos! You and Enlightment Garden here in Pheonix 9B are my go to sources as I build out my fig collection. Have 1st year Black Mission, VDB, & Lebanon Red with Black Madiera cuttings in rooting mode. You've convinced me to add an Olympia. Keep on keeping on!

[@GigiTheBackyardHerbalist]

Yeah! My son just got me two Chicago Hardy fig trees for Mother's Day!

[@BlackJesus8463]

@@GigiTheBackyardHerbalist Nice! Mine had branches that survived above ground for 5 days in a row below zero this year. And there was a lot of wind.

[@shannonbell8299]

I live in Ventura, Ca, a coastal southern California town and I have just purchased 2 fig trees from my local garden center, Mission Black FIG and violette de bordeaux fig. I also just purchased cuttings of Celeste. I'm hoping these varieties do well in my zone 10b

[@panpeter2969]

You are so lucky to be in 10B. I am in 8A. You should try this fig called Panachee Tiger.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're in Fig Mecca. Any fig will do well where you live. You're in the perfect Mediterranean climate. As long as you water them and feed them well, they will thrive.

[@GraftingTactick]

Loved you comment 💕 hi I'm from Australia 💕

[@silverfoxes65]

By way of experimentation, I left out 3 potted figs last winter. I am in 7b, Pendleton, Oregon. Pendleton is a desert climate with winters down to 0 degrees F. Last winter we had a low of 10 deg. F (but the figs were covered with snow). Both the Laturella and Olympian, although a couple of weeks behind the ones I store in an unheated shed have all set bumper crops of figs. The Olympians are the best by far.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You will want to be careful leaving out potted figs in Zone 7. Under normal circumstances when they're planted in-ground, the ground itself keeps the root mass warm, so even if it gets down to 0 degrees F, the earth itself is probably in the 20's and warmer the deeper you go, which isn't really a challenge for fig roots. Once the roots start getting exposed to the teens, you can get yourself into trouble. If the roots freeze through in the mid-teens, it could kill the root mass. Your saving grace may have been the snow insulating the roots and keeping them in the 20's. If your low temps get into the teens or single digits for prolonged periods of time and you don't have snow surrounding the roots to insulate them, you could have your trees killed. Be careful. The "death zone" for fig roots is somewhere in the mid-teen's.

[@silverfoxes65]

@@TheMillennialGardener So far, I have only one fig that I planted in the ground that actually produces figs, but they do produce lush foliage that I enjoy greatly. I have been experimenting with figs for about 8 years now, destructive testing you might call it, to find the limits. I have set up all of my potted figs in self-watering pots at least 10-gallon pots, and that might have something to do with my survival rates. I plan to make a temporary greenhouse for my outdoor potted figs this coming winter. So far I have wintered over outside in pots Petite Negri, Olympians, and Latturella (Italian honey fig). Latturella is the least hardy in my climate.

[@whatsup-zh6qv]

My favorites are the white Royal and Kymi fig Trees. Kymi is a place on the Greek island of Evia and the figs are perfect to dry. The white royal is best to eat fresh, both together make the best combo to have both dry ad fresh figs. The dry figs especially are kept all year.

[@alalmaoui5212]

Agreed! Figs in the Mediterranean hardly get Summer rains. They do tolerate extreme droughts. If it's too cold or too hot most fig varieties do not produce well.

[@Lochness19]

I just ordered my first figs yesterday, here in Zone 6 near Toronto, Canada. I ordered Osborne Prolific, Chicago Hardy, Olympian and Violette de Bordeaux. VdB will be cutting it close in our growing season, the others should be ok though from what I can tell. Keeping my eye out for RdB - the local retailers didn't have it or were out of stock. Also keeping an eye out for Improved Celeste, Florea, Nordland, White Triana and Brooklyn White. Our frost free season is relatively long, but days are cool by eastern North America standards (but still warmer summers than Bordeaux's), with average high of 82F and average low of 65F in July. Our summers are not too wet at 3 inches per month (compared to 4 to 8+ inches in most of eastern NA), we can get heavy summer downpours, but not much in the way of tropical storms, and light precipitation events are more common in summer here than in the south (which seems to have mostly just heavy downpours). In the next couple years we'll probably more to a smaller town, where the heat island and lake moderating effect is weaker, which will mean cooler nights and a shorter frost free season, so maybe I'll have to use a small unheated greenhouse for the VdB.

[@kimartist]

Interesting. I'm in the South & I put my Chicago fig container in my south-facing car port where it gets partial sun & only gets rained on when it blows in from the side & I've been surprised at how well it's doing. (I didn't know figs don't like summer rain!) It's about 5 years old & I grew it from a leafless twig I had found on clearance for 50 cents at Home Depot. It hasn't been a good producer (3-5 figs/year), but the figs that made it were SO good. I didn't even know if I liked figs, so it surprised me & now I'm considering planting a fig hedge!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

The fig will do very well if you keep it out of rain. As for your production problems, you're under-producing because it isn't getting enough sunshine and fertilizer. Figs want 8 hours of unfiltered, direct dun a day, minimum, and A LOT of fertilizer. I have a complete fertilizing procedure here: kzbin.info/aero/PL1gY7BoYBGIFNbJEUdApbh_E57uNBLG2j Your fig will do much better if you feed it more and drag it out into the sunshine. When it rains, you can pull it back under the carport. If that sounds like too much work, you can get a little plant dolly for around $15 so you can wheel the pot back and forth. Remember, the fig tree only needs to be kept out of rain while figs are ripening, so for 80% of the year you can leave it exposed. Pulling it back under during storms will help protect the fruit as it ripens.

[@kimartist]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you! I'm so new to this! I'm going to be doing some backyard landscaping, so I think I'm ready to put it in the ground, plus get some other varieties you've been talking about. 😁👍

[@chiefonelung9415]

Thank you so much. I just now have discovered your channel. I live on what is called the Cumberland plateau in East tennessee. I am at an elevation of 2300 ft. I am considered zone 6 but of course in these areas of Tennessee between valley and mountain top you have different microclimates. My house and garage is shaped like a giant L with the inside of the L facing south. I have been growing Celeste for 20 years here quite large trees now with one winter 12 years ago going to five below zero killed the trees to the ground. Just last year I acquired two Chicago hardy trees and one olympia. They have not set fruit as of yet. The Chicago hardy has a couple of small ones now that will not ripen before my first Frost which is only in a couple of weeks. Do you sell cuttings? I would like to have a couple of the cuttings from you. Such great information and thank you for putting together a valuable video for me and other fig lovers.

[@keansalzer8364]

Ronde de Bordeax (early ripening), Olympian (production, easy to find, early, and huge fruits)), and Chicago Hardy (early, tight eye/rain resistent, adaptability).

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Precisely. And they all taste *nothing* alike.

[@superdave336]

It's my first year growing figs and I have acquired both Olympian and Chicago Hardy. Ronde de Bordeaux is at the top of my wish list. Not sure if I will get it this year but I will next year for sure. Thanks for sharing.

[@margotfaubion7662]

Thanks! this was great! I have always used 'taste' as the measure, but you convinced me that adaptability is something else to look for!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I've found that the things that often "taste the best" don't grow well. The key to success is planting the best tasting things that enjoy your unique climate. I've spent 4 summers scouring seed companies and nurseries for things that do well here in my strange and unique climate, but the research is starting to pay off.

[@krystolred347]

I really love my olimpian fig. It produces twice a year and it produces a lot. So sweet.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@anthonytriolo3643]

Finally someone that knows what is talking about.A person born in Sicily we got figs that where huge with taste.I have 8 plants of all different varieties from Sicily they do not mature all the time ,if you get early fall rain and cool temperature ,season over.A fig is an inverted flower and you are eating a sweet flower with seeds.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Yes, that's all true. I've found a way to make the figs ripen earlier is to put black weed barrier around the ground. It attracts a lot of additional heat, and it helps them ripen more quickly.

[@MrsCaviar]

Thank you! My fiancé loves figs in his salad. He also has a garden. I will get help so that I can learn to grow figs for him. 💚💋

[@lcglazer]

wait I think I just found my go to crop in San Fernando Valley where it's really hot and dry and drought every year! Figs!!

[@user-ds2ej3wn8p]

South Australia is Mediterranean that's why they do well. My favourites are Spanish black figs Black Genoa and Adriatic figs, Brown Turkey are nice too

[@2brownbraids]

Can't agree with you more. Super advice !

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@leighdegenhardt485]

You use organza bags tooooo!!!! I thought I was so clever! LoL! I did mine to keep the squirrels off my figs! Yes, well that isn't working so we'll for me! Little buggers take fig and bag! Chew right thru them to get to the figs! But, thank you for the posting! Now I know which one I have! Chicago Hardy! It survived our freeze here in Houston this year! So good! My first year they didn't get very big and had only about 10! This year! This year I've got a bumper crop! Thank you for the posting!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I don't have an issue with squirrels at my location, luckily. I use organza bags for insect control, since that's my #1 pest by far. I don't really have a bird or squirrel problem, although they can be effective against birds. They won't be a challenge for a squirrel, though. You may need bird netting or something like that. There are tens of thousands of varieties of figs, so unfortunately, if you don't know the variety for certain, you can't assume. There are more than a dozen figs that closely resemble Chicago Hardy. Marseilles Black VS, and Sao Miguel Roxo, for example, are two figs that I have that are pretty similar. Thanks for watching!

[@jessev2197]

My Bordeaux had a quick early crop and now just starting to pick the main crop. Very sweet. It's loaded. I'm in NE Pa. and we've had it dry. I was starting to worry even though it looks happy. Very robust leaves.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Is it RdB or VdB? My VdB is a lot later than my RdB.

[@jessev2197]

@@TheMillennialGardener RdB.

[@kawashkdh2011]

Figs grow like crazy in southern CA. 😎

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Figs will do well anywhere summers are rainless with proper irrigation.

[@jamesfrederick.]

Flavors are subjective but not rarity and rare flavors as a collector Are what I’m interested in

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That’s fine. I’m not saying don’t collect figs. I mean, look at my collection. I’m a fig nut. My point is that your foundational figs should be figs like these, because if you have a bad season, the higher end figs tend to be destroyed. You need figs like these in your collection so you have a fig season in rough years. If all you collect are rare figs, you’ll have some bad seasons with awful production unless you live in a Mediterranean climate. And “rare” figs only start out as rare. “Rare” today is common in 4 years 😂

[@jamesfrederick.]

I do live in a Mediterranean climate and also if you do you’re research you can time the market picking varieties that are expensive but aren’t to popular so by the time you get to selling rooted cuttings of you’re own, the prices haven’t went down hopefully. If you have got really good foresight you can predict the market and buy varieties that will actually get more valuable over time

[@vansicklejerry]

Oh my. I should be able to grow figs well in Oregon. We don't rain all Summer long in the Willamette Valley. We are in zone 8b. We do get a little cold in Winter. Usually just one week or so of weather in the teens.

[@randylynnr]

I would love cuttings of your figs. I live in the south. It gets wet a lot but I can regulate how much water it gets in pots! Large pots until it is big enough to go in the ground. I have a blank backyard and full sun. I grow my small green fig in my screen room because it is very young!

[@fly15389]

I tuned in from Greece, and quickly realized this doesn’t concern me at all. But still was amazed of all the facts i didn’t know. We literally have wild fig trees growing all over so I never really put much thought to it. Nice video though

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Parts of Greece colonize the wasp. Plus, you have the perfect climate since figs are native to your region. Figs are alien to mine, and our precipitation pattern is opposite yours, so figs really struggle. The best figs I can ripen in my climate on the best days of summer are nothing compared to yours!

[@davidhunt8685]

I live in orange county NC and my golden Italian fig does great

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm not familiar with that variety. Is that the same as Lattarula?

[@davidhunt8685]

@@TheMillennialGardener I'm not sure, it was a gift. I planted it in 91 and last year it produced over a thousand figs. I'm taking some cuttings march 1st weather permitting would be happy to send you some

[@davidbutton8497]

Nicely put finding the perfect balance is an art of patience ⚔️🎀

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@CandiceWA]

Love to hear you talk, I can listening to you all day and all night!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm glad you're enjoying the videos. Thank you for watching!

[@TramAiKhanh]

Olympian got me thinking 😉 Thank s a lot for your recommendations !

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's a very good, and very underrated, fig.

[@chrisstanford3652]

In Austin too much summer rain causes fruit rot in my figs and pomegranates. Beat fig out of 50 tried over 20 years, LSU Gold 😋🤗🤗

[@racheljohnson770]

Great video! Was great to hear about the Olympian. I live near Olympia, WA! I'll be looking for it. I just got my first fig trees this year. I have Chicago Hardy and one other.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Olympian does well in the PNW, and it also has a breba crop that ripens very early there if you choose to grow breba figs. Thanks for watching!

[@figsgrowinflorida649]

Thanks for the information! I am going to try to find an Olympian to add to my few trees! Thanks again!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You will really enjoy that fig! Thanks for watching.

[@anwarhasan4308]

Great job All my respect

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! Thanks for watching!

[@monicasmith9215]

Thanks

[@janedoe1435]

I live on the west coast. We have drought that virtually NEVER ENDS!!! But I get excellent figs. I have 2 Little Miss figgy trees, some propagated figs from my great grandparents tree, Olympian, celest, purple lsu, O'Rourke, col De dame noir, and the martinenca Rimada.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Here, we have rain that never ends. It seems like there's just nowhere in the middle 😂

[@janedoe1435]

@@TheMillennialGardener 🤣🤣🤣 we have earthquakes, vicious wildfires, and sometimes mudslides when or if we get enough rain. We're due for a tsunami and a massive earthquake too. We also have 20 something odd volcanos and something called volcano fields. It's awesome! I love my home so it's cool. 🤣

[@anjanean]

I'm not far from you..just on the other side of Raleigh NC. I need to come buy 2 of your fig trees. Tip: if you make fig jam..or fig preserves add strawberry jello..and make strawberry fig jam. OMG delish!! I promise

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I've been wanting to make fig jam for 3 years! I just don't have the production for it yet. I'm going to need something like 5 lbs of figs at a time to make it worth my while to bust out all the canning equipment. It's definitely a goal of mine, though!

[@agpawpaw5912]

I did try to cover pots with plastic and tie at the trunk of fig, it’s helping with rain. But I don’t have that many figs, so it’s easier

[@janny7120]

Love the dog eating figs lol

[@TheNewMediaoftheDawn]

Cool I love figs. Being in Toronto Canada I think Chicago hardy would be best suited, we are at the same latitude, maybe even outdoors year round. However, I’ve grown figs indoors in the window facing south.

[@jamesdep8128]

Dwarf fig tree Beer’s Black. Love it

[@Youngstomata]

You inspire me to do more fig growing. I took your advice and pruned my brown turkey to about knee high in February and it hasn't produced as many figlings this year. I fertilize and mulch but bummed my figs arent plump like yours...and im in zone 8b!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Where are you located? We had a very bad winter this year between the record cold throughout Texas and the southern plains, and the record late frosts in the Southeast. Things have been slow this season, and the tree may need more fertilizer to grow more quickly.

[@Youngstomata]

@@TheMillennialGardener im in myrtle beach. Our late frost on April 1st wasnt as bad as you had gotten. I covered the fig that night and had no burning of the leaves

[@howardfowler2255]

That's one sweet dog .Great info on a good trio of starter figs. Thanks MG, you're the guy who helps us FIGure. out what and how to get growing!

[@AbiNomac]

Thank you for the informative info.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@karenandriancontainergardening]

I am just starting to get involved with growing figs. Thanks for the information. Take care

[@slchang01]

Great video....about the taste of Olympian figs, my wife and I just tasted one, and none of us think it has that peach flavor...far from it. It is more like caramel / brown sugar with a hint of melon flavor with the skin, kind of like Celeste or brown turkey. It is a good fig, no doubt.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I think you may have picked it too early. If you taste hints of melon flavor, that's a classic indicator that the fig is underripe. When Olympian ripens, it loses that "melon tone" and tastes more strongly of peaches. Olympian is a fig that will drip honey from the eye when ripe, so let it get really soft if you can.

[@slchang01]

@@TheMillennialGardener We have tasted various ripened Olympian figs for three years...the very soft ones taste like Celeste, jammy and caramel like, which a few of these are all we can take at one sitting. Soft with a little melon taste with the skin provides the best overall flavor for us. Did I mention that we are from the peach capital of the world? Heck, we know what peaches taste like...

[@babichevi7950]

Definitely helpful. Thank you!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@gapey]

I have 2 of the 3. No Chicago Hardy here. For some reason my RdB was really late setting main crop figs this year. It was a rock star last year but just slow going this year for some reason.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That's unusual for RdB to set late. I'd recommend a higher phosphorous fertilizer earlier in the season to coax it into fruiting. The good news is it ripens so quickly that you should still get figs.

[@gapey]

@@TheMillennialGardener It may be the extreme heat wave we had in June. Other people in the area are reporting similar with their RdB. Everything else is doing well.

[@WarmFuzzyVibes]

Lucky dog! The Olympian looks great to me! I love peaches, too! Thanks for explaining the reality of figs.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Olympian is a great, underrated fig. It gets no credit. It's really a winner, and it's so common and easy to find. Thanks for watching!

[@WarmFuzzyVibes]

@@TheMillennialGardener I ordered a small Olympian fig plant last night and am so happy to add it to my LSU Purple I just got the other day. I guess my next big decision is do I plant them in ground or in big pots. I am thinking big pots and see how they do in the location that gets the most sun here in my front yard. Tough decisions! 😊

[@ArabicOrchard]

thanks god i have all those varieties and i will do videos soon to review those varieties , good video buddy

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Excellent to hear you have them! Thanks for watching!

[@ramshadpp3490]

I wana variety fig Do you have

[@ArabicOrchard]

@@ramshadpp3490 where do you live?

[@ramshadpp3490]

@@ArabicOrchard india ...part of kerala

[@esumk]

I’d add conadria to that list, super easy to grow.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Conadria is not a variety I've tried before.

[@esumk]

@@TheMillennialGardener this is a green fig, very prolific and heavy producer for me in 5b. you can usually find this variety on figbid or I can send you some cuttings this winter.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@esumk do you experience rainy summers? I'm curious how it handles rain.

[@esumk]

@@TheMillennialGardener I’m north of Chicago we probably don’t get the amount of rain you do, but up here the weather changes are pretty extreme, from my experience. It’s usually hot and humid in the summer, we might have some heavy rain a couple days a month. My conadrias haven’t dropped any fruit or shown any stress from the rain.

[@joanies6778]

I am so jealous looking at that image. I LOVE figs but my zone is too cold. One day I might plant one in a pot that can be overwintered inside. 😢

[@yolandastephens7347]

Joanie you sure can grow figs in containers ,I live in Boston and all of my figs are in containers ,with the exception of my Chicago hardy .

[@TheMillennialGardener]

What zone are you in? There are tons of growers down to Zone 5a growing figs very successfully in containers.

[@Stardust_4300]

Just found your blog! I live in Davie Co. NC. City of Mocksville in zone 7b while I believe Wilmington is 8 maybe. I hope I can get really helpful gardening tips from you, especially with fig trees I'm so eager to learn. I love figs but can grow anything & everything other than figs. Even Meyer lemons thrive for me but not the figs which are my absolute favorites!! Just subscribed to your channel. 🧅🍋

[@HVACRTECH-83]

In CT my rdb will split wide open rite across the whole bottom and 2/3 up the sides in like an x patern. Generally only after heavy rains. Mine is in a 15 gallon pot and is quite large although it's only 2 years old. Not sure if lack of maturity has anything to do with the splitting but it's horrible when it happens I pick them all off and throw them in the woods as they're useless the way they are. It's the only variety out of around 30 that splits that bad,all my others just get cracking after heavy rains. I'm going to take some cuttings this winter and see if I can grow a tree that maybe will have less splitting

[@l...]

Thank you for chapters

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@mhpreach]

Don’t know where you are but here in LA we can go for months in the Summer without rain. We were without rain so long my Concord grapes drew moisture from the fruit. All I see here is Brown Turkey figs which I don’t like. I have a viola Bordeaux coming. Would like something with a strawberry or cherry flavor.

[@spbeckman]

I'll try the Olympia. I'm in WA so possibly this fig will be well suited for my region.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Olympian is usually well respected in the PNW. It has a breba that seems to do well in the PNW from what I’ve heard.

[@spbeckman]

@@TheMillennialGardener unfortunately (for my garden) I'm on the far east so I'm in zone 6. All my figs have to come inside during the winter.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@spbeckman it should still work well, especially since you have dry summers.

[@defenderck]

Thanks for the guide! I’m going to try my hand at Olympian, Chicago Hardy and Florea cuttings.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Best of luck! Thanks for watching!

[@FigCzar]

Nice video I was using those 3 varieties as rootstock to graft because I ran out of trees to graft ,I'll will give a try to those after watching this video!

[@lostpony4885]

The best tasting fig is the one that you ripen the best. 2 of my 3 varieties taste great but the 3rd hasnt fully developed its fruit yet so maybe it needs to be more mature or i need to do better.

[@Earthy-Artist]

Before I saw this video I had ordered a 'Chicago Hardy' fig tree just based on it's cold hardiness. And I'm glad to hear it's also rain hardy. Glad to hear from you in this video that I ordered a halfway decent fig tree 🙂.

[@arrowlaylowpepper]

They are delicious, at least to me.

[@datugintuong464]

Thanks for info.i am in the tropics and will try to grow fig plants.

[@Dandelion_flight]

Cool!!! Was hoping Brown Turkey is included 😂… yes I have a brown turkey though not sure about the Olympian part of it.

[@heather-h]

I bought 2 fig trees off of a clearance rake for just dollars a month ago (they were left over from last year). They were rough then but growing so well now. The trouble is I have no clue what variety they are.😅

[@juanrios9846]

The shape of the leaves is one way to tell.

[@newtitan8888]

I found this video both worthy and informative.

[@chadb7694]

I'm in Las Vegas and it never rains here, haha and sad too...I'm going to try the carica

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It’s a great environment for getting nice figs, though. The quality of fruit you can turn out is superb.

[@mompuff]

Awesome video as always!! This is by far my best fig season ever in Zone 6b thanks to your advise!! 7/18/23

[@sjava3655]

Nice presentation! I have one open spot left in my yard where I want to plant a fig tree, but I didn’t know what kind. Since I live in Olympia WA, it’s pretty obvious now! An Olympian fig tree! Thanks!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Olympian seems like a no-brainer! It is a good producer in the PNW from the growers in the area I've heard from.

[@nickmarchesani2340]

I watch all your videos and I learned a lot,I have 4 varieties Petite Negra, Black Jack,Dark Portuguese,and an Italian fig that I don’t know it’s name but has a large and sweet fig this morning I picked the first fig of the season I wanted to wait one more day but was so big it start to split, for curiosity i weight it it was 179 grams, a large fig!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

179g is enormous. Was it a breba fig? That's absurd for a main crop fig.

[@nickmarchesani2340]

@@TheMillennialGardener no was the main crop!

[@nickmarchesani2340]

@@TheMillennialGardener MG , my name is Nick Marchesani ,I live in Long Island,do you have an email address I would like to send you some fig pictures,thanks Nick

[@kingjames4886]

good video. everyone always just recommends chicago hardy for a cold hardy fig but from what I can tell so far oylmpian is better in that regard (I got both a while back, still no figs tho)

[@tomsmith2215]

i grow strictly chicago hardy and brown turkey in MA. i garage them in the winter and bonsai them as well

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you ever want to expand your collection, I can recommend many more varieties that are earlier and even more intensely flavored.

[@teelee8760]

Me and my daughter favorite is katoda fig, it's sweet but not over sweet, no funny after taste. It's got a slight taste like honeydew

[@matthewfarrell317]

Well, that explains why figs grow so well here in Melbourne, Aus. We have a Mediterranean climate, with very dry summers. Funny enough we are hacking the fig back a ton (from 6m to 2m), because the kids now want figs lol.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Yes, you are in a good location for figs. It gets even better if you head to Perth, since the summers are even warmer and drier. The climate of Perth is almost identical to where figs are native. They should do well along the entire south and western coast of Australia, until you start getting into the tropics, where it starts getting too persistently wet and humid. Figs need a nice dry season in the summer, and a nice cool, wet season in the winter to truly flourish.

[@frankfaziola7261]

My grandfathers fig tree is a lucky tree because it produces twice once in July and once in September

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Is it a breba crop plus a main crop, or is it a very early variety like Celeste that can sometimes produce 2 main crops?

[@edwardhaughney9665]

Agreed! They are beautiful; keep up the good work!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you!

[@yusrahashim5685]

Thats wonderful video , thank you so much. I will buy those 3 varieties.

[@mulemouse]

I moved to Texas for figs, was kicked out after 30 years. I've rooted hundreds from cuttings for others never thought to grow them in a bucket except to root.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Where did you live in Texas? There's a huge difference in fig quality with figs ripened in East Texas VS figs ripened in West Texas. West Texas can turn out some great figs, whereas East Texas has a lot of humidity and rot issues.

[@mulemouse]

@@TheMillennialGardener Travis and Blanco Counties, central.Making prickly pear cacti goo roots them in a week.

[@Herhighness211]

I’m currently rooting RDB, Smith, Black Bethlehem. I have a Home Depot brown turkey. Considering i258 and a honey fig but I’m nervous. I’m in zone 7

[@qualitylifestyle8027]

Thank you for sharing about fig plants.See you again soon 👀👀👀👍🔔❤️

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@alilaghzil3940]

I can’t stop thing how and why God showed you the right path to loving the best and good for you figs ,do not give up with that pressious fruit

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I appreciate that! Thanks for watching!

[@publiuszero79]

I have RDB, VDB & Lattarula. Love them all

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching!