Called around to the local nurseries and found just one that carried fig trees. Went and got it today. It's the "Brown Turkey" variety. (saw that kind listed on one of the links). The lady said that particular variety did the best in our climate. Phil, Dave said to tell ya thanks for all the help! We appreciate it.

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), April 16, 2002

Answers

Annie, would you mind sharing the price you paid and what size tree you got? Did they tell you when you could expect fruit? This year? I don't think I've ever seen fig trees sold locally any place I've lived. This might call for a field trip to your area!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 16, 2002.

Hey Annie, what zone are you in? (Or, where do you live in more earth- like language?!) I was just telling Lance today that I want to try and find a couple of fig trees - they look so interesting, and my mother-in-law says they are absolutely delicious fresh!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), April 16, 2002.

Well, Phil has gone and done it now! Now I'M wanting to check into getting some fig trees. When he and I lived in California about a thousand years ago, I would occasionally find fresh figs in the farmer's markets. They were SOOOOOO good! :-) I just never thought there was a possibility of them growing in this area. I'll have to check with some nurseries.

-- Cheryl in KS (klingonbunny@planetkc.com), April 16, 2002.

Cheryl, I was laughing when I read your post because one of the first things I thought of when I got the tree was....Wonder what Cheryl, Bren and I are going to do with these figs?! Bren, the "tree" is just about 2 1/2 feet tall, not much to it (as in branches), in a 1 gallon pot and cost $6.98. The Brown Turkey variety was all they had (about 4 of them) but I was so glad just to find a fig tree! I figured if I mail ordered it from a nursery, it would have probably been even smaller. I got 1 tree, the man at the nursery said they self-pollinate and I wouldn't have to have 2.

Christine, I live in East Tenn. at the foot of the Smoky Mountains. I'm officially in Zone 6b-7, but we're on a south facing hill and I can grow Rosemary in the ground all year, which they state is hardy for zone 8! Go figure. The tag on the fig tree says it is hardy to 10 to 20 degrees. It rarely gets that cold here and if it does it's just for a night or two. I'm planting the tree in the same bed my rosemary is in. The sites Phil posted said to plant Figs south facing, in well drained soil. For colder weather it said you could plant them close to a house for added warmth and shelter. Check out the sites Phil posted, real informative!

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), April 17, 2002.

Wow, Annie! That is a GREAT price!! Hmmm... I wonder how I can talk Gilly into driving me over there????

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 17, 2002.