Fig Culture: Helping You Grow a Fig Tree in a Cold Climate

Click here to get the free Fig Culture newsletter for fig-growing tips and ideas. Especially for climates where figs don't normally thrive.- - -Fig collecting starts innocently enough. A tree for the yard. A cutting from a friend. Maybe a variety with a good story. Then, suddenly, there are shelves in the garage and rows of pots on drip irrigation.In this episode, I’m joined by fig enthusiast Bobby Ghaheri of Oregon City, Oregon, known online as Figologist. Bobby grows a large collection of fig varieties in the Pacific Northwest, where ripening time, breba crops, microclimate, and sunlight all matter.We talk about how a visit from Bobby’s fig-loving father helped start the collection, the Iranian family figs that became part of his story, and how the fig community pulled him deeper into the world of cuttings, trades, propagation, and variety trials.Bobby also shares practical lessons for newer fig growers: why not every fig belongs in the ground, why breba crops deserve more respect, how he manages potted figs with drip irrigation, and why it pays to think two years ahead before turning your garage into a fig nursery.In this episode:How Bobby went from a few family figs to 250-plus varietiesGrowing figs in the Pacific NorthwestWhy breba figs can be valuable in cool climatesChoosing varieties that ripen in your conditionsPotted figs, drip irrigation, and practical setup detailsManaging fungus gnats and other indoor propagation pestsFigBid, FigFanatic, and the collector’s chaseWhy the fig community mattersBobby’s advice for new fig growersConnect with Bobby:YouTube: @figologistFigFanatic.com handle: Figologist - - -Click here to get the free Fig Culture newsletter for fig-growing tips and ideas. Especially for climates where figs don't normally thrive.

Click here to get the free Fig Culture newsletter for fig-growing tips and ideas. Especially for climates where figs don't normally thrive.- - -How many fig trees can one person reasonably grow? Nina Jay might not be the person to ask—unless you want the fun answer.In this episode, I chat with fig collector and expert Nina Jay about growing figs in the Mid-Atlantic, where winter protection, ripening windows, and variety choice all matter. Nina grows a large collection of container figs, and she brings a wonderfully organized—and only slightly obsessive—approach to trialling varieties, keeping records, overwintering trees, and squeezing a fig collection into a garage.We talk about how Nina thinks through growing-season “fig math,” why early and mid-season figs matter in cooler climates, and why late-season varieties can be risky unless you have a plan. Nina also explains why she grows in pots, how she uses trellising and irrigation in her fig patch, and how she stacks trees for winter storage in what she calls “fig Tetris.”Along the way, we get into favourite fig varieties, California fig envy, caprifigs and hand pollination, the importance of good records and good labels, and why the fig community is such a generous place for new growers. In this episode:How to think about early, mid-season, and late figsGrowing figs in pots for flexibility, trialling, and winter protectionNina’s garage storage system for a large fig collection“Fig Tetris” and the art of fitting trees into winter storageUsing irrigation and trellising for container figsWhy Chicago Hardy is still a great starter figFig varieties including Smith, I-258, White Madeira #1, Vince 3, and moreCaprifigs, fig wasps, and hand pollinationKeeping a fig database with photos, dates, labels, and source informationFinding local fig growers, swapping cuttings, and learning from the fig community - - -Click here to get the free Fig Culture newsletter for fig-growing tips and ideas. Especially for climates where figs don't normally thrive.

Click here to get the free Fig Culture newsletter for fig-growing tips and ideas. Especially for climates where figs don't normally thrive.- - -Note: This episode is in French. An English transcript is available on our website.In this episode, I speak with Pierre Baud of Pépinières Baud, one of the leading voices in fig cultivation and cold-climate fig selection.We explore his decades of work with fig trees, the inspiration behind his book on cold-hardy fig varieties, and why climate-based classification is so important for growers. Pierre shares practical guidance on choosing fig varieties for different hardiness zones—from 7A and 7B through to warmer Mediterranean-like climates.We also discuss common mistakes growers make when selecting fig varieties, how temperature and heat affect performance, and which cultivars stand out for flavour, reliability, and versatility in the kitchen.If you’re growing figs in a marginal or warm climate, this conversation offers rare, experience-based insight into how to choose the right variety—and why that decision matters more than most people think.Topics covered include:Why fig varieties should be chosen by climate zone Key differences between 7A, 7B, 8A, and warmer regions The most reliable cold-hardy fig varieties Common mistakes fig growers make How heat affects fig performance Best varieties for fresh eating vs cooking Whether multiple varieties improve success Pierre Baud’s personal favouritesEnglish transcript available here.Dans cet épisode, je jase avec Pierre Baud des Pépinières Baud, un expert en culture du figuier et en sélection de variétés adaptées aux climats froids.On revient sur ses décennies d’expérience avec les figuiers, l’inspiration pour son livre sur les variétés rustiques, et pourquoi c’est si important de choisir des figuiers en fonction du climat. Pierre partage des conseils concrets pour sélectionner les bonnes variétés selon les zones de rusticité — de 7A et 7B jusqu’aux climats plus chauds de type méditerranéen.On parle aussi des erreurs fréquentes quand on choisit ses figuiers, de l’effet des températures et de la chaleur sur leur rendement, et des variétés qui se démarquent pour le goût, la fiabilité et leur polyvalence en cuisine.Que vous cultiviez des figuiers en climat limite ou en climat chaud, cette discussion vous donne des perspectives rares, basées sur l’expérience, pour faire les bons choix — et comprendre pourquoi c’est plus important qu’on pense.Sujets abordés : • Pourquoi choisir ses variétés de figuiers selon la zone climatique • Les différences clés entre les zones 7A, 7B, 8A et les régions plus chaudes • Les variétés de figuiers rustiques les plus fiables • Les erreurs courantes chez les producteurs de figues • L’impact de la chaleur sur la production • Les meilleures variétés pour manger frais vs cuisiner • Est-ce que planter plusieurs variétés augmente les chances de succès • Les coups de cœur de Pierre Baud - - -Click here to get the free Fig Culture newsletter for fig-growing tips and ideas. Especially for climates where figs don't normally thrive.

Click here to get the free Fig Culture newsletter for fig-growing tips and ideas. Especially for climates where figs don't normally thrive.- - -Note: This episode is in French. An English transcript is available on our website.How do you go from curiosity to becoming a pioneer in commercial fig production?In this episode, I speak with Anne-Marie Proulx of La Vallée du Moulin about how she and her family built a fig-growing operation from the ground up. What started as an interest turned into a passion—and eventually a business focused on producing figs where they’re not winter hardy. In Quebec!Anne-Marie shares the story behind the operation, what it takes to grow figs commercially, and how their work changes throughout the seasons. We also get into her favourite fig varieties and practical advice for anyone interested in growing figs at home.Whether you're a gardener, a small-scale farmer, or just curious about how niche crops become viable businesses, this episode offers a fascinating look into a unique agricultural journey.English transcript available here.Comment passe-t-on de la curiosité à devenir un pionnier de la production commerciale de figues ?Dans cet épisode, je m’entretiens avec Anne-Marie Proulx de La Vallée du Moulin à propos de la façon dont elle et sa famille ont bâti une exploitation de culture de figues à partir de zéro. Ce qui a commencé comme un simple intérêt s’est transformé en passion — puis en une entreprise axée sur la production de figues dans une région où elles ne sont normalement pas rustiques en hiver. Au Québec !Anne-Marie partage l’histoire de leur exploitation, ce qu’il faut pour cultiver des figues à l’échelle commerciale, et comment leur travail évolue au fil des saisons. Nous abordons également ses variétés de figues préférées ainsi que des conseils pratiques pour toute personne souhaitant en cultiver à la maison.Que vous soyez jardinier, petit producteur agricole ou simplement curieux de savoir comment des cultures de niche peuvent devenir des entreprises viables, cet épisode offre un regard fascinant sur un parcours agricole unique. - - -Click here to get the free Fig Culture newsletter for fig-growing tips and ideas. Especially for climates where figs don't normally thrive.

Click here to get the free Fig Culture newsletter for fig-growing tips and ideas. Especially for climates where figs don't normally thrive.- - -Ever hankered for figs, but didn’t have any fresh figs at hand. Or at your local shops. In this episode, we’re talking about a tasty and simple way to turn dry figs into a tasty condiment. Never a bad thing. Our fig facilitator is chef and recipe developer Signe Langford from Port Hope, Ontario.If you want a charcuterie game changer, tune in for this simple, sweet, spicy recipe.For recipe sneak peaks from the books Signe and I are writing about olives, lemons, and figs, click here.For the Fig Mostarda recipe click here. - - -Click here to get the free Fig Culture newsletter for fig-growing tips and ideas. Especially for climates where figs don't normally thrive.

Click here to get the free Fig Culture newsletter for fig-growing tips and ideas. Especially for climates where figs don't normally thrive.- - -Wondering how to get more ripe figs? Choosing varieties suited to your growing conditions makes a big difference.In this episode, we chat with fig expert Bob Duncan. Bob and his wife Verna run Fruit Trees and More, an experimental orchard and nursery on Vancouver Island. They have trialled over 200 varieties, focusing on those that produce a heavy breba crop. Although their winters are mild, their summers are cool, meaning main crop figs often don’t ripen. Bob tells us about two varieties that work very well in his climate: Gentile Bianca has a very heavy breba crop; and San Antonio has a heavy breba crop along with an extremely early main crop.See Bob’s video about these varieties.--> Get the free guide to growing figs in cold climates. - - -Click here to get the free Fig Culture newsletter for fig-growing tips and ideas. Especially for climates where figs don't normally thrive.