Ep. 246 From Ancient Crop to Modern Gardens: The Fascinating Story of Figs | #GoodGrowing
About this episode
This episode explores the history, cultivation, and unique characteristics of figs, particularly in the Midwest.
Can you really grow edible figs in Illinois —or anywhere in the Midwest? In this episode of the Good Growing Podcast , horticulture educators Chris Enroth and Ken Johnson are joined by Dr. Elizabeth Wahle to dig deep into one of humanity’s oldest cultivated fruits: the fig ( Ficus carica ) . From ancient history to modern backyards, we explore how figs grow, where they originated, and why cold‑hardy varieties like Chicago Hardy and Brown Turkey make figs possible even in colder climates . You’ll learn what makes figs so unique botanically, why the “fruit” is actually a modified stem, and how fig pollination works—including the truth about dead wasps in your figs (don’t worry, Midwest gardeners are in the clear). Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TiClnN6r_HI Skip to what you want to know: 00:34 Hey Ken! 01:36 Welcome Elizabeth! 02:13 Updates from the cold snap on landscape plants and crops 10:50 On to the main topic - edible figs 11:37 What is the Fignomenal fig? 12:51 What type of figs is Elizabeth growing in her garden? 13:59 The history of the edible fig 19:08 Where do we typically find fig production in the world? 20:09 US Fig production 20:52 Figs in the Midwest diet and…
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