Thanks Dan. The article is helpful, but it doesn't mention anything about Violette de Bordeaux. I wonder if anyone has gotten VDB to ripen properly in a climate with cool summers?

Joe

Hi Frozenjoe,

thought id post this about Violet De Bordeaux.
I cannot comment on the area, but i do have a VdB going into its 3rd season and its not as a small as some websites selling them say they are , its been my experience that it grows normal.

Its good growing plant and can be as tall as any other of my container grown trees .
Here is picture of it as of today. The main trunk was pruned last season or it would have grown taller.
{{gwi:778899}}

Thanks Martin.

The San Francisco Chronicle had an article that lists Violette de Bordeaux as a good choice for Northern Cali coastal areas. I just planted one here close to Monterey on a SW exposure close to a wall. Won't have anything to report for a few years! Santa Barbara is a lot warmer than here and SF so it should be fine Good luck!

http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-06-30/entertainment/21931500_1_fig-white-marseilles-san-francisco

Here is a link that might be useful: San Francisco Chronicle:

If vdb grows well in NY zone 7, and it does, it should be even better in SB.

everyone has is own favorite when it comes to fig,and many times i desagree to some of the fig experts say abot taste.
I have Bronze Magnolia and I like the taste of this cultivar,also like my California B.Turkey a large fig with
good taste,but can spit.Never had any luck with Celeste,tryed 5 different one ,but always droppet the figs
before they ripe,got rid of them ,but the few they iI tasted they where very good.Ciao,
Giuseppe

I live in a coastal California climate (just north of huntington beach). VdB did well for me in a pot last year and the Black Jack in ground also ripened very well--this despite 10 degrees cooler than average temps.

Several of my neighbors have californa Brown Turkeys, and while I agree that they are prolific and ripen well in a cool climate, I have yet to taste one that impressed me. Personally I'd avoid the Cal brown turkeys.

I'm up near Tacoma Wa and we have pretty cool summers as well. The best ones locally are:

Desert King, but sensitive to summer rots if it rains
Negronne
Violet De Bordeaux
Brunswick
Gilette
Magnolia

Would love to hear of other cool hardy figs