For a zone 5b, your best bet would be, Marseilles Black VS, Danny's Delight, and Sal's EL, For main crop figs.

Those three have withstood some very cold minus degree winters. There are others. But, they have not been tested like those three.

The Tennessee mountain fig is suppose to be a cold hardy variant of Celeste. But, trying to find some one who has verifiable, authenic, cuttings will be difficult.

For cold hardy breba crop figs, LaRadek's English Brown Turkey, Valleiry, and Nero 600M might work for your zone 5b.

We are presently testing those three breba bearers. But, have not had them long enough to determine whether or not they can take our Connecticut zone 5b/6a cold winters. But, so far they look very promising.

Bob Harper

I have one of these trees if you would like to trade cuttings.

Did you get the TN Mtn cuttings or plant yet? This is a good cold hardy variety with great tasting figs. Whether it is any different from "regular" celeste I have no idea.

The fabled TN Mountain fig is indeed a Celeste. I grew up in New Orleans with 2 large Celeste trees in our yard. The difference is here in TN, I guess because of climatic differences or soil, is it produces a smaller fruit with a lighter color. Still the same great Celeste taste. They survive our winters which typically see temps in the teens in the winter. This year mine dropped 50% of its first crop due to the drought, now the first crop is ripening and I have many tiny new figs coming in. BTW, the first crop is not a Breba crop. Not a lot of figs will ripen on the second crop. Many will get ripe before our first frost in E. TN. The Celeste figs in New Orleans were a dark purple and larger. I suspect cuttings from my tree will produce the larger darker figs in New Orleans. Keep in mind that almost all figs have many names. And Nurseries create new ones all the time. Last year I almost spent big bucks on the new "Fantasia" fig..........which turned out to be the LSU Scott's Black.