Here in NWKS, it is suggested that planting by about 7-15 is necessary. My problem was finding seed potatoes at that time. Last year, I bought extra in the spring and tried to save them, stored in dry sand to use for the second planting in mid July. This was suggested here a few years ago by a Mr. Paquibot? (spelling guess. Sorry sir if you are still around.) Have not heard from him in several years, but I appreciated his input about potatoes. It did not work too well, only about half went dormant and were usable in July. Then we had an early winter, and production was not good. I have given up growing potatoes, having decided it is too much work growing them to save, without having a root cellar to store them for winter use.

Hi ED, i also have pastiliere, it grew well and also drop all but one fig and it was a tease cause of its taste. I gave much thought after all i had another type that drop all figs for 4 straight seasons and 1 total ripe one. I destroy tree in frustration but gave out just a few cuttings low and behold this person got ripe figs and zones are not much different just my winter is little colder but very similar growing season. So i give pastilere more time although i have read good and bad about it. Martin

edarena, Most of mine are still pretty young, but for a dark fig Negronne is my favorite for taste, looks, and productivity. Sals comes in second, it's a good fig and very productive. Black Ischia I like for looks and taste, but is severely affected by mosaic and has almost zero vigor. Paradiso (local cutting, not same as variety at City Farm Nursery, NJ) is my favorite green fig, sweet and flavorful, productive -- but I don't have many mature contenders yet in that catagory for comparison. Zigerelli was a gift I received this fall from another fig collector. It's very tiny now, am hoping it survives the winter. It may require a longer growing season that what I have here. Sultane (available at Paradise Nursery in VA) looks very promising as an early dark fig.

At three ft from the fence, the rear branches will hit the fence, the figs on that side of the plant may be harder to reach, and the plant may be harder to prune (my voice of experience, but I also had a space limitation). I prune back to a 3.5-4 ft height and diameter each winter to cover them, and they get 8-9 ft tall, 7-8 ft wide each summer. You can keep a fig plant to almost any size you want with pruning, training. And I would consider planting 3 different fig varieties to give some different flavors, space out the harvest, instead of 3 of one type.