Figs and Apples

18 years ago

I just got a catalog from One Green World and they have some interesting fruiting trees and shrubs that can be grown in our climate. They have a couple of fig and apple plants I want to try.

My question is: Will Figs and Apples do well on a western facing wall? Most of my house is shaded, but the west wall gets afternoon and evening sun. I figure if the dwarf apples are small enough, I might do containers on my deck, but the figs will needs more room. The fig varieties are "Vern's Brown Turkey" and "Desert King". The apples are both red flesh, "Firecracker" and "Hidden Rose".

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Comments (9)

Las_Palmas_Norte
18 years ago
'Desert King' does really well in the PNW zone 8 regions.
Sorry, I have no experience with apple varieties.

Cheers, Barrie.
Carol_Ann
18 years ago
I'm in Vancouver, too -- we planted a fig (Peter's Honey) on the west side of our house early last summer -- although not against the house, out in the yard. Anyway, my understanding is they do just fine with that kind of exposure. Just watch watering, especially the first few years while they get established. When I picked out figs my only concern was that they would ripen well in our climate; I don't think it's a huge issue but since we aren't likely to have more than one fig I wanted to get one that would do really well for us.

I've seen other mature fig trees in the neighborhood that seem to be thriving, anything from full sun to one that only gets partial sun because it's mixed in with other trees, so that part shouldn't be a big issue for you.

I don't have experience with apples here but I do know some diseases (apple scab, anthracnose, and powdery mildew) are a real problem in western WA and you want to get disease-resistant varieties for best results. I personally wouldn't even mess with apples that don't have proven resistance but that depends on your tolerance for maintenance and spraying. I'm sure others who have had more experience will chime in. Good luck, and happy growing!
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turtleman49 after my last post I laid in bed thinking about just how mean some of my posts have been. No cussing or name calling but nothing anyone would call friendly. Not slanderous as I think any reasonable person given the same information would have jumped to the same conclusion. However I don't consider jumping to conclusions to be a good thing. People do things that may look contradictory on the surface which often are not. I was prepared to give a full and complete apology this morning. Then I read your new post and I'm torn. Part of me feels bad for how I have acted. Another part of me wants to address some of the things you have said. First I would like to reiterate my previous apology to you. I am sorry for ever saying anything derogatory to anyone about what I thought about your business without first asking you about it in private. Outside of this forum I have spoken to two people about your orders from DWN. Both were people who I had, had previous emails with and felt like I was giving them information that would save them money. That still does not make it right or excuse my behavior and for that I'm sorry. I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me. Back on topic. turtleman49 Desert King is one of my favorite figs. As quoted; Yes, the breba crop (First Crop) of Desert King is one of my favorite figs. They are sweet and have an almost creamy texture and the seeds crunch in your mouth. The tree is however one of my least liked because of the mess. The second crop is a big mess. There are figs of equal quality that produce two crops and thus no mess. Having to pick up all the withered and rotten fruit is not fun. Desert King is supposed to produce two crops and it does. It's just that one will not ripen here and goes to waste. As for sales it only makes sense you would stock what sells. The big box stores stock all kinds of stone fruit trees that will not fruit here most years. It's what people want to buy so they stock them. RSI Growers is more thoughtful than most nurseries in stocking trees that will actually fruit here. Desert King only producing one of two crops being the one exception but an understandable one. As for your last two posts. I really would love to say something. It appears to be alright with you or you would not have posted what you did. It also appears to be ok with tracydr as she has not complained so I will answer. I am always looking for trees and I have been checking DWN for trees sold to nurseries in my state each season for years. It is true that you sell some varieties DWN does not sell. Citrus would be a prime example. However I have seen purchased in past orders most of the varieties sold on your site. Also contrary to your assertion I do see Peaches in your last order that are listed for sale on your site. From what you have said I can only assume you buy new trees for grafting each year and then sell trees you grafted last year on your site. Not the way I would do it as I would use a few of my own trees to make more grafts before I would buy more trees of the same cultivars. But hey, its your business and your money, not mine. As for number of trees I have never been to your place of business. Your site shows how many trees are in stock of each variety. I have never seen large numbers of any one variety on your site. However I can understand having lots and lots of trees and only having a few of each mature enough for sale or only listing a few of each for sale. From all I have heard your trees are larger and nicer than most fruit trees sold at most of our local nurseries. I can certainly see how that creates value. I like large trees as much as anyone and have been willing to pay for it. I can also see added value to using preferred root stocks for Arizona. With no information about root stocks in the tree descriptions at your site I had no way of knowing you were using root stocks that offered more value than those sold by DWN or local retailers. Root stocks are important and I always want to know what root stock is on any tree I purchase. You might want to add the root stock to your tree descriptions. For many it could be key to getting a sale. Lastly I have to hand it to you. For the size of trees you sell. It must take at least 2-4 years to grow out your pomegranate trees from cuttings and at least 2-3 years to grow out your figs from cuttings. I assume they are both on their own roots though as they are not commonly grafted. P.S. I'm not a young man. In my life I have seen some crazy situations where things were misconstrued and misunderstandings destroyed families and friendships. Only to find out years later there were true and totally logical explanations for everything and have everyone sorry for what they had said and how they had acted. Because of this I thought I would behave better and I did not. It is out of character for me. Please excuse me while I crawl under a rock for a few days. Perhaps when I come out the sun will be shining again.
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Well, since you've got a Meyer Lemon growing, citrus are always an option. If you like grapefruit, why not try an Oro Blanco, Melogold or Cocktail? All are actually crosses of some sort (pummelo and grapefruit, or pummelo and mandarin/sweet orange), are much sweeter and do not require the heat to sweeten up as some of the standard grapefruit varieties do. And, a nice semi-dwarf grapefruit is a very pretty tree. Not sure what you mean by "...staying away from a mass of thorns". Blueberries do not have thorns. Maybe what you have are blackberries or raspberries?? Yes, grapefruit trees do have thorns, but the fruit are borne in clusters at the ends of branches, so the grapefruit thorns are not really going to interfere with picking either the blueberries or the grapefruilts. You might also think about one of the delicious pluots or apriums. Check out Dave Wilson's website for some nice suggestions and descriptions. Patty S. Here is a link that might be useful: Dave Wilson Nursery Backyard Orchard Culture Guide
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Don't like the idea though it is well intentioned. The bee hive will get destroyed. The fruit will all get picked before it's ripe...apples having the spurs broken off...kids of the foragers climbing the trees and breaking limbs. Now the part about "tree on private property but overhangs a sidewalk"...what on earth does that even mean. To me that's akin to posting "Mr. Smith works 3-11 with thur/fri off and leaves the key to his back door under the mat". His address is 1201 Oaklawn Drive. Doctor's office parking lots belong to the Doctor's or the building owner and so does the fruit that grows on trees located there. Unless they okayed the posting that's nuts.
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I make fig pie from fresh figs, which is an entirely different thing. You can treat dried figs like raisins. Cut the plumped figs to raisin size and substitute accordingly (roll the cut edges in a little flour or sugar to make them easier to handle). That should give you a good idea for proportion. Figs have stronger flavor than raisins, so go easy or you'll drown the apple taste. Cloves might be a good addition, or even cardamom. If you want to change to the filo, you could chop the apples and figs small, with some pistachios and/or almonds and/or pecans, add spices and some fig syrup, or simple syrup, or honey, and just spread it on the filo and roll it up. Brush the outside with a little sesame oil and bake, cool, slice. Or you could bake it flat. Or you could make a simple log if the filling is good and sticky. You don't have to do a full on baklava for it to be good. :)
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javan
18 years ago
I have a Desert King fig (now in its 5th year), and it does very well here along the coast. It doesn't ripen its second crop though. (I have it south facing). I second the suggestion for disease resistant apples. The ones that do best on my espalier are the disease resistant ones (like Liberty). I am on a big spraying campaign this winter with a bacillus that is supposed to eat fungus and mildew because I really didn't like all the scab last year. Good luck, Jim
cambse
18 years ago
I would suggest Raintree Nursery in Morton WA as a source for apple varieties that will do well in the PNW. You can get a lot of information about both figs and apples from their website and request a catalog also.
Carole

Here is a link that might be useful: Raintree Nursery
Embothrium
18 years ago
In Vancouver you will have that hotter Willamette Valley summmer making wall culture unneeded (you can get figs up here without a wall, too). See climate zone maps and discussion in Sunset WESTERN GARDEN BOOK. Another local supplier is Burnt Ridge in Onalaska. See their web site. They are a grower as well as a retailer.
JudyWWW
18 years ago
One Green World is an exceptional nursery and they do test all of their varieties at their farm. I have had much better stock and results from them than from Raintree. Plants are always very sturdy and well formed. I bought an Atreano fig about 5 years ago and it easily ripens its first crop but not the second. I live north of Vancouver at a higher and colder altitude and have had no problem with my fig. jwww
Embothrium
18 years ago
But unless you get below 10F rather often, occasionally below 0F you're still going to be in USDA 8. They painted that map with a broader brush than Sunset with its Zone 4 and Zone 5--both of which mostly fall under USDA 8.

The temperature spreads for USDA zones are based on average annual minimum temperature, not record lows. If you figure your lowest temperature is going to be in the next range below the average range for your zone, that's probably about right. That's why people are encouraged to plant things hardy to the next zone down (if they don't want to gamble on frost injury).
GreenerPastures
18 years ago
I too live in Vancouver, WA. Near a farm called Joe's Farm on 112th & 18th Street. I highly recommend C&O Nursery (www.C-ONursery.com) in Wenatchee, WA. They're celebrating their 100th year. They stock an amazing variety of only fruit trees.

I ordered 5 trees (bare root) a year ago last October (2004) and received and planted them in Late February. They were in excellent condition when I received them.

I ordered two apples (a Top Export Fuji (rare) and a Honey Crisp); two apricots (Tomcots) and a cherry (Van). Since their planting they've doubled (and more) in size from the original 5'8". I picked these apples because they're some of the more expensive types in grocerie stores. The Apricots and cherries because they too are quite expensive when purchased retail.

The company is always their to answer a question or make a suggestion when asked. Their work well with the backyard orchardist, even though they cater mainly to professionals.

I never thought of figs. Coming from central California I was dubious about apricots in theis area too.

Good luck and happy planting.
hemnancy
18 years ago
As far as I'm concerned, apples are the best of the tree fruits, I grow Liberty and Freedom and they will have apples when all the other trees don't because of rainy weather at bloom time (a mystery, I know...). I have found that early apples like William's Pride (and others in the PR series), Lodi, etc have less insect damage because of being early, the insects didn't get there soon enough or something. As for figs, Negronne only ripens fruit when the winter is mild enough for some of the tiny figs to survive to the next year, but Desert King will ripen fruit the same year. The more sun and heat you can give them, the better. Stone fruits seem to be plagued with diseases for me, but Methley Plum has been my best yielder.

Figs and Apples

Comments (9)

Las_Palmas_Norte

Carol_Ann

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