Thanks for all the tips. I checked out the pot and it had some really terrible drainage...2 tiny holes only. I added a bunch more drainage and we will see how that does. I think I am going to eventually yank this cherry tree I put in and stick the fig in the ground. I don't know what I was thinking with the cherry tree idea. I guess winter would be a good time to do this?

I live in Kingwood and grow @15 varieties. I would recommend White Texas Everbearing. It is medium large yellow fig that is not so rich, but very sweet. My wife loves this one. Have not had any problems with it. My personal favorite is Celeste. I have 3 variants and trying to propagate a 4th. They all are delicious. One variant I obtained from Louisiana is very sweet with strong hints of berry. I am currently trying to root another variant of Celeste I found locally at an abandoned lot. The fruit on that one is very sweet and nicely rich, doesn't have the strong berry overtones of the LA variety, but is quite a bit larger. It is an exceptional variety but I am having trouble rooting it. Will take cuttings again this winter if I still have access to the property. If you like sweet/rich, then Celeste. Sweet, with little richness, white everbearing. Both do great here with no problems.

Thanks Martin - I have seen your large yields in pics in the past so it seems root pruning in February will not effect fruit yields as long as other parameters are ideal. Perhaps my lower yields were due to inadequate fertilizer or too high soil temps in the pots, I measured one day this summer and the temp in the first 6 or so inches was ~ 100 in July with pots sitting on the driveway in sun all day. I will plan on relocating the pots or shading them next season to see if that helps! Thanks for your input! Have a great remainder of the weekend! Brian

Heather, I would recommend the Chicago Hardy. It has delicious figs and is both prolific and hardy. It is relatively easy to find, usually sold at Home Depot or Lowes. Get the largest (widest diameter trunk), most mature one you can find/afford. It will shorten the waiting time for quality, abundant crops of figs. Pot grown figs transplant wonderfully easily, even bigger ones. Figs are tough, vigorous fruiting trees, and want and like to grow! It is a relatively short season fig, meaning the figs of Chicago Hardy naturally ripen in the earlier part of the fig ripening season, ripening its crop in mid to late summer into early fall. You want an early ripening fig for best sweetness and flavor. Late ripening fig varieties ripen their figs too late in your shorter growing season so you never get a decent tasting crop from late ripening fig varieties. The word Hardy in Chicago Hardy means it has one of the most winter cold resistance of any fig variety. Its American origin was Chicago, but it was not developed/bred by a Chicago agriculturist. It is reported by reliable fig experts to be a Sicilian fig, originally growing in the vicinity of Mount Etna. Fig varieties whose origin is in the Mt. Etna vicinity, as a group are referred to as, "Mount Etna Figs." Figs are very adaptable trees, but cold winters and short growing seasons are not kind to figs. Before you take my word as the Gospel truth for me recommending Chicago Hardy, ask around at your big Mom and Pop local nurseries. See what they recommend. The big box places usually are no help in the knowledge/advice dept. You want a fig tree that requires minimal care, no burying or wrapping with tarps to protect for winter if possible. One that has no or minimal winter die back in Southern Maryland. I know personally that big fig trees grow very well in the Baltimore area with minimal care. You don't want a variety that has winter die back, especially dying to the ground. You also do not want to have to go through elaborate means of winter protection to head off winter kill/die back, especially the main trunk. Also consult your local state agricultural dept. for advice. Figs come in two main fruit characteristic classes, light colored fruit and dark colored fruit. The light colored fruit is sweeter, but weaker figgy flavored. These varieties also are usually later ripening. Don't get me wrong, they are extremely delicious, but different from what the average Joe expects. The dark colored fruit is still rather sweet, but usually has that figgy (Fig Newton style), taste, and is what most folks expect. Chicago Hardy is in the darker class. I hope your fig tree exceeds your expectations. Moses