Oh, go ahead and get a few. They are like having children They are a joy to have but you worry about giving them the proper care.

If you are going to plant in the ground as it sounds like you are planing to then go for it . If you plan on container growing citrus I would advise against it. Container citrus tree growing is an immense amount of work. Pay attention to all the requests for,help my citrus tree is dying. My tree has splotched leaves. Its oozing goo from the trunk. I came home and these bird droppings that are moving and have eaten most of the leaves. Why is my tree wilting, I water every week. Grow trees from seed such as a kumquat, key lime, or calamondin will give you great practice in container growing. These trees will produce good fruit and you can learn on seeds before you pump $$$$$$$$$$$$ in to grafted stock that will most likely to die in the first year. I started out with 300 seeds and by a half year only one lived. That tree struggled as I learned the ins and out of citrus growing. Friends have given me 6 citrus trees over a year to 2 years ago and all are alive. I also planted 25 seed of US897 citrus rootstock trees and 20 of the 21 that sprouted are still alive. Check out the link below on container citrus., then stick with in ground growing

How many bushels of fruit are U getting from your POTTED citrus

Definitely plant in ground only and skip growing in rxtra varieties in container container. Citrus trees to close together fot, mildew, and lack ripe fruit. Give your tree at least a 10 foot radius. Shop around for the best tree for you and your are. Most store sell what is popular and get the rootstock for your soil, water, available light, and temperature

I agree that if you can grow them in the ground, it is best. However, I have all my trees in containers and in four years + have not lost one. Perhaps I'm lucky. I have spent $$ buying trees and investing in the right mix. So far, my most productive tree is a 6 year old Meyer lemon....produces dozens of large, juicy lemons. However, many of my other trees are still very young.

Figs - you certainly have the weather for it . So definitely it would be a great addition to your garden . For us northern gardeners containers are the only option . They certainly are more work , bring in the plants in winter , managing pests , light , temperature . But I would say even though there has been anxious periods like dealing with WLD or Scales have never lost a plant but planting in ground is the best option still

I am just at the border I think of where figs can be grown in-ground. I have five trees of different varieties. Two past winters (though not the last one), they died down to the ground, but they came back. I have one that is over 10 ft tall and loaded with Figs. Can't wait!

I certainly would not recommend figs for Hawaii; figs like hot dry summers and cold wet winters; they would not likely get the chilling hours they need in HI

My hardy Chicago survived the winter and is 10 feet cube and loaded with figs.

Ha ha Vladimir, I like that- like having children : )

My intent was to buy a citrus tree that I could have on "stand-by" in a container for possible transplant into the ground one day; this is all dependent on the success of a particular avocado tree. Let me explain:

Scenario 1 (my preference): I have a Hawaiian Malama avocado tree that is still very small. My intent is to grow it in its container until it is much larger. Once it is a nice sized tree and a few years old, I'd like to transplant it into the ground in my front yard. If this happens, I have a spot in my backyard in which I would plant something else- perhaps this new citrus that I’d like to go buy soon (which triggered this new discussion). I only have room in my backyard for 3 fruit trees; I already have a Eureka Lemon (which came with the house when we bought it) and I also planted a Rapoza mango tree about a year ago. So, my 3rd fruit tree in the ground could possibly be this new citrus if I get a successful avocado in the front yard.

Scenario 2: However, if for whatever reason my Malama avocado does not get planted in the ground in the front yard, my backup plan for an avocado tree is to plant a Lamb Hass avocado (upright growth) in my backyard— which would make that my 3rd fruit tree in the ground and I would have no more room for another in-ground tree. If this happens, then the new citrus that I purchased would be kept in its container… so I may have to hope for Laura’s luck and buy a Meyer lemon since she seems to have had success with it in a container.

Hope this made sense. As I have limited space, I have to really think about what goes where since I am definitely trying to grow as much as I can.

John, your post made me laugh at my sleepy self. I read it while still half-asleep in bed when I woke up this morning and I didn’t realize that it was a post intended for this discussion as I mentioned wanting to buy citrus and not a fig tree, so I was confused regarding your recommendation. Funnily enough, the “figs” part of my username is actually part of a last name and not the fruit (although I do LOVE figs). About ten years ago, I joined a scuba-diving forum with the same username and when I created this account, I just used the same name for this gardening forum (which given that this is a gardening forum it might not have been the best idea, but it would be too awkward to change it now!). I have never even posted under the figs discussion threads : ) I am somewhat familiar with the climate required for figs as my husband’s family owns properties in Greece and they have delicious figs— what I wouldn’t do to be able to bring those Mediterranian trees here and grow them successfully! However, I do want to mention that Hawaii is very diverse and figs can be grown here- it just depends where you live. The Big Island of Hawaii has 4 out of the 5 major climate zones in the world, and 8 out of 13 of the sub-zones. I mentioned this in another discussion, but the peaks in Hawaii do get snow (my son saw his first snow in Hawaii) and those surrounding areas would receive enough chill hours I imagine— I went to a yard sale there once and I was shocked to see the size of the fig tree that was growing at the lady’s house.. she even gave me a few. I never researched her theory, but she said that she believes that the volcanic soil (similar to the soil in Santorini, which is an actual volcanic caldera) is what contributes to the success of her figs on the Big Island, which is essentially many shield volcanoes that make up the entire island. She said that her only real challenge was keeping the birds away. Let me say though.. I have enjoyed reading your posts these last few days since I discovered the citrus forum. Are you an actual farmer?

I’ve definitely gone on long enough. I appreciate the tips!

Laura, you mentioned investing in the right mix. Would you mind sharing your mix recipe? I apologize if you have already posted this before.. maybe it will be a quick copy and paste?

Hi Figs! I think a Meyer would be a nice choice, but with a Eureka, I wonder if you may want to try for something different? Maybe a Key lime...some type of mandarin or tangerine? I love the Meyer lemon and it does well in containers. It is not as acidic as a Eureka, but I just thought for variety you may want something else. I LOVE mangos. I tried growing a mango and an avocado tree in a container, but they just did not do well. I grew up in South Florida (and Cuba before that) so I remember how well they grow as in-ground trees. As far as the mix, if you search 5-1-1 mix, that is my favorite. Others here use the gritty mix, but for me, it is too heavy. The 5-1-1 mix is 5 parts pine bark (I use Reptibark - buy it off Amazon because it can be a bit costly), 1 part perlite, 1 part peat moss. I also add in one scoop of Oscomote plus (pink bag) and about a 1tbsp garden lime. I then routinely fertilize with Foliage Pro. Once you have the initial investment, it is really not hard or expensive to maintain - well, except for those of us who are citrus-obsessed (you know who you are! ;-). I soak the reptibark and then just mix it up with the other ingredients. It is really quite simple. I do have a potted guava tree that is about to produce loads of guavas, but I have to protect them or the squirrels will eat them before we can...I'll post a pic of one of my Figs in the next post,...since they have come up in the discussion...;-)

Figs do grow well here even though we do not have a Mediterranean climate. I know a lady with a tree as tall as her house. Mine is loaded with figs although the lighting is crappy right now for a pic...

And here's my biggest Meyer tree...he's about 6 ft potted and about 6+ years old.

Forgot the pic...;-)

Wow Laura, those are some great pictures; your fig tree is so big and your Meyer is just gorgeous! Thanks for the mix tips above. Too bad about your mango and avocado trees. Maybe one day you should consider researching container-friendly mangos? Where do you live? Although not very gardening knowledgeable (I'm learning), I am completely obsessed with mangos. The mango and avocado trees around here are ridiculously big. I'd like to make my mango tree the focal point of my backyard and let it get to be the largest tree (but still manageable) and keep the other two in-ground fruit trees much smaller. My friend and I did a bit of mango research and went to farmers markets to test our several varieties before I decided on the Rapoza variety. Regarding your mention of me wanting to try something different, I kept the Eureka for "sentimental" purposes- it was such a tiny, almost dead little piece of nothing when we bought this house. I managed to nurse it back to health and put it in the ground; it has tripled, maybe even quadrupled in size. In celebration, I bought a whole bunch of lemon-themed everything for the decor in my kitchen. So now, I *MUST* have at least one lemon tree to justify my lemon decor! I am having a bit of trouble with the Eureka though, it grew wonderfully until it fruited. Once it fruited it lost almost all of its leaves. I cut off all the lemons (what a shame because they were so big!) and pruned it a bit in hopes that the tree can try and focus on growing leaves and getting healthy again. To lose that tree would be really sad as it was our first tree in our home here. However, if it is not successful, I would be more than willing to try another variety as my sentiment only extends to that particular tree and not necessarily to the variety of lemon.

Here's three pics: first two of our farmers market taste tests which helped me decide on Rapoza and the second of an actual mango festival. We tried over 24 varieties all together!

Mangos in Cincinnasti Ohio are a no go. All 4 of my citrus varieties are ever bearing whereas mangos go for a month and poof its over for a year.

That's a shame Steve. Your fig tree is gorgeous! What type? Also, is that a little cactus in your profile pic? Do you grow them?

I hope your Eureka comes back! I'm sorry it is not well! In South Florida, there is a mango variety that I LOVE....the best I've ever tasted down there...the Glen mango. I should do a search about growing in containers. The plants I had were container plants but may not have been the best varieties for that. I live in Maryland, so the summers are very hot, but my citrus need do come in for winter - usually around mid-late November. I think the mangos and avocados needed warmth for a longer period, but I may have just done it all wrong. Frankly, with my citrus obsession, I don't think I can fit too many more large trees inside. I was also an avid scuba diver when I lived in Florida. If your Eureka does not come back, I would definitely go for a Meyer...heck, even if it does, you can still grow a citrus in a container. They Meyer is very prolific in containers, so it may be a good choice. Can you post pics of your trees and your Eureka so that we can see and maybe some can give you advice to try to revive it....??

Yeah Steve, it seemed that the mango needed warmth for a longer period that it did not get here...

For some reason the pics you posted did not show up till now. Looks heavenly! Look at that blue water!!! So jealous!

Thank you Laura, yes, I'll take pics of the lemon tree tomorrow to see if anyone can give their thoughts.

talk to your county agg agent and hear what he has to say about citrus in your area.

Oh my God...Do you have any idea of what this conversation about Mango's is doing to me? I have a Mango tree in my yard at my house in Puerto Rico and it's the ONLY tree I use to love picking from before going to the beach. I use to pick them fresh and stick them in a cooler for the beach. To bite into one of those when you are hot is to die for, next to fresh Coconut juice right out from the coconut. Those pics and of that water, the orange and blues are just to die for. I once tried a Glen Mango, and a Roof Rat as they call it literally kept picking my fruit a few years back and then toppled the whole tree over onto my pavement on a hot day just to kill it( That tree case me 79 dollars and it was grafted slated for container growing and I miss it so. The fruit was well on it's way to maturing, so it is possible, Laura, to grow them in our area and long as you keep the varmints away from them. I grew mine out doors on my flat roof all summer in a white pot and would stick it in a sunny warm window for the winter while the fruit just held on until it would start to mature agin come that spring.

Fig, I love how you talk about the island and the fruits you like. Believe me, now that you discovered this site and live in that area, growing citrus should be much easier than for use that had to grow them without all this help. It is much easier than you might think.

All these hours stories you hear are of those whom have not heard of this forums until they were in dire straights, or not applying the simple concept of growing in containers...

Simply put very good well draining porous mix, one of which many make here, a good amount of sunlight which you have, a good watering regimen, and a good fertilizer is all one needs to grow healthy citrus in containers.

Constant vigilance on watching for pests will help keep them that way..That's all..

Nice to meet you)

Mike,

Aww, I wish you could be at your beach with your mangos again soon! Your description of being there sounds lovely. Thank you, so very nice to meet you too : )

Sorry to hear about your tree- what a bummer. I am definitely not an expert, but I have done some research and there are some container mango trees (that way they can be brought indoors for the winter) that can definitely be grown up north. In particular, there is a lady on this website who grows a few mango trees and she has a "pickering" mango variety that she has several posts about. I would google "garden web pickering mango" and several discussions should come up.

Yes, I am happy to have found this website. I enjoy watching my trees grow and this will be a new hobby for many years to come. I am as beginner as they get right now, but I love my mango tree so much and I am so anxious to see it mature.

I definitely enjoy the island life. In my "before life," I must've been an oceanographer, marine biologist, geologist/volcanologist because all of those aspects of the island are so fascinating to me! Not to mention, the islands are essentially giant gardens because the fruit variety and growth is remarkable. Having a house in Puerto Rico, you absolutely understand : )

Mike, so you have a glen mango in a pot now?? Has it produced mangos? I may need to try again if you think it's possible....

I use to Laura..That's until the squirrel knocked t off the roof and I didn't get to save it until after a long hot day beating on it...I miss it so much. I had fruit and one was as big as the size of a silver dollar...It would of grown and ripened I am sure of it(

I use to Laura..That's until the squirrel knocked t off the roof and I didn't get to save it until after a long hot day beating on it...I miss it so much. I had fruit and one was as big as the size of a silver dollar...It would of grown and ripened I am sure of it(

Bummer for you Mike! I think I'll do a bit more research...perhaps someday when I have a greenhouse ;-)

Figs, what a great climate to test subtropical and tropical fruits! Mangoes are one of God's great gifts to mankind. Just had one last night.