Hopeful, yep, I grow date palms, mostly varieties called Medjool and Barhi. Medjool is famous because it is the largest, with a wonderful flavor and chewy candy texture when properly cured. Barhi is the best of only a very few varieties that can be eaten yellow, before it dries. (like eating a grape instead of a rasin) When yellow it is sweet and does not have the astringet quality (like persimmon)that most have. When dried and cured, it has a fabulous caramel flavor, and is the favorite of most people who have had the chance to taste severl varieties. Historically, oranges were all but wiped out in CA when a desease killed the roots throuout the state. The desease was brough in on meyer lemon, which is why now all you see is IMPROVED Meyer, which is desease free. I understand FL has had huge dye offs also. Perhapse Mr Manors can tell you more about the legacy of that part of the country. Arthur the Date Palm Guy

Geoff, survival is not a problem. It's the general health and productivity of the tree that will be the issue. South Florida is really nowhere near an ideal place to grow fig tree. The problem is several fold... Rust fungus is one of the major problems.... despite several treatments available ie:copper spray, bordeaux mix etc, rust is a loosing cause. These are topical chemicals and rain will wash them all off. Rust fungus will cause the leaves to turn blotchy brown, curl up and fall off. The high humidity is the culprit. Chilling (hours of temps below 45 degrees) hours (lack there of) is the second problem. The plant just doesn't go dormant and stays in a dazed state, until spring kicks in. Soil quality is a fixable problem, a sunny spot with good air movement is a major requirement. If you like a challenge, give it a shot. There are plenty of northerners who have tried and have resigned themselves to maybe eating a precious and few figs yearly. Growing in a large pot may alleviate some of the problems and if you have a screened in pool deck that you can keep the pot in, it will keep the birds and other wildlife from taking whatever figs your plant may actually bring to bear. My recommendation is to choose a variety that has a heavy breba crop like a dessert king that also has a closed eye to keep the bugs out. The winter/spring is very dry (most times)and will allow the fig to grow normal until the rains come (June). The main crop that comes later will most likely be a waste as a tree without leaves will not ripen fruit... My final recommendation is to pick a mango tree variety that you really like and plant it, then trade mangoes for figs from friends - relatives from points north of Orlando....

Thanks Henry, would be nice to hear some progress being achieved.

Oh I know exactly where this is but I've never been in there. I pass it on the way to my favorite Bromeliad nursery. Thanks for posting this. I'm going to look into it.