A Collector’s Mindset: Figs, Family, and 250-Plus Varieties with Bobby Ghaheri
Growing Figs in the Pacific Northwest with Bobby Ghaheri
Fig collecting starts innocently enough. A tree for the yard. A cutting from a friend. Maybe a variety with a good story. Then, suddenly, there are shelves in the garage and rows of pots on drip irrigation.
In this episode, I’m joined by fig grower and collector Bobby Ghaheri of Oregon City, Oregon, known online as Figologist. Bobby grows more than 250 varieties in the Pacific Northwest, where ripening time, breba crops, microclimate, and sunlight all matter.
Bobby is also one of the experienced cold-climate fig growers featured in my book, Grow Figs Where You Think You Can’t.
We talk about how a visit from Bobby’s fig-loving father helped start the collection, the Iranian family figs that became part of his story, and how the fig community pulled him deeper into the world of cuttings, trades, propagation, and variety trials.
Bobby also shares practical lessons for newer fig growers: why not every fig belongs in the ground, why breba crops deserve more respect, how he manages potted figs with drip irrigation, and why it pays to think two years ahead before turning your garage into a fig nursery.
In This Episode
How Bobby went from a few family fig trees to more than 250 varieties
Growing figs in the cool-summer climate of the Pacific Northwest
Why breba figs can be especially valuable in cooler climates
Choosing varieties that will ripen in your conditions
Deciding which figs belong in the ground and which belong in pots
Managing a large container collection with drip irrigation
Propagating figs in narrow tree pots measuring 10 × 23 cm (4 × 9 inches)
Managing fungus gnats and other indoor propagation pests
Using FigBid and FigFanatic—and navigating the collector’s chase
The generosity and knowledge found in the fig-growing community
Bobby’s advice for new fig growers
Connect with Bobby
Find Bobby on FigFanatic as Figologist
What Home Fig Growers Can Learn from Bobby
The point isn’t that every fig grower needs 250 varieties.
A large collection gives Bobby the opportunity to compare how varieties perform under the same conditions. It also reinforces an important lesson: a fig’s reputation means less than what it actually does in your garden.
For newer fig growers, Bobby’s experience suggests a practical approach:
Start with a manageable number of trees
Choose varieties known to ripen in conditions like yours
Keep unfamiliar varieties in pots while you assess them
Pay attention to breba production in cool-summer climates
Plan irrigation and winter storage before expanding the collection
Connect with nearby growers who understand your local conditions
Don’t let the thrill of acquiring varieties outrun the space available
A collection becomes most useful when it helps you identify the figs that genuinely earn a place in your garden.
More About Growing and Collecting Figs
Keep Growing Figs
Looking for more cold-climate fig-growing ideas? Visit the fig home page to browse articles about varieties, pruning, propagation, ripening, winter protection, and more.
Grow Figs Where You Think You Can’t
My revised and expanded fig book is a practical guide to growing figs in pots and cold climates—from choosing varieties and pruning to ripening fruit and conquering winter.
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