Jean-Talon market is an outdoor and indoor market in the “Little Italy” section of Montréal. We have been there on other occasions however this time we went to learn more about the “Jean-Talon” fig. This is rumored to be a cold weather fig that can grow this far north in Montréal’s 5b zone.

There were a lot of fig tree for sale here.

I spoke at length to the owner of this area. He told me they typically have 3 types of fig trees available, a white one which they called “Lattarula”, and two dark figs. The owner told me one of the dark figs was a one crop fig with small and sweet figs and the other was a large fig that had two crops.

We spoke to every vendor who had fig trees for sale and no one knew of a fig call “Jean-Talon fig”

This potted beauty was about $500.

The owner said most people have their fig trees in pots and they bring them in for the winter.

Some people, who choose to grow their trees in-ground, will cut back and bind the branches over of a few days, then slowly push the tree into a ditch dug next to it. The tree is buried in the late fall and unburied in the early spring after the chance of a freeze has past.

These were interesting because they had names associated with them.

Directly across the street from the market are row houses that have yards that are planted with fruit and vegetables fence to fence.

You can see the great looking large fig tree the owner has been able to grow in Montréal’s 5b weather.

I would think a large shed must be built over the tree in the fall that includes supplemental heating.

If you look closely at the end of the path you can see the owner, a Don Corleone like figure, enjoying his garden.

A great looking fig tree along with other beautiful fruit trees.

Beautiful