I was lucky to recieve a bunch of nice breba from my brothers tree in Brooklyn  NY. They are from a tree which I believe is a Brunswick variant. This tree does not split/sour like brunswick does. Also has a fairly tight eye on its main crop. Mother tree is loaded with Breba this year,average weight was about 150grams. Nice flavor and sweet taste too. Thought I would share the pictures. Angelo  Zone 7a NY

Nice crop. Reminds me of Paradiso which also has large breba and finger like leaves.  Brunswick/Paradiso may be one in the same.

Dominick,    I agree it looks a lot like paradiso.I have a paradiso, but it does not perform as well as this. This tree has not showed any sign of any FMV and the fruit is much better tasting. Also the main crop on this has a fairly tight eye unlike my paradiso.....Angelo Zone 7a NY

Yeah I am not a fan but mine is in container. I have no experience with Brunswick.

I had the good fortune to go over to Angelo's house and taste a few of these"hand grenades".  One of the best tasting breba figs I have ever eaten. I am lucky enough to have a plant and can't wait for the main crop.  No hollow center or open eyes on this variety but it does look a lot like brunswick.  I also had a paradisio and got rid of it.

Ed, Its always a pleasure having you over,glad you were able to try these figs and enjoy them. I promise you the main crop is even better.This is the best tasting fig out of many that I have tried from Brooklyn. Luckily I still have many friends and family still there. Here is picture of my white Italian unknown breba. Taste on this fig was OK ,but not as good as the"HAND GRENADE FIGS'. Note the purple staining around the meat of the fig..... Angelo zone 7a NY

Your brown fig could also be Doree or Goutte d'Or.

That's really unusual.  I've never seen a fig stain the surrounding area darker than its own pulp.

Leon, Dont know anything about Doree or Goutte D'or , but thanks for the clue. I will research those figs. Bob,I thought too that it was unusual. I have picked main crop in numerous years past and never noticed the purple stain .This was the first time I  was able to cut open a breba. Will give this tree closer attention this time around to see whats inside. The main crop is very large also and has nice sweet taste. Will post picture of outside of this fig soon.    thanks      Angelo zone7a Ny

Here are some pictures of another.     Angelo Zone7A  NY

Angelo....

Just to clarify....these figs came from your brother's tree?  Correct?  So far, it's an unknown variety?

Are you growing this tree also?

It looks like a very nice "variety" that's worth growing.  "Brooklyn Hand-Granade".  Good name.

Is your brother's tree in-ground, and does he protect it for the Winter?  Does he use  limestone as a top dressing around the tree?

The devil is always in the details....

Frank

Frank, Both of these tree's are from my brother's yard in Brooklyn. These trees are huge, uncovered every year and limestone is ammended into soil regularly.They have been in ground from the start. The 'hand grenade" variety was planted personally by my brother about 20 years ago. The purple stained one was planted more than 40 years ago. My brother discovered the hand grenade fig while doing some work on a clients home in Bay Ridge. There they were in a bowl on the kitchen table when my brother was offered to try one. The home was owned by an Italian family. He asked them where the tree was from,and they told him the tree was always there when they purchased the home from yet another Italian family. To their knowledge the tree was from southern Italy. Also I am growing this tree both in pots and in ground. My trees are only three years old however. I am in suffolk county and the trees have shown to be hardy for this zone.This year they are with many fruit.    Angelo  Zone 7A NY

Hello fellows,

That violaceous rim rang my bell. With figs we are never sure but I think that we are talking about a variety which was cultivated in California (certainly in a small scale) by the 4th quarter of the 19th century, taken in by emigrants or imported by the Dep of Agriculture.

Eisen, in view of the fruit properties, size,high yelds, flavors and resistance to transportation recommended that it should be adopted by local growers for bigger commercial productions. I would not be surprised that it still grows somewhere in that state

Here, this is our LAMPO BRANCO breba, a San Pedro type like its BLACK brother (LAMPO PRETO). Not the same aspect, shape, color, flavors etc.. a total different fig but again very tasty, sweet and not watery at all.

It is an early, and excellent fruit..The fig in the attached picture was picked up by the end of last May. The bigger one hanging from the tree was not picked up as it was not ripe. It was big! for sure well in excess of 200 grams.

I understand that all of you would welcome cuttings fom the 'mother land' some time after the fall. I can get some, problem are the bureaucracies. We have to devise a system!
All the best
Francisco

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lampo2012/7537328810

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lampo2012/7537327840

Angelo....

Thanks so much for documenting the background of these trees.  I love to read the history behind the trees that have given delight to generations of owners.

Now, I'm clear..."the "Brooklyn Hand-Granade" and the purple-stain figs are off different trees. 

Very interesting that the trees are uncovered, and that he does use limestone as a top dressing.  Bet the limestone made those figs taste better.  Even more interesting....no evidence of FMV.

Thanks again for answering these questions, and filling in the rest of the story. 

Seeing these figs makes me want to specialize in collecting good, proven, winner-figs, from ethnic neighborhoods...especially the Italian figs.  These are the figs that are worthy of propagating, so they can live on....and they should live on, and be coveted by new owners.

Frank

Francisco,  Wow there is striking similarities between your Lampa Branco and my unknown white fig. The white fig is a two crop fig however.No caprification needed. Very nice ,thanks for chiming in.  Frank, you and I are thinking the same. After trying so many varieties with very mixed results, I realized further the value of these unknown varieties. Most of these figs were snuck in to the country by  Italian immigrants .They are not common varieties , I see unique characteristics in many of them. There are many types I am trying out right now.I will post whenever I have something interesting.   Angelo Zone 7a NY

Angelo...

Can you describe the main-crop figs on the "Brooklyn Hand-Granade"?

Frank

We Have to take in account that the Summer was very dry,and the Spring was dry too.
In the 2011 climatic condition,that we had,that is when Brunswick does not shine.
We have more Summer looking like 2011 Summer than like 2012 Spring and Summer was.
So I say ,take it in account.

Frank , Main crop on this tree is a large fig with amber/pink interior. Taste is excellent , sweet with a lingering fig flavor. Herman I have observed this fig for many years,it is in the family. Last year with all the rain we had , it held on without splitting/souring longer than many other varieties. I am confident it is a good performer,unlike what Brunswick does.I am familiar with the failures of Paradiso and brunswick for I have had both.  See pictures of main crop from last August.   Angelo Zone7A NY

Angelo....

A sweet ending to a very interesting thread.  I love to see these ethnic figs.  They are truly gifts that keep on giving, and  far better than a lot of the fancy-schmancy, FMV-diseased figs that all too frequently eclipse the solid performers like this.

Bravo! De Tomaso Bros.

Frank

PS...You got mail.

Frank, Thanks for the compliment,glad you appeciated the thread.Check your mail.      Angelo zone7a NY

OK ,Angelo:Good,That means it is not a Brunswick after all,even if it looks like one .
I also had a fig that look like Brunswick but was much better in rain,and so it did not have a name and I called it Long Brown Honey.
Definitely not Brunswick the way it was behaving ,doing well here much better than the three Brunswick i had,called:Red Italian,Brunswick,and Madona.
Here is a pix of my Long Brown Honey:

Herman, We might have the same tree.Those pictures look exactly like mine. How does your fruit taste?Also sounds like a suitable name for it. Thanks for sharing pictures of your tree....Angelo Zone 7A NY

Maybe the "Brooklyn Hand-Granade"  =  "Long Brown Honey"...definitely not a Brunswick...and, the plot thickens...

Frank

Now, we need a name for the "Purple Stain" fig....something more poetic...how about the Italian version of "Wine Stain"?  Translate those two words.


"Macchia di Vino"   How's that sound?  : )


Frank

Macchia Di Vino sounds exotic........ Angelo Zone 7A NY