Yesterday I was talking with a  neighbor who moved in the neighborhood a few month ago and they have a fig tree who makes big figs. The skin is green with purplish stripes. They are about 3 inch long but when you open them up they are dry inside. See pics. What is wrong with them? Not enough sun, not enough water, too much water or something different ? What's the fig ID?

All inputs are welcome
Thanks

Caprifigs?

Off topic..
Did anyone else notice warning of virus infection (Trojan) when opening the file picture (or, is my Free AVG settings too sensitive)?

Edit: However, it did not detect when opened later (after heal).

Ottawan:

I use to use AVG free V.

I use the Avira free V. It didn't say a trojan was in the pictures.

No i did not with my internet scanner which is always running  in backround.

Any opinion on my question?

Sorry Figarita!
its either caprifig like Gorgi stated or was picked much to early as for its type well if we new the type we could eliminate one of the above.

I know 3 other people who have the same problem .It is hard to believe that all of them have caprifigs.
I went to a nursery and they told me it is too much water but I know one of then very well and it doesn't have too much water. I asked them also if they think is a caprifig and I was told NO. Tomorrow I'll go to another nursery and see what they will say.

I would say caprifig, BUT...

figs at the beginning of the season, and those that "ripen" when weather is cooler in the fall seem to exhibit the same "look" in many cases - or maybe half the fig with look like that and half will look like a regular ripe fig.

If all the figs look like that, from the first to "ripen", to the last, then being a seedling caprifig in most likely the reason.

I looked at one tree and I think these are breba- they are on last year wood. The figs on this year wood (green) are very small or just starting to form.
In a few days I'll go and look at the other two trees to see if these are breba too or main crop.

I went to a few nurseries and none of them could say what's wrong with those figs. Most of them said that was a water problem-too little water and at one I was told is too much water. When I raised the question of a caprifig they said 'No, is edible'.
I was not pleased with the answered and I study a lot. I finally think I got my answer...it is a caprifig (male figs produces pollen !!!). I opened up 2 figs and I shake them and a lot of pollen came out ( see pics). I could see the male flowers. You guys were right, thanks !!! Here it is what I found , from Wayne's word:
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pljun99b.htm

 'Ficus carica has 2 sexual forms, the "male" caprifig and female tree (edible fig). The caprifig is monoecious [i.e. with separate male (staminate) flowers and separate female (pistillate) flowers. It is functionally male because it produces pollen. Edible figs contain only long-style female flowers. Since functional male trees are hermaphroditic, Ficus carica is usually considered gynodioecious rather than dioecious.'

Hi,
I just joined the forum, because I am interested in obtaining a caprifig plant or two for the use of the pollen. Would the originator of this thread be interested in sending me a few cuttings from this caprifig? It looks like it might be able to be pollen parent to some large fig common figs, since it is so large.

Anyway, I have just gotten seriously hooked on fig growing this year, and I only have 7 named varieties and 5 unknown cuttings started. I have only tasted fruit from one of these plants so far.

Bluesguy, sure I can send you some cuttings of this tree.

Figarita,
happy that you figured out your fig!
For me one i have i cannot and its going to the can after 4 seasons 1 ripe fig.

I am going to muddy the waters, a little. The pollen shedding does fit the caprifig idea. However, The is the first caprifig that I have seen that has so much color in it. Most are pretty pale or blond. Now, I haven't seen a ton of caprifigs, but do have Stanford, T-30E, KAC-11-30E and several seedlings. This is KAC-11-30E:

Figarita,
Thanks! Can I email you my address?

Tom

This is a magnified picture of a female flower from Gene's Paradiso and a male flower from DFIC 08.


bluesguy, For breeding purposes the caprifig needs to be "persistent" - hold onto it's figs.    Caprifigs that drop fruit produce seedlings that drop figs if not pollinated (Smyrna type figs).  There aren't too many caprifigs that can be used for breeding common figs.  It's complicated.  I'm still trying to figure out how to hand pollinate figs - technique, timing for ripe pollen and receptive female flowers, etc., etc.

If anyone out there has any information on fig breeding techniques, I'd appreciate it.

Tom, you can send me a private message with your address and email. I tried to send you a private message but your private message is disabled.

I've never seen any caprifigs. I tried to find pictures of them to compare but the only one I found is this :

Caprifigs do come in different colors - and some are edible.  This is a photo of DFIC 8, an edible, persistent caprifig.  

Looking for the pollen bearing anthers is easier for me than short or long styles.
This is a good overview of the subject.
Ray Givan's "The Weird Sex Life of Figs" http://www.raysfiginfo.com/figsex.html

Thanks, fignut. I looked at that site.
My figs have pollen and I tasted one yesterday and was bitter.