Before the birds come, here is what they look like today


Figo Rei

 

Pastilière

 

Panachée

 

Valamandil

 

Blk Butjassot

 


Violeta aka Figo Preto aka 'Black Madeira'

 


Hybrid DFIC0023 - Carica x Palmata

 

Zidi

 

Black Smyrna (seedling) LTK

 


Francisco

Franciso, very nice pics and the fruit looks delicious. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the pics
The figs look great

Great looking pictures. I love the look of Valamandil. How's it taste?

Thanks for sharing. That is a great collection you have. I would love to Valamandil to my collection. Where did you get it from?

Thank you fellow members for all your comments.
Valamandil is a Common fig, of good size, well above average and extremely tasty.
All the figs on this topic have been given access to pollination and this may eventually have boosted some of their characteristics and qualities

Francisco

very nice

Very nice, Francisco!

Could you tell about what container size are you using, what soil, and fertilizer schedule, if any?

Nice!

Thank you all for taking your time to read this topic.

Igor,

My pots are either the equiv. of 3 or 5 gal. depending the selection,  on the root ball size at the time of up potting- All these trees are very young and frankly speaking I shouldn't have pushed them this far.
As for the soil, just a standard Universal formula, enriched with a bit of lime and a couple of hands full of either fish meal or warm castings and a tea spoon of iron oxide.
Fertilizer, on light doses, given diluted on irrigation water weekly and/or biweekly, 5-8-10 or P/K13-14

The weather so far has been fine but not as hot as in past seasons.

The two first time varieties in this lot - DFIC0023 and Zidi - I feel somehow  'dragging their feet' may be due to not enough heat intensity.
If you doing these two varieties do you mind to comment/show what they doing for you ?
May be other members could also comment
Thank you

Francisco

Francisco,

Thank you for your answers.
Do you keep the older trees in the containers too?
How large are those, if you do not mind?
Many of mine are in 7 gals and I am trying to decide what max min size I can go to.

My Zidi is in 1 gal pot, but growing rather slowly.
I do not have a hybrid, sorry.

Igor,

On some instances yes I keep older trees in containers
pruning roots/branches and renewing soil mix every 3 or 4 years and this keeps them happy.
Have 3 or 4 Smyrna plus 2 Caprifig well over 6 years old in 10/12 gal containers.
All others go to ground or give/exchange with friends

Your climate and environment seems to be ideal.
If you can, focus on growing your figs 'in ground'... if space is not that big, select a good root stock and do grafts or budding a good selection of the best varieties. It's fun and with good cultivation you get the very best figs with all their richness of flavors, sugars, colors, etc.. something you hardly achieve on potted trees.

Francisco

Francisco, it''s nice seeing the varieties that you grow. I hope the birds leave them alone so you can show photos of them cut open, and maybe a taste description. My plants are all in ground now, so I hope I can taste them at the best they can be without pollination. I believe Jon said Black Maderia tastes better at his nursery as compared to UCDavis where the figs are well pollinated. Maybe some figs don't taste better with pollination?

Mike in Hanover, VA

Lovely figs you got there Francisco, with them at your reach you'll never go hungry :)

valamandil!   wow!!!! how beautiful. Great photos and varieties you have.

Wow nice looking figs and great pictures....

Thank you all for your comments.

Mike,

Nice comments. Me too, hope the birds will leave some for me.
Growing figs 'in ground' will definitely give you a superior product.

As regards to the better or not so better ... with and without pollination, we have to understand these matters in their true and genuine context. While some  fig hobbyists keep thinking and declaring that pollinated figs may make them eat a mouthfuls of wasps (?).. one has to be very cautious on what you say when presenting your figs.

As far as I am concerned and 'cause I have nothing to loose,  I shall keep tendering my Caprifigs as I do for all other types and if for some reason the wasps fail to show up, I will do my best to find  and bring them home .
(All figs shown above have been pollinated)

Aaron,

Yes,  for the next 2 to three months there will be plenty for everybody.

Grasa,

Thanks. Never spoke of this variety of Common figs as it has been left forgotten for many years..
Not to confuse with Belmandil  (synonym of Cara Lisa) which is a Smyrna (wasps again!!) already shown in the forum. Both delicious figs !

Francisco

Magnificent figs!

Looks good

Francisco: Thanks for posting very nice photos.

Best,
Tam

Mouthful of wasps wouldn't be bad, much better food source the figs are becoming, extra protein.  

Lovely figs, Francisco. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us.

Norhayati

Francisco, really nice looking collection you have going there. Tks for taking the time to document your success here for us all to share.

Thank you all for your kind words.

Gen,

Aim not selling any figs..it's just an hobby. What I would like to do is to recommend  that you approach neighborhoods or associations of Portuguese people established in your area and try and talk to some of them.
I am sure that in their gardens or backyards some will certainly have figs as they always do it and if they grow figs they will sure have the best and fully acclimated varieties. Then it will not be difficult to find somebody willing to give you 2 or 3 scions of good varieties.

Another matter with importing into Australia of plant material is the ongoing full Prohibition for this activity, be it for volume orders or postal light packs.
I am told that inspection on arrival is very strict and the Ag and Customs Authority readily confiscate the scions and destroy them.

Good luck
Francisco
Portugal

You are the greatest Francisco, knowledgeable, generous on sharing through your pictures and posts.
I also had the pleasure of meeting you in Lisbon in May of this year.

Cheers,

Manel