I bought my Atreano from One Green World a while back just like Dennis did.  It's first fig fell off today.

 
So now I'm looking for the real thing  :)

For those of you not familiar with Atreano it has green figs that need to ripen fully before they're picked.  But they're green to yellow, not purple.  :)

what does the real thing look like? 

Do any forum members have spare wood, or better yet, some rooted-cuttings/air-layers grown from my original "Atreano"/"Atreano-Gold".  My tree was purchased from ZAINO'S NURSERY back in 2007, and I sent out some wood to a few forum members.  Last winter killed my original tree, otherwise I would send Bob C. some wood off my tree.

Thanks.


Frank

How strange.... I just read this:

The "Cajun Fig Blog" rates this variety as a zero on a scale from 1 thru 10.  Yes, a ZERO!!  I was a bit shocked and confused when I read through the scathing, critique.  How could this fig variety perform so poorly in the deep south and do so well in the more northern, cooler, drier climates?  Could location turn this hero into a zero?  I guess fig varieties must be considered and then matched to climate and location.

Perhaps this variety, when planted in the ground in high rain/humidity climates, does not do well at all.  My only experiences with this variety have been very positive, but I grow containerized figs and I can control water at the roots, etc.  When I grew it, the tree provided me with prolific amounts of high-quality figs....containerized.  Planted in the ground, who knows?

I guess cultural conditions do matter.


Frank

Bob C,
I have only one (1) Atreano cultivar, an Atreano from Almost Eden that survived this past winter, it was a small plant and is regrowing from the roots. If anyone can provide info if its a Hanc Mathes Atreano, I can start an air layer for you. ; )


Frank,
Dan A. has provided his rating based on his criteria, both subjective and objective. Just as most late season, high heat requirements and cold sensitive figs will not rate high for in-ground cultivation in our area. So yes cultural difference is very important.

Bob, I'm sending you a PM.

Bob - I have one purchased from Zainos this year (pictures of it are in some other threads).  send me a PM.  edited becuase i am not sure what " Hanc Mathes" means...

Cajun Figs/Dan has very stringent criteria by which he judges the merits or demerits of certain varieties.  While his critiques are valuable, many of us use differing standards when we judge our own private trees, and many of us grow our figs using different cultures. 

Predictably, results will vary, and it's best to judge a fig variety under your growing conditions and cultural methods.  Trial it by your own standards.


Frank

Frank, the Atreano cultivar I got from you is living up to its reputation.  It's very healthy, a strong grower and it is currently loaded with relatively large unripe green figs.  It appears a couple are on the cusp of entering the ripening phase based on a slight shift in color to yellow/gold.  I had one breba earlier this season and was impressed.  I suspect the main crop will be better.

Steve-

Thanks for the notices and for the help.

It sounds like you are about to get some ripe figs off your Atreano.  The figs will swell at an astonishing rate, sometimes overnight, and will lose almost all traces of green.  Expect some tennis-ball size figs as the tree ages.  Figs will become a deep, golden-yellow, will slightly shrivel, and will feel like soft suede.  Resist picking them too soon.  Let them hang.  Bag the figs if you have to....and grow the tree with a water deficit until figs are ripened.  Why am I telling you this?  You know what to do.  Anyway, those figs will get thick with clotted honey, and the flavors will really concentrate if not soaked with water.  Figs should fall into your waiting fingers when properly ripened.

Note: I grew mine as a containerized tree (18-gallons) and would cap the pot if I thought it was going to rain.  Once the fig party is over, just continue growing the tree as you wish.

Continued good luck and enjoy your much earned treats.


Frank


@Tam-

I can't give you the direct links but if you do a search for "Atreano-Gold" on the Garden Web Fig Forum, you will find older threads showing plenty of photos of the trees and figs.  But note: the computer screen will show figs that are yellowish-green in color.  In real life the figs are golden-yellow, like the skin of a banana.

EDIT:  Apparently the older posting about Atreano-Gold are no longer posted on the  Garden Web Fig Forum.  The original postings about this fig variety started in July, 2007.  Too bad.  The postings were loaded with photos of ripe figs, and other bits of useful information.

***********************************************************************************************************************

I am more than a little confused with the posted photo of a dark reddish fig labeled "Atreano".  Something's not correct.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.  The fig fruit I got is a small purple one so even though the fig plant is labeled, "Atreano", it's not. 

Yes Bob-

It was a tongue-in-cheek observation.  I think you got a mislabeled fig.  Too bad.  Who needs that kind of aggravation?  Better luck with the real McCoy.

Frank

Frank: Thank you for your comment. I will take photos of my Atreano from One Green World. If my tree is not the Golden Atreano, then I will ask Steve for an airlayer of his Golden Atreano tree. Thanks.

Best,
Tam

I read the same thing about Atreano on his blog.  I've got 2 of them about 2ft tall in pots. Wonder if its worth the effort as my climate is about as close to Dans as its going to get.

Rob Blueboy1977-

PLEASE keep in mind that Dan/Cajun Figs, trials, and then judges his IN-GROUND trees under very different criteria than most average growers.  If you are growing in containers you will be using different cultural techniques and you may avoid any problems that this variety has when grown in the deep, humid, rainy, South, LA.

When trees are planted in the ground there is just no way that you can control water getting to the roots.  You can control watering when grown in containers.  But, you can't be lazy about it.  If figs are ripening and the rains start, just cap the containers with a plastic tarp.  YOU alone control what goes into a containerized tree, food, water, etc.

Don't be daunted by negative reviews.  Critiques are just informational, and subjective.  You may be growing in a much drier, less humid area.  If you fail, so what?  At least you failed on your terms.  When you grow trees in containers, you will be able to do things that would be impossible for those who have grounded trees.  You can't bring a tree out of dormancy, or do the 'fig shuffle" with grounded trees.  You can't "push" and extend the growing season with grounded trees, either.

Again, Dan/Cajun Figs, trials and grows his trees for very different reasons than we grow our trees, and trials them specifically for his location.  He "pushes" all his trees to their cultural limits.  If "Atreano" was such a complete dud, and a total failure, what would account for the glowing reviews by some forum members?  It just may not be a good variety for the deep Southern States when grounded.


Frank

Frank: Very nice comments and thanks for sharing your experiences with us. 

Best,
Tam

Tam, et al

If I could help anyone, in any way, I will always try. 

Happy growing.


Frank

I just read Dan's review of Atreano.  He may be correct that Atreano does not do well in the south.  However, he shows no data so I don't see this as the be all/end all.  Nearly all of the qualities that he looks at are important but also really subjective. If others growing in the deep south came to the same conclusion then I would put more faith in it; maybe they can chime in here.  He says that Atreano ranks very low on all of following qualities:

"Taste (ie. overall flavor), Taste (its richness component), Taste (its complexity),  % sugar content (by actual analysis), signs of FMV,  ripening times, number of crops, persistence, speed of fig ripening (very important in rainy climates) , productivity, rain tolerance, bug resistance, skin qualities, overall sweetness perception, pulp consistency, heat tolerance, fruit drop, size of tree, cold hardiness, pot culture vs. in-ground culture, cooking qualities, handling qualities, and drying qualities."

I'm just starting to assess this cultivar in Maryland but the cultivar I have has not shown any fmv symptoms (so if his strain is heavily infected it may explain some of his observations).  It is one of the top 2-3 most productive varieties I have for a containerized 2-3 year old tree.  (True, my trees figs are not quite ripe yet but I don't think they will drop at this point.)  It is a strong grower - this could either be bad or good, depending on your needs.  I have not seen fruit drop of the main crop but it did drop a few brebas.  I should know about taste very soon.  Heat tolerance hasn't been an issue this year, lol, so the jury is out.  I would guess the biggest limitation with Atreano in the south is rain tolerance.

Anyway Rob, I agree with Frank that it would be worth trialing Atreano under your own specific growth conditions and see how it is on your own palett.

Frank and Steve: This is my Atreano from One Green World. Please let me know if the leaves look like your the Golden Atreano. Thanks.

Best,
Tam

They certainly look very similar, if not the same.  I'll try to post an image of my tree this evening.

Steve: Thanks.

Best,
Tam

Tam-

It could be.  Yes....very similar leaves.  I think nothing conclusive can be ventured until your trees start producing.  The experts will chime in when photos of your figs are eventually posted.

Taste and productivity are just a few of Atreano's merits.  Also, since this variety was distributed from the cooler-climate, East-Coast, FMV should not be part of this variety's profile....FMV mites can't survive the cold winters.   Consequently, trees are almost always "clean", robust, and grow vigorously.  Sometimes too vigorously, and figs and leaves have to be thinned out. This variety is a workhorse fig, and was bred in Italy for commercial productivity.  Perfect if you want a lot of figs to eat! 

Italy has a Mediterranean climate, and South LA. could not have a more opposite climate.  Steve's points are to be considered.  Individual trialing of this variety in differing climates will all become part of its overall profile.  All information should be recorded whether good or bad.  That's how we learn about what we grow.

Some figs are great only in certain climates and should be grown under specific cultural conditions, and, that's what this forum is for.  We seek out any morsel of information and then exchange opinions and ideas.  What textbook about growing figs, critiques varieties, and has all this collective information?  Answer: none.

We are on the cutting edge.... we are more discerning,  and we are sophisticated fig growers.  We know more about fig culture than most of the gardening "experts" on TV.  When was the last time you read a book or magazine article about figs and learned something new?  Martha Stewart hit a high water mark when she featured and interviewed the Belleclare's DiPaolo Brothers on her TV show, and showed the world that there were other figs besides the common "Brown Turkey".  Thanks Martha.  You stink at insider trading but you do attract interesting guests.

Besides, it's just fun to grow figs.  That's why we're all here.  Failure is an option.


Frank