Topics

Are these the same variety?





















I don't think so. The one on the right looks to me like a perfectly ripe Celeste of the kind that we have around here. It's the kind I look for when I get under a tree, ha. The one on the left although similar has a few differences. Its either it's a different fig or at a different stage of ripeness. Of course not every fig on a tree are exactly alike.

Either way, I'd take a bowl full of each right now.




yes, though I would guess one is more ripe than the other.

~Chills

I have 20+ Celeste "variations" which all test the same, DNA-wise, at USDA. I can somewhat tell them apart, sometimes, but the wide diversity of "looks" all show up on each tree  during the season, even if they have predominantely one style or personality. Yet, with rare exceptions, when I see any of them, I know they are Celestes, regardless of how much a particular fig diverges from what might be considered as the prototypical Celeste look.

These are both from my "Santa Margherita" tree, picked about one inch apart on the same branch. Yes, one is probably 12-24 hours less ripe than the other, but the extra time will not make them look the same. So what made the difference? Climate? Water? Soil? Fertilizer? Neighbor's dog? They are as equal in culture an any two figs can be, but one might as well be blonde and the other brunette. even though they are twins. The first season, this fig looked like a Hardy Chicago, purple on the outside, and red on the inside. Go figure.

I have watched enough celestes to know that both of these are possible on most any tree, but apart from that experience, I would not expect them to be the same fig.

Reply Cancel
Subscribe Share Cancel