Martha was in her prime at the time of the video.  The whole thing was in NY where they get snow, ice, and all things bad.  So, does not apply to So California at all, but loved it!  She asked the questions we all wanted to know, and she explained the taste of the figs!  Martha, you are my hero!

Suzi

Just remember.....use limestone, not lime stone powder!!! Lime stone is rock so if you guys are going to try this, think lime stone. Three years ago, I almost killed 6 of my largest fig trees using limestone powder and it wasn't an inch thick. I just added 3 tablespoons on top of the soil. I asked the lime stone questioned about 4 months ago and folks sailed they don't use lime. Well, I do. However, I only use the brown pellet slow release kind. I use it to get the right pH, around 6.5. The lime stone powder is fast acting stuff and maybe it will work for you but I would just test it on one plant. Years ago, I was experimenting with soil. Today I make my own and use UPM for cuttings. If you use the limestone, let us know how things turn out.

This is another video from Martha in CA
http://www.marthastewart.com/907952/fabulous-figs#917403

Figfinatic...


Beautifully photographed video, and a perfect commercial full of useful information...especially about fig wood used to enfume  roasting foods.  I wonder if fig leaves can be stuffed with a rice mixture like grape leaves?

After watching this video, I'm happy that I am growing a special, heirloom strain, of "Brown Turkey" that was given to me by a forum member.  I've had exceptional figs, but, I never tasted a bad fig.  I love them all. 

Thanks for the video.  Nice to watch on a freezing cold, snowy morning in NYC.


Frank

I live about 25 miles away from Knoll Organic Farms and someone who is very familiar with their farm was sharing information about them with me about 10 days ago.  They sell their figs for $7/pound and reportedly do very well.  They supposedly use egg cartons to pack some of their figs, though I didn't see evidence of that in Martha's video.  The video shows them drying some figs but I didn't see any mention of dried fig products on their web site - http://www.knollorganics.com/

I loved that video too!  Loved all the different uses for the leaves and wood of the fig tree.  Looking forward to having enough figs to dry!  These videos really teach amazing things in a wonderful way!  I didn't realize figs ripen in order of where they are on the branch!  I'm very happy to say that I have a first year Adriatic, and I can't wait to smear it on a bagel instead of strawberry jam!

Can we get limestone at Lowes or HD, or do we need to go to a concrete supply place?

Suzi

LMAO!!!

Two great video's - thanks for posting them ! Nice web site also. Makes me long for those ripe sweet jewels right now !!! Also makes me realize sadly I missed the Belleclare years , living so close , I'd have been there weekly .

I wonder if the limestone layer was most useful in helping to keep the roots cool.

In my experience, you are better off making 5 to 7 holes around the edge and fill with limestone after the first year. I put a lot of lime powder in my pots when I pot up at beginning of 1st season.. Granular is better.  The powder gets caked up and tends not to leach in if applied on top.

"Today I make my own and use UPM for cuttings"

Snaglpus, Please forgive my ignorance.
But, what does UPM mean?

I believe he's refering to Ultimate Potting Mix  http://fertilomesoils.com/ultimate_potting.html

Suzi...

Any Granular Limestone will work.  HD carries 40 lb. bags and are really heavy to lift, and also very cheap. 

Agricultural Granular Limestone/Powdered Limestone is not the same lime that's used for cement and plaster work.  Quicklime is NOT Granular Limestone.

A very well known fig grower says that Powdered Limestone will work quickly to correct overly acidic mixes, and the Granular Limestone will work over a longer period of time.  Acidic soils are to be avoided, and most fertilizers will cause soils to become acidic.  I didn't know this about fertilizers, and I noticed that my trees look a lot better after regular treatments of Limestone.  Not only are the leaves healthier, but the texture of the leaves feels much sturdier, and more robust.

A 5-gallon HD bucket holds a lot of Limestone, and I use a 1-lb. coffee can to dump the limestone into my pots, and around the roots of my trees.

As Martha Stewart might say..."Limestone is a very good thing".


Frank

Note attached PDF of Belleclaire instructions re: Limestone.

http://figs4fun.com/Links/FigLink012f.pdf

I'm just curious on those instructions. Why is it bad to add new limstone over old limestone?

I was just reading some of Jon's copies of Belleclare's pages and saw at http://figs4fun.com/Links/FigLink012a.pdf that the video linked above was primarily recorded in 1997 but the portion with the cake was done in 1999 and added onto the original video.

WHAT IS THE NAME OF POPS WEEPING TREE, AND HOW CAN I GET CUTTINGS?

Spill!

Suzi

Suzi, I think it's covered in the link I gave in the reply to the other thread you started, see http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/A-quotSportquot-on-a-Fig-Tree-6141011

One of the many nice things about Belleclare was the fig-sampler trays that they sold in the harvest season.  You could taste many different figs when you bought one of the samplers.  They also sold fertilizers, and Granular Limestone in small containers.  Loved the Old-World "feel" that their nursery exuded, and the down-to-earth advice that the brothers gave so freely.  They LOVED figs, and it showed.  They loved to hook newbies into the world of figs.  My by chance visit in 2007 sparked  the desire to try to grow containerized fig trees.  I never looked back.

Thanks Belleclare.


Frank

Thanks for that video leon
When Mr Di Paola said his family was from Formia, near Gaeta, a shiver went trough my spine. I was born about 20 miles from there
And then a thought came to me: they must have had the varieties of figs I was eating as a child! Now I want to find out about their 100 fig varieties and try to collect them
Does anyone have a list of what they carried? Would it be possible to post it
Thank
Sal 

Sal, go to http://figs4fun.com/Fig_Links.html and click on the "PDF4" to the right of Belleclare. I'm on my phone right now and can't copy the entire link.

How many types of BC trees are out therenow,and is there a list ? I think when they were open,there was about 85,how many have been lost.

About 95 on their main list,
another 20 or so on a updated list.
and another 20-25 varieties that were not listed due to various reasons,
such as limited stock or they didn't get around to updating the list.

I have 45+ different original trees/varities

Other collectors have original trees as well.

I have the original Belleclare lists,
I will try to take some photos and post them at a later point.

Here is the list .
Number 93 i cannot find a solid source that it actually came from Belleclare .