Aaron,

Cannot see the picture, but believe you have something to show and illustrate that question on the doubts about the good things pollination brings to Common varieties

While waiting let me show you a nice and rich (good flavor! ) Common fig from the 'Abebereira family',
we call it  Bêbera Branca.

 

It'a a late variety, typical of the southern areas, very sweet, good aroma but not crunchy
It loves sun and a few drops of water
On my next thread will try and show this same variety, exposed to the Blastophaga.

Francisco

Sorry, for a while my pics archives were not responding and I could not show the marked differences of the Common Bêbera Branca fig, after being pollinated by wasps coming from a nearby Caprifig
The change is obvious.
Now we have a fully crunchy fig (all its seeds are full with a solid and much flavored kernel) syrup to spare and if that was not enough, a nicer red color and far more weight.
All Common figs benefit from caprification

        

Francisco - thanks for the pics and info.  The non-caprified figs in this example seem to have a much darker outside color - is that typical also or just a coincidence in this example?

Dennis and Jon have tasted caprified Brown Turkeys @ UCD.  Dennis has written about it in a thread here.

Ed, Yes you right! Pollination does always affect fig skin colors, shades, bloom, etc.. and this fig is no exception.. Here, the skin stretched to the limits,also shows those cracks (cuts) to accommodate the increase of the  pulp volume.

Still, on Common varieties of light skin colors, caprification makes them even lighter and on figs meant to dry, the dried fruit presents a very light color.. (almost white) and this means more value as dried figs get higher classification, being so light.

Francisco

Francisco here you are to the rescue... how can I bit those pics...
God I am salivating looking at them...I want them all.

Aaron,

You may try to duplicate the exercise with a well cultivated BT and to let the right wasps to pay a visit!
The results will not be much different, ..' salivation included '

Francisco

That's my goal Francisco, I want all my open eyes figs to be caprified.

Thaifig, Im with you!! Been waiting to find one!

  ThaiFig,Kaprifigi planted primarily for pollination. In Russia there are varietal kaprifigi and so we grow figs all groups. Names kaprifig gardeners in private gardens do not know. Just - male figs or "boy".

In 1901- 1937, Russia imported a large number of plant varieties. Collections of these plants were: 1. NBS (Nikitsky Botanical Garden), Yalta. 2. Research Institute of Subtropical Crops, Sochi. The total amount of edible figs, male figure, hybrids reached 300. And you think that in our gardens grow figs grown from seed? You can not be so naive.

Who has counted the number of kaprifigi imported into GNBS, Yalta from different countries, 18 sortoform. But private gardeners do not know the names of these kaprifig in their own gardens.

I recently found a fig tree full of figs...i wondered why it had so many. Is there a way to know if it is a caprifig?

If it's full of figs right now it's a capri. It probably has two crops on it ripening at different stages.

What I meant by full is that there were many branches that had at least 2 or three figs on them. Does this qualify as "full"? Im not sure. Pls see pics...

I coukdnt attach the one with the tree but i will try later

Capri fig 100%

Wow - that second photo is slightly out of focus - but it makes the picture look like a watercolor!

Woohoo!! I thought it might be! How do u know?

Okay, so i went to find someone who could give me the okay to cut branches and i found some kids who said that no one cares about the tree & to go ahead so i cut some good cuttings!

Good find, good luck with them.

They are everywhere here in Fresno. After seeing them so long they are easy to spot.

meg, i will gladly buy one or two cuttings from you. pm me if interested

Meg

Congratulations, that's a real Caprifig sporting its Mamme crop.
If you have many of these around your zone, no problem to cut some branches now.. but
If this is the only one so far, I would not cut anything ..
Because, from now on you could well be given the pleasure of witnessing the Caprifig secrets and
Reach by May/June, the Profichi ripening with its thousands of wasps full of the golden pollen to spread around all other figs.

I see that you have doubts on how full your Caprifig is but,  if it has Mamme fruit on almost every branch
- ones and twos.. it's fine!

Most important will be the following crop (Profichi) which you have not yet reported.
If you look carefully over the Mamme figs, you may already see many rather small shiny green figlets
popping out still on the 'last year's wood... some making clusters of 8/10 figs or even more..
These are the young Profichi which from now on will grow fast and soon be ready and receptive to  provide shelter for the wasps developing inside the Mamme fruit
In my area this transfer usually happens by mid March.. about a month from now.
Hope you understand now why I suggest not to cut branches immediately
(you could easily kill the chicken of the golden eggs)
Francisco
Portugal