http://figs4fun.com/fpix/FP801-74.jpg . Jsacadura,My fig varieties "Black Ischia" very similar to figs in Davis.

did your purchase your ischia black or grew it from a cutting? i have been trying to get my hand on one of those.. fellow socal neighbor :)

"Just thought I'd post a few photos of my Ischia Black, which is now on my must keep list. It's fabulous, I now understand the hoopla around this fig."

Wow Frank looks and sounds amazing.  These figs just keep getting better and better.  What a great job you are all doing relating to, caring for, learning about and sharing the bounty of these diverse plants.   

Gary, abeautiful tree and an amazing looking fig!!!

Sam, I got it as a small airlayer. I have since planted it in ground. I wish I had 5 of them.
Thanks Meg, and Jodi (but I'm not Frank;-))

Congratulations, Gary!  That's a real feat.  Hopefully you'll have your 5 trees by the end of next year or sooner.  What was your potting soil and fertilization scheme?

Thanks, Bob. Same organic methods I always use. Home-made horse manure compost, mixed with about 1/2 as much Happy Frog organic potting soil, snd oyster shell and rock phosphate. Feed once a month or so with fish meal and fish emulsion. That's about it. I also have excellent, chlorine free well water, which is a big plus.

I can verify that Gary does, indeed, have a huge pile of horse poo slowly cooking away on his property. It sported a mane of one or more different squash vines when I stepped around it (could have jogged and got winded after one lap, had I the energy that day) in late August. I'll second Harvey's endorsement of Gary's touch with his trees. His figs are in fantastic shape. I think his Black Ischia, four years younger than it's mother, is almost as large as mine, though I've got a branch here and there. I may have to cart in some doo doo of my own this winter and start a pile. 

I haven't forgotten your stuff, Gary, and just finalized some other things I had cooking so I knew what else I could send along. If I have my act together, it'll get out tomorrow. 

If either of you want to trade a cutting or two of UC Davis BI pm me. I have some very interesting varieties.