Hello

A while ago as I was driving through Italy from Germany on the way to Venice. I was getting tired so I decided to stop in Bolzano Italy, close to Austria.   Next morning after a nice German breakfast I went for a walk.  There I saw this huge 25-30' fig tree over 50 years old and loaded with these delicious looking large black figs.  I was surprised being so high up the mountain.

Bolzano is located in the dolomite mountains.  The dolomite mountains are very close to the Italian Alps (home of the 5300 year old iceman oldest human remains ever found). 

The Alps are snow covered all year.  January average temps for Bolzano are -5.1C(23F) to 5C(41F) in Niagara area I think Jan average minimum is -7C (19F) so similar to Bolzano but I doubt that the dolomites get the occasional bouts of -20'sC (-2F) that we get.  My guess is the alps protect the area for anything colder than 0F (-18C).

The fig is medium to large has no stem and when ripe is shiny speckled black, thin skin, amber interior and very sweet.  A light jammy taste.  The eye is closed but if heavy rain during ripening the eye will open a bit and some splitting.  It must be cold hardy but I find it produces more fruit if given a hot location.

Did a little research and since there are many German people in Bolzano.  I compared it to a number of german figs that look similar; Bauer, Bursa Siyahi or black bursa, grosse Schwartz.  But none of these are identical.

Here some photos of Bolzano Nero;

 
  

 



 


Attached photo of Bolzano and Desert King

Looks great.  I'll take a few cuttings  :)

Have any better pics of leaves?
Does it have one crop or 2?
When does it ripen for you in Niagara?

Ed, They start to ripen end of September for me and continue till November later than the other figs. It does produce some brebas. Next summer I will take some proper photos.

Here is another photo not sure you can tell the different leaf patterns it gets.
 

That fig looks delicious!
PM sent

amazing looking fig Pino,
-how did it taste?
-were those Breba in the top picture?
-leaves look different in the top pics then the one in #5 post, what's the deal there?
-will you be sharing cuttings soon? ;) put me on the list, haha

Asron4USA

It tastes great as I mentioned very sweet somewhat juicy and a light jam taste to  it. 
The pictures show the main crop, the breba looked the same as far as I remember.  Next year I will get some breba photos. 
Yes the leaves are different on the same plant.  I assume the top of the plant may have had some winter stress and has 3 lobed leaves.  The stronger branches from the bottom have the 5 lobed.
I got you on the list. :)

Hi Pino,
Sure those figs look great.
Did you compare it to "sultane" or "noire de Caromb" ?
Is the tree in a pot ?
I don't like to let the figtrees go so high sothat they can form a more dense tree and not loose too much energy feeding the wood.
I would airlayer or do cuttings with the upper part - so that you would have more trees of that strain - if you have place for them .

Hi jdsfrance
Interesting that Caromb France/Bolzano Italy seems to have similar terrain and maybe weather.
Yes, there is a striking resemblance with "noire de Caromb" but the Bolzano fig is much bigger than the ones I saw in photos and utube and the inside a lighter colour.  But some other photos on the internet of NDC don't look similar.
I store the bolzano fig in a large container in the barn and then after chance of frost is past I plant him in-ground for the summer then dig him up and drag him back into the barn for the winter.  I do this for some of my large figs and when they get too big for the dolly they stay in ground.
Hope to build a greenhouse this year and this fig has a reserved spot.
Wonder where I could get "noire de Caromb" to do a side by side comparison?
Thanks

jdsfrance, from what I see in the top pictures the smaller round shaped black one in the plate looks like Sultane/Noire de Juliet but the big elongated one is not Sultane. I acquired some cuttings of Sultane from the owner who had brought original cuttings from Persia, according to him they are Sultane and I have eaten the fruits of that tree from his garden. they were small rounder shaped with a 1cm handle neck attached to the tree.

Have cuttings available of this excellent quality dark shiny black fig.

It looks like in the Black Mission family but seems to be a better producer and IMO better tasting.
Bolzano Nero produces 2 crops has a completely closed ostiole and resists splitting. 
I recommend this fig for areas that can grow mission type figs.

 

 

 

Hi Pino.
Great looking fig, I can't wait until mine produces next year,
It was a strong grower. Thank you.
Vito