It is my duty to tell my fellow members in general and the few having recently become interested on the Caprifig life and duties, what is happening here...

Some Mamme figs now sufficiently ripe and ready to let wasps go and find nearby Profichis.

 
Parchl variety (code 4) with grown up Profichis with open ostioles, loosing their shiny green skin color and showing those white dots, a strong indicator that it has already been caprificated.
The dark violet, rough skin fig on the side , the Mamme, will keep exiting more wasps for another 4 or 5 days, for other Profichis, as they become receptive-

 
Detail of the leaves of above Caprifig

 
Stombr variety (code 7) with very dark Mamme,  and Profichis already changing color to their typical dark tones
Wasps have not yet emerged for caprification of the nearby Profichi crop, all still in their shiny dark green skin, eyes still closed.
Estimate another 3 or 4 days for the insects to commence the move

 
This is the top of a branch from a young, 4 years old, Caprifig (unknown variety) showing its very first Profichi apparently already visited by wasps from another nearby Caprifig.
The open eye tells that it was already visited by the insect.

 
Another wild fig with an average crop and most interesting leaf contours. For a while thought I was in the presence of a male 'Ice Crystal' ??!

On these moves wasps will not carry any pollen!!
The above Prifichis will provide an abundant supply of pollen, in three months from now when they shall be liberating their wasps

Francisco

An article (reliable?) reports "The ornamental fig 'Ice Crystal' well known English gardeners is a caprifiguier of this species."   http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://olharfeliz.typepad.com/jardin/2013/07/ficus-afghanistanica-et-lorigine-du-figuier.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dafghanistanica%2Bfig%2Bjohannis%26start%3D20%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1179%26bih%3D685

Thank you Francisco, please keep posting about the caprifig. I am extremely interested in trying to find out if the wasp can be introduced in places without freezing temp and survive. Seeing your caprifigs is very helpful as I've never seen one in person.

Hi! Francisco,

How are you? Thank you for sharing information on the Capri fig and posting beautiful photos. Very nice, Francisco. The last photo looks like the Ice Crystal. Can you please share with us more information about this Ice Crystal if you know. What are the fruits look like and what are their taste. and how big can the tree grow. Is it cold hardy? Thank you.

Best,
Tam  

francisco,

thank you for the update. i think my mamme are all done for. they do not look fresh at this time. tho, they were just figs on branches.

but, i'm rooting the branches to see if i can get reliable caprifigs going thanks to a very generous member.

maybe fig wasps will still fly out. but i don't think my breba on common figs will be ready.

there is always next yr :)

Very useful photos and information - thanks!

As always, you post beautiful images, Francisco.
Through the shallow depth of field one can discern the many branches in the background, carrying their own clusters of figs.
Is the yellow coloring on the branches a local moss?
It's a great color. I wonder if that means you've been having lots of rain, or if that's a product of low amounts of sunlight reaching those branches.

I've read that Caprifigs have to be treated differently, as the shaded "fruit" is a more inviting environment for the wasp.
Have you experienced more wasp activity in shaded Proficchi?
This bit of knowledge would aid in decision making when pruning, and in placing in-ground plants.
I suppose Mammoni would also be affected by a hot Autumn, but Mamme wouldn't be as susceptible to high temperatures, as it forms in
Winter.

I have a lot of questions!
One more...
If the life cycle of Proffichi is meant to coincide with forming of main (second) crop Smyrna or San Pedro figs, as nature would apparently indicate, would pinching speed up ripening of Proffichi as it does with common figs? Would removing Mamme figs (for those who are thinking of hand pollinating) also aid in earlier ripening? Would it affect it in a negative way?
I've been doing a lot of reading, but have not found any mention of it.

Francisco, thank you for the beautiful and tutorial pictures. It's always appreciated.

Thanks, Francisco.

Time for a field trip to visit Francisco!

Nice photos.

Thanks, Francisco.  :)

Thank you all for your time reading those notes.

recomer - 'my' Ice Crystal (?) does not seam to be en edible fig. No doubt it is a Caprifig.
It may a leaf pattern similar or close to that expensive ebayed variety . One thing is certain, their figs are large for a caprifig.

Tami, Yes I shall keep updating developments on these trees. Sad to be so far away

Tam, thank you I am very well. I do not think this is a Ice Crystal.. the figs are non edible, dry inside full of gall flowers with plenty of wasps..it happens to have a particular leaf pattern close to that expensive shrub

Pete, yes that is normal. As said before, best would be for air layers in February and patiently wait until April/May to cut and pot. I am convinced that this would keep all fruit alive and developing
If for some reason a Mamme crop dies, all larvae or wasps will go as well.


Rui, that yellow stuff is typical on some trees and I believe to a form of a parasitic yellow lichen It is common on old and abandoned trees with many years without any cleaning/pruning
Rain may certainly influence these 'algee'.. there was not much of it and that particular branch although facing south is somehow shaded by neighboring trees.

Yes, Caprifigs like some protection specially from direct sun light and radiation. Most productive trees are found on deep valleys, ravines and along deep humid creeks . Excessive exposure to the sun may certainly kill all or part of the insects or larvae inside... specially during April or May

Profichi's are ripe and ready to deliver wasps full of pollen (and eggs for the next generation) by approx 3rd/4th week of June... some going into July
By this time and within this period all Smyrna, San Pedro summer crop and Common show readiness to take the wasp and be pollinated
Never played with pruning/pinching caprifigs so I do not know how they react

What I may do (did this morning) is to open ripe Mammes and get them close to my potted Caprifigs forcing wasps out . For some reason had only one good healthy Mamme fig for some 5 potted caprifigs with dozens of Profichis
As there is no pollen involved the wasps may freely abandon the cut halves and fly into all availabe and receptive nearby Profichis.

Francisco

francisco, 

i read number of yours and harvey's posts on caprifig. it seems the time the mamme/profichi/mammoni release the wasps are different. depends on the location of the tree, and each type of tree. does that mean it would be better if i send a air layer off the caprifig that has been grown in my area and have the occupied by the wasps and have it sent back? that way the tree is already in tune with my location and the wasps will follow that tree's time table.. just a thought. then again, that might not be possible since i can't send soil or plant into CA. 

Approaching now the time (in 2014) when thee first pictures of the present thread were taken, I must say that if all goes well, 2015 looks to be a good year for the male fig.

In a month from now, the fat, rock-hard, violet colored, mature Mamme crop, will be releasing millions of wasps to find shelter inside the young/ receptive, neighboring, shining Profichi figs
These clean wasps (absolutely no pollen in their bodies/legs and wings) will be entering those Profichi to lay their load of eggs and warrant the next colony of insects.

Francisco
Portugal

     I found it interesting that the wasps were introduced to California through the efforts of one man, T. Swingle. I doubt he could do that today. Some governmental agency would be stopping him at the border. 
     "It was not until 1890 when C. Roeding demonstrated that caprification was necessary for these to set fruit. Finally, caprifigs imported by W. T. Swingle from Asia Minor, Smyrna, Mexico, Greece, and Algeria resulted in successful issue of the specific blastophaga (fig) wasp needed for pollination and the California commercial fig industry was born on June 23, 1899. Today this popular golden-brown fig is the Smyrna variety that was brought to California’s San Joaquin Valley from Turkey in 1882, and was renamed Calimyrna in honor of its new homeland." http://www.californiafigs.com/about_figs.php?page=5

     Environmentalists are destroying all “non-native” plants in the arroyo near my home. I bet the wild caprifigs that might be growing there are lost as a result of this. 

I think the result of the successful introduction was a combination of the proper climate, number of caprifigs, people persistance, etc.
The env. agencies doing their work everywhere but we have so many figs around that is would be impossible to get rid of all the seedlings. We have many more fig loving birds :)

AltadenaMara,

http://www.forgottenbooks.com/books/The_Smyrna_Fig_1000850249

This book, by George C Roeding, can be found on line and it's very good reading particularly for fig lovers, hobbyists, etc

To counter potential threats from the 'env' experts one can always select a few ideal places in Nature and plant  fertile fig seeds.
Doing so the Caprifig shall be kept alive and well

Francisco
Portugal

Greenfig, you’re right. The birds are working at this full time. I also found caprifig cuttings for sale today, so the birds and wasps will have some help, with any luck.

Francisco, thanks for the book recommendation. I look forward to reading it. 

Mara zone 9b SoCal

Want: Zidi, Black Madeira, Italian 258, Capri Q

Oh, my. You do not need to buy the caprifig cuttings ! I can tell you quite a few locations, you can get them yourself

That's so nice of you to offer, but it's too late. The cuttings have already shipped. I was going to run up the arroyo today and look for caprifigs, but the rain made it easier to just stay at home, warm and dry, and PayPal my way through the afternoon. 

In my area of Cali I've only seen 4 caprifigs - two growing in old estates at the other end of town, one near a horse corral (since removed), and one growing coincidentally in a goat corral. 

Caprifigs fortunately have not invaded our native riparian communities, though eucalyptus, ash trees and non native vines sadly have. I have seen the wasp locally, but I don't think it's as common as in other places in the state.

Nice to see your lovely photos again, Lampo. :)

Curious how far the wasp travels to pollinate figs.  Interesting that the wasp likes the shade, and will die if it's in hot sun. 

Suzi

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/6538443/Wasp-can-travel-100-miles-in-under-two-days.html

Wasps  travel very long distances.
Long reach pheromones do attract them to receptive fruit.
If given proper shelter I believe they may last far more than 48 hours.

Francisco
Portugal

lampo!  What a great article!  I not only pinned it to my Fig pinboard, I copied the whole article and saved it in my documents fig folder.  There may be hope if the wasps can travel that far!  With our climate, it astounds me NOBODY in this town, except for one backyard and one nursery has any fig trees growing.  It's an agricultural meca!  There are dairy farms and citrus orchards for miles!!  NO FIG TREES.  I'm the only one, and mine will be big!  I'm picking up a couple 5 gallon caprifigs from Sue around the end of March, so if they fruit and nothing happens, I'll be in touch with HarveyC for some wasps.

Thanks!

Suzi

Thanks for shaing that article. It's so interesting to think of how far those little wasps have to travel and of how small of a target they have. I wish I could sniff out fig pheromones!

Suzi, good luck with your caprifigs! I'd love to hear how they turn out.

Iampo, thanks for the book recommendation. I thought The Smyrna Fig would be a dry scientific study, but it’s an exciting adventure story of Roeding's travels in Turkey around 1896-1899. He was an agricultural James Bond trying to bring the right figs, the right wasps, and the right caprifig trees to California and make it all work here better than in Turkey. Some of us are still trying to accomplish this. They made a lot of mistakes and failed miserably for years amid popular ridicule and criticism before everything came together. It would make a great movie
.A friend of mine will be going on a tour in Turkey this week. She will be visiting some of the same places he talks about in the book.