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Luke

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Anyone know what variety this is or might be ?

http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/Fruit-Trees_2/Fig-Trees/Fig-Plant-The-Chelsea-Fig_2.html#.Uipwf7S9KSM
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loquat1

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Thx for the heads-up Luke. So I assume it ripens 'white' (as in green), judging by the description and the pics, and that it's not privately owned?

I've got Gk Yellow, 'Black' and Green in pots waiting to go into the ground (maybe next year), so rapidly running out of room in our small garden. But if I can find a spot for it, sure, why not? And if I can't, I know people who can, so next time we're in the vicinity, I'll be prepared to take a few cuttings. 

If you're still tempted next time you're in London (in, say, 2-3 yrs time) why not make it worth your while and pop over to me instead for air layers from this tree and my 'Lebanese Red', Gk Yellow/Black, Italian Purple etc? I might need a couple months notice tho. No charge btw, but a small contribution to cover the cost of materials (mainly sphagnum moss, which costs around a £1.00 per litre) would be appreciated. Alternatively, you could take cuttings for easier transport if you prefer. They are cost-free  - except for the loss of a few figs, which I'm sure we'll survive.

EDIT: PS No, sorry - no idea what variety this is, but will be interesting to compare with my Gk 'White'.
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Liza

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Luke,
Next time I go past it I will endeavour to fig out what it is.
I shall do my Best Sherlock Holmes detective work...!
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Liza
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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
look like kadota for me?
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loquat1

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
I've checked the F4F database, and whilst kadota is a possible match, I don't know how you would be ale to tell it apart from any other green/white fig based on just a picture of the figs and a poor/obscured view of a few leaves. 

I believe the experts on this forum would need to see a leaf in proper overview, skin colour when ripe, flesh colour, scale against coin, etc. before they can venture an ID with any confidence.

If I manage to get some cuttings, all of the above may become available in due course. Unless Liza gets there before me?

@ Liza - not heard from you after your request for cuttings from me. Gone off the idea?
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Liza

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Ha hA.....
Promise I will leave you some ...or collect them for you.
Not gone off the cuttings swap at all.Just waiting for plants to go dormant.
Will be in touch asap...........

Luke..........what are you looking to swap?



Quote:
Originally Posted by loquat1
I've checked the F4F database, and whilst kadota is a possible match, I don't know how you would be ale to tell it apart from any other green/white fig based on just a picture of the figs and a poor/obscured view of a few leaves. 

I believe the experts on this forum would need to see a leaf in proper overview, skin colour when ripe, flesh colour, scale against coin, etc. before they can venture an ID with any confidence.

If I manage to get some cuttings, all of the above may become available in due course. Unless Liza gets there before me?

@ Liza - not heard from you after your request for cuttings from me. Gone off the idea?
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loquat1

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Ah, so you were looking to do a straight swap? I didn't realize - I thought you were just after my wood ;-). Well, in that case, we must be talking cuttings rather than air layers, which I give away FOC anyway, with or w/out a swap.

But seriously, we have very limited space here in our suburban gdn, and I still have plants in pots for which I will soon need to find room - esp. my Gk Yellow (Zailata). If I don't have the room for more, your cuttings may well have to go to friends/relatives, from whom I should (hopefully) get some figs in return.
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Luke

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
I am the same, its a addiction for sure.
I just ordered 5 more this weekend and we already have too many, I have not told the wife yet might just hide them in the garage and bring them out 1 at a time.

I will update my profile and if there is any cuttings we could swap in the winter that would be cool, 
and in the meantime see if you guys/girls can do a reconnaissance mission for me :)
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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
As I said to Liz, I'd rather give you air layers or potted plants than cuttings. At least then they are guaranteed - well, as good as. And you get to see ripe figs a lot soonerer....

EDIT: PS Is this a private party, or can anybody join in?
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Liza

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Quote:
Originally Posted by loquat1
As I said to Liz, I'd rather give you air layers or potted plants than cuttings. At least then they are guaranteed - well, as good as. And you get to see ripe figs a lot soonerer....

EDIT: PS Is this a private party, or can anybody join in?
3


Only 3 Londoners............... and yes a big yes to air layers please.

Thanks
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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Glad you agree that air layers are much more preferable than cuttings. But then, who wouldn't?

EDIT: @ Liza - it would be my pleasure to give you a much bigger stick. And for the avoidance of doubt, I'm talking figs. What were you thinking, you saucy little basket?
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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Really? Only 3 from London on this forum? Out of a population of some 12 million, that's a pretty poor showing.
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Luke

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Air layers are the best. I just think there a lot to ask of someone, but yer sound great. We always seem to go London in December so be nice to take a tree home 1 year..
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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
To be arranged nearer the time. Just so I know approx size, do you have transport?
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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Yes, they are a lot of work - esp. if you're doing upwards of 20 or so - that's how many requests I've got to date, including friends & relatives who are not on this forum. And the costs also start to mount up at that level of production.

My air layers tend to be quite large, (check out this link if you wanna see my method: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/zone-air-layering-5418136) so I average only 2-3 air layers from a 10 litre bag of sphagmoss, which costs £10.00 from my local gdn centre. So 20 air layers would cost me upwards of £80.00. On the other hand, if you're travelling by public transport, I may have to make smaller air layers for you to make portability practicable. My Gk Yellow will only yield small layers next year anyway, but my TbF will yield the equivalent of a 3 yr old tree, which is quite a substantial size - upwards of 5' or more.

The work involved is manageable if you have a bit of time on your hands, and as you know, cuttings are not guaranteed. I have yet to make an air layer that has failed to take, and I prefer to give something worthwhile. The obvious advantage with an air layer is that you hit the ground running - you start with a small tree that will bear ripe fruit more quickly than would a cutting - sometimes even in it's 1st year. For most fig nuts, that is the primary consideration after all.
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woodenman

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Bit of a rummage from the past, but did either of you get down to see this tree and figure out what it is?
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Liza

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Quote:
Originally Posted by woodenman
Bit of a rummage from the past, but did either of you get down to see this tree and figure out what it is?


Hi Woodenman,
With Winter , I forgot all about this........a good reminder.
I am in London next week so will take a look.
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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Hello Woody & Liza,

I haven't forgotten. Haven't had the time lately, but may get round to it later this year. In fact, Luke told me about another tree in Ldn that is also a possible source of cuttings, again variety unknown if I remember correctly. When I get round to it, I intend killing 2 birds with one stone.

@ Liza - Since you're in Ldn soon, I'll dig out the info for you so you can do the same if practicable.
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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
Here is what Luke pm'd me last year:

Quote:
Found another fig tree operation for you, its also in London but its on holy ground so you might want to ask permission first,
hehe!!

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/sep/21/alys-fowler-fig-trees

Best wishes
Luke
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loquat1

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
@ Woodenman - how did you find/know about this thread? You are not one of the original posters, so I'm curious to know how you came across it.
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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
%ing that member dust above thinks it's a kadota. I recently came across this variety in Cyprus, & pretty sure it will eventually find its way into my garden.
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Liza

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Quote:
Originally Posted by loquat1
%ing that member dust above thinks it's a kadota. I recently came across this variety in Cyprus, & pretty sure it will eventually find its way into my garden.


Thanks Costa, 
Shall I call you when I am in town?
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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Quote:
@ Woodenman - how did you find/know about this thread? You are not one of the original posters, so I'm curious to know how you came across it. 


Just looking around at old London or UK-based threads to see if there's anything interesting. Got a few juvenile trees that aren't producing much and not yet sating my fruit craving (keep looking and hoping for some early main crop that may make it seeing the mild weather so far), so am still looking around at other varieties at the moment even though deep down I know I've not really got the space :-(

Very tempted by the idea of a VdB (though they seem hard to come by here for some reason, only T&M seem to stock it) or Ronde, as I'm quite light-fig heavy at the moment (White Marseilles, Brunswick, Excel, Violette Dauphine and White Adriatic). Also like the idea of Desert King, but even though there are several reports of it doing well up here, no-one seems to sell it. Dauphine is a possible alternative San-Pedro that Reads stock, though not sure how it tastes.

Very sceptical that my Adriatic will ever fruit here, though will give it a couple of years (pity, as I like the description of the taste); it's also growing exceptionally slowly compared to it's brethren. Also suspect WM and Excel may be too similar to warrant keeping both so I may get a couple of spaces open up eventually!
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loquat1

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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
Wow, that's quite a list. Whereabouts in London are you? If you want guaranteed early & heavy crop & not too fussy about flavour (which is quite good anyway, if not outstanding), then you could try my Italian Purple if you can find the room. Or maybe grow in a large pot?
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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
@ Liza - 
Quote:
Shall I call you when I am in town?


Depends. Your layers are nowhere near ready yet for removal. When were you planning to mosey on down (or is it up?) here?
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Posted Reply with quote  #26 
I'm around Croydon/Crystal Palace area. Flavour is pretty much king for me at the moment (as long as the yield isn't too bad), though I am in need of something a bit bushy, as I'm hoping to use a couple of trees as a privacy screen for downstairs' courtyard (the blueberries that are trying to do the job at the moment are leaving a lot to be desired!). The Excel and Brunswick are in the lead for that job at the moment - Violette Dauphine probably has the best growth for it (vigorous and chunky leaves), but I don't trust her fruiting if I move her away from her wall.

I hope to have a better idea of the gaps in my collection once I've been able to sample some fruit. Unfortunately unless that main crop materialises PDQ it looks like it may be another year's wait :-(, there are some promising looking bumps forming, though I've a sinking feeling they may be mostly branch.
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Liza

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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
@ Woodman,
Have you tried pinching off the tops of new growth ?
Pinch off some soft growth, making sure to leave room for some new side shoots.
Try a couple of stems to see if this will force fruiting.
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Posted Reply with quote  #28 
I'm fully pinched :-) hence the hawk-like watching of any little nubs I see on the stems checking to see if a baby fruit pops out
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loquat1

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Posted Reply with quote  #29 
Croydon/Crstl Pal. is not too far from me (New Eltham/Sidcup area). Might be able somehow to contrive to get a couple of ripe samples to you to try b4 you commit. I agree with you about flavour, but in our unreliable summers I'm sometimes grateful just to get a decent crop that has a more than acceptable flavour. My working hypothesis is that the better the flavour, the less 'giving' the tree. That's why I've nicknamed my unknown TbF 'Tasty but Fussy'.  
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Posted Reply with quote  #30 
Could be good - it's always nice to get a bit of confirmation as to what is going to thrive in an area - pretty much the best information you can get otherwise is 'stick with Brown Turkey'.

Noticed there's an e-bayer at the other end of London selling some unnamed figs of supposed Turkish/Persian origin which could be interesting (username papapari) including a very strange looking one that produces about 1" fruits. I've nothing against unknowns, but as you don't even get the taste description that you would otherwise get on 'named' varieties it's nice to know what to expect before investing the time/space.

Re your other thread: could your aubergine Cypriot fig be Melanzana? I remembered seeing something named Aubergine in the variety database before when looking something up. There's also Patlican from Turkey, but no pics.
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Luke

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Posted Reply with quote  #31 
Desert king is reliable here in the UK. I am also having great results with madeleine de deux saisons, here is a picture of the breba on it.

Attached Images
jpeg IMG_201405241672.jpg (31.71 KB, 16 views)


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loquat1

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Posted Reply with quote  #32 
Quote:
could your aubergine Cypriot fig be Melanzana?


That's also my working hypothesis until I do the direct comparison from the published info on Cypriot varieties - unfortunately in Greek, but yeah, sounds like a plausible ID to me. That still leaves Vardika & a few others to ID. But that will hafta wait for now.
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Posted Reply with quote  #33 
Whereabouts did you get hold of the King? I've been rummaging around for a while but not found it listed anywhere.
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Luke

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Posted Reply with quote  #34 
I started my dks from cuttings a few years back, but my uncle has 5-6 trees of a local Italian variety in his garden and it looks the same as dk, they reliably produce every year and usually have many figs, if you want some cuttings just message me next spring. dk or local Italian,(they look the same to me)

From my limited experience of growing figs in sunny england, going for trees that produce good breba crop is a must if you want to eat figs every year. If you want to try main crop fig trees then I would remove all breba crop from it as soon as they start to grow. And pinch every 5-6 leaves.

If your looking for cuttings in London this might help.
Needs to be opened in browser and not the google app as it does not support layers.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=h&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107469309022694680995.00046a5adca1d2f4ceb72
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woodenman

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Posted Reply with quote  #35 
As long as I remember that would be great. Early spring before bud break I presume?

My trees aborted almost all of their breba this year (Brunswick still hanging on with a couple), so my only hope is that the weather has been mild enough to get an early kick-start to get a bit of a main at least. The heating effect of being in the middle of a big city should help a bit too.

Interesting map, not too much near me but there is a tree in the city that I'll try to make the effort to check out when it's fruiting
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