Im trying to locate a place to buy a caprifig or get a start from one for next year.
 I did look through the site and the growers but I would have to open just about every website to find where they are located and if it would be feasible to have one sent if that is even a possiblity. We found a hundred plus year old fig tree on a homestead in the woods where we live. Dh knows no one has lived there for that long as he was a forest ranger for half that time. Not to mention the homestead hasn't existed for that long. We planted 3 starts from the tree and just this year from all the research I have done and the way the tree is behaving I believe they are Smyrna's. I have this passion to get this tree started again in our community of 400 and keep it thriving as it was a known family that homesteaded the place. Lots of history. Any and all advice and help would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance!

Hi danisboots,
Welcome to the forum !
In which usda zone type do you live ?
Instead of trying to reach a far away target, just buy some common types of figs and get rid of the smyrna - that is if you're like me in Zone7.

Dani,

PM me

Dan

Welcome to the forum
Are there any fruit left on your old smyrna fig ?
Did you witness figs falling from this tree ? Do you remember when ? Any pictures ?

Sorry for all these questions.
I am trying to understand the timing for receptiveness of your hypothetical smyrna fruit.


Francisco
Portugal

I'm in zone 8b. Gasquet, CA. To answer why I don't want to throw these trees away. They have a long linage in our community and I would like to get it started again from the old homestead they came from. It has sort of become an obsession for me. I do truly believe they are Smyrna's. I could be wrong but the original 100+ year old tree is still alive and well. The fruits do not mature on it. The leaves look right, the fruit doesn't get very big and it is dropping off on our trees as well as the original one. Only one crop in July. I will be the first to say I am no expert, but I am trying to decipher the clues. A lot of people grow figs here, different types and most do well. Just no Smyrna's. We went all around the homestead into the woods and could not find a wild fig anywhere. Which definitely might not have survived this long. I am more then willing to learn. :) Its too late for this year but I am looking for next year as this was the first year they put figs on. Let me try to get pics for you. To add the trees are growing beautifully. 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/46840280@N03/ This is my flickr acct and I added the photos there. if there is a will there is a way! :)

Hi danisboots,
Remember, you'll need the caprifig AND the wasp of the fig ... Hard to get them started both if your zone is not adapted to them.
Still a good challenge, but really see that as a challenge and not as something easy to do. If you want figs, grow some common types, they are suited for cold zone, Zone8,Zone7 and under...
But even with common types, in Zone7, one gets hard times ! I lost 10 fig rees to the winter in 2012 !

I do understand the fig wasp thing and that was were I was a bit stumped as how to get both? But the original tree has been growing here for over a 100 years and ours are three years old from starts and they are doing beautifully.  Sincerely, dani  https://www.flickr.com/photos/46840280@N03/ I would be tickled if these aren't Smyrna's trust me. ;)
It would make life much easier. Hoping folks can somewhat help solve the mystery. I am always willing to learn.

There's a Capri fig for sale on eBay now, with no bids:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fig-tree-Capri-purple-/281784719868?hash=item419bad99fc

"If you build it, he will come...." -"Field of Dreams"

:) Thank you. I have one lead currently from the forum. But will go take a look see. You folks rock!
Has anyone taken a look at the pics? I would be curious to know your thoughts.

Yes I took a look:It means it is not edible but contain male flowers with pollen inside!.
If it was edible it will be the first fact told.Of course there are also persistent edible caprifigs but very rare.
Dani:Your so called Smyrna fig most likely is a seedling from a Smyrna fruit that fell on ground,from birds droppings,and grew.
The chance is ,it can be a male fig,and so,you will not make any progress by planting another male next to it.
The old tree is big and strong,it means ,more likely it is a seedling,very healthy but good for firewood only.
If the other people in town have common self fertile fig trees only,it is because the wasp is not there.
If you want an ornamental caprifig,just plant a Smirna fruit imported from Turkey,you will get 100 +'little seedlings,that will grow very fast.

The figs grown here are other types of figs, no smyrnas.  Town of 400 with one main street no businesses in the woods  its hard not to know everyone. I am hoping i am wrong and this is a fig that possibly didn't get its first figs til late and maybe next year I will get that early crop? As our neighbors figs never mature a second crop but they get a great first crop. I have access to all sorts of figs. Im just being stubborn is all.
I don't really think its from a bird this fig is massive and has rerooted and rerooted itself on this old homestead. There are grapes there also that go 50-100 feet up into the conifers. They are side by side. The conifers are right up against the old fig/grapes and it seems to have been being protected by these trees. I am only speculating and letting you know what we have seen. sorry if I seem stubborn about things I have just latched onto this project. :)
This town was founded by a French man that took Pappas (the homesteaders)  French wife and ran pappas out of town or well possibly he died a gruesome death there are conflicting stories. But anyway The French woman became Madam Gasquet hence the name of our town. Her husband was Horace Gasquet. I know that doesn't mean anything in the scheme of things but just a little history. :)
I don't quite understand this sentence, could you please elaborate? "The old tree is big and strong, it means ,more likely it is a seedling, very healthy but good for firewood only." My trees are seedlings or the old fig was a seedling from a bird?
I understand the not being fertile but do the pics give you any idea of the type of fig? As it seems a couple folks seem to be inferring it might not be a Smyrna and I am happy to be corrected on that fact.  Could I just be totally off base in what I am thinking? Should I give this another year and see what happens?

The old fig was a seedling and your fig is a wild fig made from a cutting taken from a seedling.
The old fig is strong and healthy because a seedling ,when born from a seed ,is completely healthy even if the mother tree was diseased with heavy fig mosaic virus.
Because this seedling ,was alone ,separated from other trees ,was never infected by fig mosaic virus,like most trees ,in climates where the spreading agent,namely,fig mites,were  present.
If you really insist on keeping your tree,I suggest grafting self fertile cultivars on ,your tree ,by getting scions from ,local productive healthy trees,but make sure they are healthy,otherwise ,if you got a diseased one, it will infect all others including your base tree.
Hope this will help

Thank you for all that info. There are 6 healthy trees 200 feet away from mine in the next yard and they would be more than willing to give me what I need. I think I have a lot more reading to do now. More questions swirling in my head. :)
Sorry if I sound like such a newbie, I am! But willing to learn.

It was my pleasure to help you with some information,and i am sure you are on your way ,to be successful keeping the tree and ,make it fruit too.
Best Regards

Hi Dani,

I do appreciate your love for this honorable tree and community as well as your firm convictions.
In your shoes I would probable do exactly the same .
Saw your very nice flickr pictures  and my doubts remain.

I am sending these lines far far away from the other side of the water and was born surrounded by all sorts of figs, Smyrnas included as well as Caprifigs and I love them .. even today after all these years I grow a few Smyrnas and their 'husbands', as well -the Caprifigs-
Let me show you a few pictures related to Smyrnas and Caprifigs..
------------------------------------
This pic was taken in June 20th/2012, right during the official pollinating period
Hope you can see the pollinating wasps crawling over the central fig, indicating that it is fully receptive, its pheromones 'calling' the insect in.
Smyrnas become receptive when their approx diameter is up to 1/2  or 3/4 inch
The size of the insect is around 1/16"

 
---------------------------------------------

This is another Smyrna fig of the same variety, which was not given sufficient Caprifigs at the right time or given too late.
The picture was taken on the 6th of July 2012 and most figs failed pollination, changing color to that brownish violet, shriveling and falling to the ground completely dry.


 

-----------------------------------------
The figs on this third picture taken by mid July were fully pollinated, again the same Smyrna variety.


 

The figs shown on your pictures, IMO,  do not seem to be a 'non pollinated' Smyrna.
I assume that although old, your trees never produced any edible fruit and if this is correct we may be looking at a wild fig which could be a good Caprifig or a not so good Caprifig-
I say this because not all wild figs are good pollinator trees.
Bear in mind that Smyrna varieties even out of the presence of pollinating wasps on certain occasions seem to ripen, gaining size ,color and could be eaten but will lack sugar and the flavors....
We say these figs do not ripen ... just color giving the wrong impression they are ripe.


Finally, I would like to ask if you remember the approx date when your figs fell to the ground and if you did take any picture of their insides. This could help on the correct identification of your trees.
I would not destroy any of those figs..... You could well graft a number of different varieties on those figs and suited for your climate and to enable you to have fresh figs for 2 or 3 months.

Francisco
Portugal

Thank you for all of the information. And I am listening to everything everyone is saying. I guess the question that stays in my mind is why would a homesteader have planted this fig were his garden was and not get figs? The grapes are right next to them and going 50-100 feet up into the trees. We do know this is where his garden was. I am not contradicting just cant figure out why he would have done this. Possibly this is a wild fig and the other fig tree(s) he may have had did not make it after this long? I am trying to unravel the mystery is all. :)
All this info that I can still save the trees as they are beautiful and possibly graft them is wonderful news to me! I actually am hoping that is the case as I wasn't sure how I would have gotten the wasp here. ;)
I agree the figs don't look like the ones you are showing me. Those pictures I took were yesterday. The figs started falling off about a week and a half ago but there are still many green and some yellowing ones on the trees currently. I will go take a picture of the insides and post on flickr in a few minutes. Again thank you everyone you are a wealth of information!
Again I am thinking that possibly since these are the first year figs have appeared on my trees that maybe they will have two crops next year? Maybe it got started late? or if it is a wild fig does it only have one crop? BRB with pictures of the insides. https://www.flickr.com/photos/46840280@N03/20998017592/in/dateposted-public/ I forgot to add a coin in to show size. They are approximately the size of a U.S. quarter.

Thank you for all the info provided as well as the cutaways of the falling figs.

IMO they look like late Mammoni caprifigs which due to the absence of the Blastophaga psenes (wasp) cannot be caprified, then, dry and fell in view of their symbiotic relationship - the wasp will not survive without the caprifig and vice-versa.

You also raise a valuable point - The multiple Caprifig crops !!
Yes there should be 3 !..sometimes  4

1st - PROFICHI, shooting on the previous year wood, ripe and full of wasps, male flowers and GOOD pollen by May/June. Wasps from this fig would carry the pollen to fertilize the Caducous, female figs- the Smyrna and 2nd crop SanPedros.Also, they will send some wasps to colonize the following crop.. the 2nd

2nd - MAMMONI ,on the current green wood on the leaf axils, the ones you see now falling precisely for lack of insects. Mammonis do not have any fertilizing pollen, nor any male flowers.. They have a good deal of modified female flowers- the galls-
Nature has modified precisely to shelter and help to develop the insect's eggs and larvae... plus a few genuine female flowers which once exposed to the pollen from the Profichi will give birth to fertile seeds but very few.. may be a dozen or so. These seeds of full Caprifig parentage, if given the right conditions will germinate and be new figs.

3rd - the MAMME .Born through the fall on the current year's wood. Again a crop of wild, rough and big figs full of galls to shelter the eggs and larvae brought in by the Mammoni's insects. No pollen neither male or female flowers.Nature has given this fig the capacity of behaving as a 'all weather' capsule.. Very hard, rough and ugly with thick insulation, impenetrable.. it will guard and protect the new colony of several hundred larvae/insects inside the galls throughout the winter ... By mid March of the following season it will slowly soften, change color to yellowish/violet and will dispatch many hundreds of clean wasps (no pollen) to colonize the 1st crop...Profichi and the cycle is thus closed.

I do not know if your tree ever showed other crops. Not stimulated by the presence of the Blastophaga it may simply do not grow any more figs.
Being close to the tree you may remember eventual changes on its behavior.. It is common a given caprifig pass one or more crops..

I may not given all the information you expected.. if you need any more info please do not hesitate to ask and if I know I will tell you

Now, the next steps..Nothing is lost!
You shall keep an eye on those trees - old and young-
I would like to suggest you to try and while those trees grow, to make them a bit more profitable-.
You have a great and long lasting source of fig energy ready !!

Given your mild climate try and 'T bud' on selected branches (you may do it now) of these trees some very good brebas like

Desert King (think your place is ideal for this variety)
Dauphine ( ditto ditto..)
Dalmatie ( ditto ditto ..)

or figs like

the 3 Bordeaux - Ronde, Rouge and Violette
Black Madeira
Hardy Chicago, etcc

Budding now the graft would stay dormant and shoot up next spring, or
cleft/whip&tongue real grafting by March/2016
May be you know how to do it or have a friend who could help and do that for you - Very easy if you get the basics and practice 'hands on' .. You have plenty of plant material to train yourself
It's fun and you may eat real brebas and/or figs soon !!
Good luck


Francisco
Portugal

PS.- Will add some additional thoughts later tonight if you agree to listen to me!?

Hi danisboots,
No one is perfect, and we all make "mistakes" - we ,all, don't have access to an unlimited choice of strains to choose from.
I myself took cuttings from a wild fig tree - because I had it at hand ... to just destroy the daughter trees years later.
I did not share cuttings of that tree but if I had, then that would have been another "damn bad tree" running around until the recipients would have found that that strain was not worth it.
That tree could well have been given to your friend before being tested ...
That tree could be a root-shoot from a grafted tree... and thus that tree is a child of the root-stock and not of the scion.
All those are reasons for that tree not be worth it.
The choice is all yours ! But, bare in mind: you don't make a horse out of a donkey !

Definitely differing opinions. I will take it all in. I do believe my neighbor might have the black madeira? I am more then willing to hear more of what you have to say lampo. :)
One thing i forgot to mention out of the three trees I started, one did not produce figs at all the other two produced nicely, then well they started to fall off slowly. :S
Off to go mushroom hunting! Be back soon. :)

 Dani - there are several reasons that someone could have grown a caprifig. You have not said what time range this tree was planted - when was this original homesteader or the subsequent Mr Gasquet living there?

Here are some possible reasons:

As mentioned above, the tree could have been grown purposely for shade.
The tree could have been planted accidentally by birds or by a resident of the home from a thrown out seed, and left to grow as they were hoping for figs - remember that before the fig wasp was studied and then introduced to CA, people were unaware of the exact nature of a fig's sex life.
The tree could have been purposely planted as a caprifig, if the grower was hoping to start the fig wasp in the area to pollinate (caprify) his figs.  Assuming he knew something about growing figs.
The tree could have been purposely planted as a fig hoping for fruit, the grower not knowing the difference and that it would never bear ripe figs.

I'm sure there are other possible variations of the theme but surely the true reason is related to one of the above, but will forever be a mystery.

Enjoy the mystery!

You have my mind grinding now as Pappas was the man that lived on the homestead over a hundred years ago. The homestead is gone but the fig and the grapes are still growing wild (side by side) where it would have been logical for the garden to be in proximity to the house.  No one has lived there since then. The house is long gone. Pappas had a French woman he brought here and it was Gasquet the founder of this town that stole her away. I know you don't need that part but it puts into perspective. Gasquet had stores, boarding houses, a stage coach station, a toll road across the river, vineyards and orchards here. There are old pics of most of them and where they were located which has nothing to do with Pappas land (the homesteader). He lived at the end of town out in the woods. I have read much about the fig wasp and when and how it all got figured out.
Yes, most of these answers I can see could be the reason. Pappas came from somewhere  in Greece. A lot of the time folks brought seeds, etc from their homelands when they came to this country. I thought he would have brought something he could grow here? But again maybe he thought he had and well didn't know about the wasp. So yes most of the answers could be it. I guess we will never really know. But thank you for indulging me. :)

Dani,

What I did not say on my previous thread is that whatever you decide to do with your trees, I would recommend that ..

-you bring in from the south 2 or 3 dozens of live Profichi figs (about ripe) to induce caprification of your tree. These should be late ripening fruit (July/Aug), apparently available on the SF Bay regions.
Hopefully by that time some of your figs shall be receptive-
Caprifigs from further south (LA f.i) tend to ripen much earlier and will not meet the best timing in your grounds-

Seen, - you say that two of the trees you started.. 'produced nicely'...
what type of figs did they produce ? Do you know why they fell slowly ?

As regards to the possibility of grafting Black Madeira on your tree this is great news. It seems that this cultivar 'loves' to be grafted on a robust stock and then to show all its capabilities !
May be our fellow member Harvey reads this and chimes in with his comment. He has done this exercise and as far as I know he is happy!

Have also seen your climate yearly averages.
It looks like  a constant spring ! Figs may require some more sun and not so much rain- But they will survive and certainly give you very nice fruit
Watch those brebas !!!

Francisco
Portugal

They are the figs/2 trees I showed you. Maybe i said it wrong. They started out nicely then started to fall off less than two weeks ago.  :S  
Its just the third tree did not develop any figs at all. Its growing beautifully as a tree just like the other two.
Our summers are hot. Lots of rain in winter about 100 inches. There are many types of figs already growing in our community successfully.
I did hear from two neighbors that their figs didn't do well this year? But the 6 trees right next to our backyard produced profusely as well as a few others folks trees.
My next step is to go ask everyone what type of fig they have and if it would be okay for a start from their fig if they are the right ones.
We have a very giving small community. :)

Nice to hear that you are  close to each other in your small community and operate as a big family of friends- This is good for your project and it  should be like that all over.

From what I have been hearing this season was not famous for figs practically worldwide
With so much rain your soil must be deep and well draining .. figs do not enjoy 'wet feet'

You with all that rain and I ... not seeing a drop of it since mid March !

Well established figs from your neighbors will certainly be OK for your budding or grafts.. Some varieties show better qualities of taste, flavors sugar, etc..
Do not forget to try and find a friend with the 'green thumb' for grafts.
If you need, I may send a small video to illustrate how this can be done .. it's very easy!

Francisco
Portugal