This tree was rooted from a cutting obtained from bronxfigs (Frank) in Feb. of 2013.  It has held onto 3-4 brebas and is also developing a good main crop.  I picked this particular breba a day or two before it's time but since I had what I think is a raccoon raid my yard recently I decided not to take a chance.  It was moderately sweet with some seed crunch and pretty bland overall.  I probably should have left it on a couple more days - oh well.  I'm definitely looking forward to the main crop.

Nice Steve, it the same as I-258?

No I don't think so.  As far as I know "Italian Red" is an heirloom fig that Frank found in this surrounding neighborhood.  I'll try to take better images of the leaves and upload them soon.

Hi Steve-

So happy that the wood that I sent you has now, literally, started to bare fruit.  Again, This "Italian Red" fig came from a northern suburb of The Bronx, from a small city called Mount Vernon, located in Lower Westchester County, NY....not too far away from Yonkers, NY.

This is an unidentified variety that came from Italy.  The original trees were growing in the backyard of my customer, an immigrant from Italy.  He knew I wanted to try growing figs, peppers, basil, etc. and he gave me three, rooted twigs off his favorite fig tree.  That was back in 2007.  The original twigs that he gave me eventually grew into three, 5-7ft trees, and they always gave me some wonderful figs.  It was these very trees, that got me to grow more figs.  Sadly, these trees died from the terrible Winter of '13-'14.  I grew them without protection, in containers, since 2007 without any problems.  Last winter, was different, and the trees expired.  One of the trees that died had a trunk as thick as my arm.

Now, Steve is growing this heirloom, unknown variety.  I suspect its a Mt. Etna type of fig, judging by the leaves.

Steve...watch the water at the roots as figs ripen.  In bad rains the figs can split.  Other than that, the figs are small but packed with raspberry flavors. I'm sure the quality and flavor of the figs will improve as the tree puts on some age.  The neck area stays a blood red and the body of the fig goes a deep, reddish-black when ripe.  The trees like heat and the leaves are thick textured, being somewhat rust-resistant unless constantly soaked with water/rain.  Definitely, no visible signs of FMV.  None of the trees around NYC have signs of FMV.

I am very gratified to see the good results of your successful, competent,  stewardship.  Good luck, and happy growing.


Frank

Thanks or the background on this fig Frank - I definitely agree that the figs will get better with age of tree and proper ripening.  Were you able to harvest very many brebas from your unprotected Italian Red trees?  By the way I seem to remember that you contributed this variety to one of the fig nurseries in the south and this it is commercially available.  I googled it and found this:

https://almostedenplants.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=9892

Is this the same fig or is my memory off-base?

Steve-

Because of my very short season, I used to pinch off all breba figs and only allow main crop figs to develop.  I never thought I'd have enough of a warm, extended, growing season to get two crops of figs to ripen properly.  Up here, by the end of August, it's all over.  The trees were also young, and the last few seasons - before they got killed - were cold and trees leafed out very late.  I opted to just let main crop figs grow.

I sent wood down to Dalton Durio for the "Italian Red" and for "Atreano"-Belleclare, and from what i know, he successfully propagated and sold quite a few trees for each variety.  Don't know if he still has these two varieties for sale, now.  I did not send any "IR" wood to Almost Eden, and can't say if the Almost Eden and Durio 'Italian Reds' are the same variety.

I hope this helps clear some confusion.


Frank