@ bullet: Quite so mate.

@ Elisha: PS Glad you spotted the play on words. One of my (many) quirks.

A play on words hints at a playful mind, and I don't mind at all that you mind your words well. I'll keep my eyes open for some authentic haloumi, I know iota be less picky but I can only play with the hand that has been delta to me. 

I have no desire to get anyone in a legal pickle and should probably work on my rooting methods before taking on any more cuttings at this point in time. However, I'll likely reconsider when your Greek Yellow is ready to "butcher," as you say.

Tamar:

Play on words: Nice try - deserves a hollow laugh at least.

Legal Eagle: Actually, the risk is all yours. The feds have no jurisdiction over here. Just watch out for those black choppers the moment you open that package!

Gk Yellow: Estimated maturation point for 'butchering' Gk Yellow would be around mid-summer nxt year. Hopefully you would have sorted out your rooting skills by then.

Halloumi: If you can find it, try Prokopis from Cowboy Farms (no, I'm not kiddin'). It's one of the best we've tasted. Failing that, there's Aradippou, Skarinou/Kophinou, Voroklini, Millidjis, Stefanides & Sons, or Kornos. If you can't find any of those, go for Cypressa or Pittas as a last resort only. They're not so good straight, but fine if you fry them, etc. Probably won't be able to tell the difference in fact. Good luck, & enjoy.

@ Tamarness

Neat!

Hey guys,

Dunno if this will work, but the site didn't accept my pics directly coz file size was reported too big, so trying this instead.

http://s989.photobucket.com/user/loquat1/library/?sort=3&page=1

If it works, apologies for the delay, but I have been otherwise distracted of late. 'Commentary' to follow later - I was more anxious to see the result for myself first before I commit. If it fails, would be intersted to know how others get around the problem of file size.

EDIT: OK, now I've seen how this works - it takes you to their site. Not ideal, but it will have to do for now. More anon.

Hmm......think I might have found it:

https://cafe2121.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/img_2610.jpg

The caption says:
FIGS FROM THE FIG TREE IN ALEX’S SUMMER HOUSE WHERE UNFORGETTABLE CHILDHOODS WERE SPENT

Doesn't really help with ID tho. Any ideas out there?

Hi, Costas.
I don't know what the name is, but I think it's one of the most beautiful fig I have ever seen. Would love to have it
Vito

@ Vito - Would love to send you some cuttings, but do ya really wanna risk a visit from the Feds? I should also say that this 'ID' is not 100%. Mine don't have those small reddish spots/blotches. But approx. size, color & shape look about right.

Dunno if I'm gonna get any ripe fruit this year - my tree is still on the smallish side - but we plan a visit to Greece next year ((where the parent tree lives), so I'll make sure I get some pics then. Shame I didn't take any when we were last there a couple years ago.

@ Figgyme - Thanks for the pics.  Size & shape look about right, so close, but still not my Gk Yellow. There's just too much green in there. As I said above, mine are a really bright/deep yellow with a hint of orange.

This is really infuriating for me (not sure why), so just gonna hafta do some more surfing until I can ID it when I've got a bit more time on my hands. Thanks for your interest anyway.

This is the zailata fig I bought from George Arvanitis from Greece. Does this look the same as yours?? These pictures are from his listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ZAILATA-The-Yellow-Greek-Fig-Variety-2-fresh-cuttings-/121579175948?nma=true&si=tNzIkUSdIA%252FSK%252BMt%252Ft2iq9r1CcU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

   

That's very close Tyler, & much closer than the Zailata link quoted above. Bearing in mind I last saw ripe samples maybe a couple of years ago, and my memory may not be 100% reliable, but my impression is that this is still not quite a match. 

Flesh color is about right (I think), but your skin color still has a shade of green. Ours was too vivid a yellow to have any hint of green. And shape still not quite right either - not quite flat enough at the top & bottom.

In fact, I'm pretty sure ours was almost concave at both ends, which you would not expect at the stalk end. But I'll be the first to admit that ours might be just a sub-variant of the Zailata variety. If no match is found after I'm able to post some pics, that may be the only possible conclusion.

I'll post again if I come up with a closer match, but thanks for your input just the same.

Hey Costa. Good to see you post again. Did you ever get any figs from your Greek yellow? ( talking about the cutting you're growing in London ,not the mother tree)

Hi Chris

Figs, yes. Ripe ones - not yet.  It's a young tree, and it's first chance of yielding ripe fruit was last year, but unfortunately all the fruit was lost after a minor disaster while we were on holiday, also the subject of a thread on the forum:

http://www.figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/oh-no-not-my-gk-yellow-help-6911277?pid=1283341027#post1283341027

I have since grounded the tree to avoid any more mishaps, and it's now fully recovered, but of course still too early for any ripe fruit this year. As soon as we get some, then I'll post up some pics. If none this year or next, I might be able to get some picks from the parent tree in Greece next year, so this is a long haul project. 

I've just pm'd EKTOR, so if he gets my message, hopefully he'll come back with suggestions other than Zailata.

Hafta wonder if EKTOR & Giorgios Arvanitis are one & the same person?

Hey Pino,

Those are great looking figs, but no, nothing like my Italian Purple. I did post pics in another thread. I'll track down the link for you so you can compare.

UPDATE - My Gk Yellow has shot up (now about 8-9' grounded height), but all figs sacrificed this year for cuttings. A neighbor had a massive fig on a layer I gave him that was threatening to ripen. IE massive compared to how it grows in Greece and totally against type - bizarre and inexplicable. Then it rained, badly split, and became insect fodder. A real shame.

Might have some next year, but this tree is also gonna be the subject of a 'project' to improve my chances of ripe fruit. I need to control the height for the project to work, so seriously considering air-layering the top 3' or so of the main stem, as well some subsidiary branches. 

Gotta say though, this is one handsome tree - the best form I've ever seen, and easily outshines all my other trees. Looking fwd to a seriously hot summer that might just do the trick. We get them every 4-5 yrs, so another due within the next 3 yrs or so.

@ Liza & Luke: If you're still around - I haven't forgotten. Just been extremely busy lately, but things will calm down eventually - promise.

Hmm.........thought I had a load more pics of the IP than I managed to find on the forum, but apparently not. See #10 of this link:

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/id-please-tasty-but-fussy-has-arrived-with-a-bang-6498380?pid=1279524359

No matter. I'll raid my archives for more pics & post later. Gotta run off now to see Question Time........just in case WWIII has broken out.

Thanks Costas!
I thought it was worth mentioning since your fig came from your Aunt in Bolzano which is not a big city.
Happy Figging

You're welcome Pino. I didn't find anymore pics in my archives, but it's just possible I have some in my camera. I'll be d/loading those later & upload if I find any. Failing that, there's always next year.

Yes, I'm quite surprised that such an obscure region (in fig terms) is home to more than one variety. Your variety looks a lot more interesting than my IP, & I suspect tastes better too. Congrats on being the owner of such a fine-looking specimen.