Hello Everyone.  My name is Ben and I just moved to a new house.  The house came with a fig tree!  I'm reading up and learning everything I can about figs now!

I am looking to take some cuttings from this tree and grows some trees in a pot.  This tree seems to produce very little fruit.  I'm assuming it was left to grow.  

Here are some pics.  Can you help me identify it?  Most likely brown turkey?  I'm in Southern New Jersey by the way.

Thinking Celeste

me too

Yess!! That makes me happy.  Not that I really know the difference yet, but I'd rather have Celeste than BT right now.

Thanks!!  

So the next question.  Can I start trying to grow from clippings now? My climate is the northern edge of the transition zone.  I know I should probably just wait till winter, but I hate waiting :)

it taste a lot better

That's what I've heard :)  The figs do taste great from this tree.  There was just way too few of them.  There's still some on there, not sure if they will ripen or get hit by a frost.  You never know with the weather we get here.  Could be extremely cold or warm.

Hey Silverback, why don't you click on control panel at top right of page and enter your name, zone and city you live in. That way when people on here converse with you they can see where you are. Thanks

Not sure what it is; but just looking at the pulp, I think it is not a Celeste.

Uh oh...

Celeste: 2 Votes
Other: 1 Vote

This one that I cut open was pretty squishy... maybe it was over ripe?

I agree with Gorgi, I am thinking the pulp is too red for Celeste.

Even the 3-lobed leafs without toes do not look like those of a Celeste tree much less the red pulp.

Ok, so after a good start, we're looking at an 'unknown' fig tree. Haha.

Is this looking like a Brown Turkey or something else?

Not a Celeste. Not sure what it is. Doesn't even look like a Celeste strain to me, although I suppose it could be a hybrid (LSU breeding, et al).

And damn sure not a nasty ass, crappy tasting Brown Turkey! Smack those vile words out of your mouth, man!! I don't even wish a Brown Turkey on my worst enemies!!

Not Celeste. Fruit kinda reminds me of Hardy Chicago, but leaf looks different.



luke

Are leafs similar to this...?

Looking at the picture up close, I see you have pruned many lower branches. When this tree goes dormant, I would trim the whole top off so the tree is 5' tall. If that fence is 6', you can't reach top to pick the fruit. Do yourself a favor, and search Herman for pics of his figs. You will see the height of his, all the perfect height for easy picking. Yours looks like it has a nice shape, just to tall.

luke

Dominick, yes the leaves have that same shape. They seem to be a different shade green though. More lime green I guess.

Luke, yes I cut a lot of the lower branches when I fits moved in. The pool filter and gate are over there and it was barely accessible. I really wish this tree was in another part of the yard. That's why I'm going to grow from some cuttings. I wish I could transplant the whole tree. I will chop the top this winter.

Reminds me of "Brown Turkey MD": http://figs4fun.com/Thumbnail_Brown_Turkey_MD.html

Which IS NOT an actual Brown Turkey.  (See:  http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Brown-Turkey-MD-pix-2604282 )

But the leaves don't match at all.

Mine have been turning the last 2 weeks.

Couldn't he smell the leaves to see if they have that cat pee smell to rule out Celeste?  

Dominick, do you know what kind of fig you have? Does the fruit look similar to mine?

Hello Ben,
Welcome to the Forum. I am a newbie, but the leaves resemble "Improved Celeste" (many discussions posted). I have from three sources and all the leaves resemble yours including the 5 lobed.

Instead of just pruning the tree try Air Layering (many instructions posted) the larger main branches for full sized potted trees. It is late in the season, but you still have a full leaf canopy and it would not hurt to try. Leave the air layer on tree until after leaf fall, if roots have started to grow, plant in containers and winterize as normal. You will have a head start next year.

Attached is a photo of an air layer that was started 4week prior to picture.
Edit: Roots will continue to grow at temperatures above 45 deg F. (being an air layer, that would be air temperature :)
Good Luck.

It's a Celeste variety. Not exactly sure if it's normal Celeste or Improved. It's a bit larger than my other Celestes but the taste is similar.

Here in the photo a fruit is unopen down in the middle between two cut fruits.

On the bottom the smaller one open is regular Celeste.

Did it drop figs earlier in the season? Does the eye turn red before the fig swells in size?