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Need a New List Like Gene Hosey's

Hello,

One of the most precious things about figs (apart from their taste) is the sharing of knowledge. I have found it disheartening to wait 3-4 years for a figs like Col de Dame Blanc to produce a first crop, only to lose them to frost. I admired Gene Hosey's list but I think in this age of social networking and blogs we can do much better. If we shared our knowledge effectively this business would be so much more enjoyable for all.

I am hoping that we can share our experiences in a database/list similar to Gene's. If anyone has a similar list or Facebook page please let me know. My main emphasis is something similar to what I have included in the "Growing Notes" that we can continuously improve.

Thank you

Example:

Name

Synonyms

Origin

Skin Color

Pulp Color

Crops

Growing Notes 

 Col de Dame Blanc

none

Spain

Green

Blood red

1 crop only

Zone 8 Notes (Pacific Northwest): This fig does not ripen under normal weather conditions in Zone 8. It has no chance to ripen in pots let alone in the ground as it takes roughly 7 months to ripen. I have grown it quite successfully though this method:

  1. I use 10-15 gallon pots for it.
  2. I root prune every year and keep the tree compact—thinned to no more than 20 figs on the tree per growing season.
  3. I bring it into a heated garage on February 15th (about 62 degrees in February and March). In 6 weeks it begins to bud, and by April 15 it can be put outside. Placing in pots accelerates growth by 6 weeks compared to being in ground, and starting in February also adds to the growing season by about 6 weeks. This will allow a full crop by September. If you bring it in earlier than Feb 15 you run the risk of shocking the plant.
  4. It needs 10 hours of sunlight a day.
  5. The taste is exceptional, and when fully ripe it may be the best fig.
  6. When becoming fully ripe, it begins to crack.

Yes. A generic list on a page with alot more questions that we can post with on our profile page. Include Zone. Location. Soil type. Potted or planted. Rating... etc.etc. 

Could we use Gene's spreadsheet as a start and expand from there.

I find his database to be invaluable to me.

Tad

I agree, Tad... build on what is already there rather than re-inventing the wheel with a different format and populating from scratch...

See my signature.

Great list Ross! You did such a great job on it both authoring and compiling / consolidating info shared by other excellent forum members and you keep updating it that, after seeing it initially when i first became a fig addict this past summer, I now periodically view the list and scan for updates... A GREAT reference document for figs!

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