Topics

Not an Alma, But What Is It?

I posted a couple of weeks ago about repeatedly getting incorrectly labeled fig trees from nurseries.

https://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/so-very-very-tired-of-mislabeled-trees-8195045?pid=1292994354

Now I am hoping that, with some additional pictures (main crop fruit), I might be able to find out what they actually sold me labeled as an "Alma". The tree was from Creekside Nursery (wholesaler) NE of Houston. But I believe that the actual grower may have been Dave Wilson Nursery.

The fig is yellowish-green when ripe, with dark red flesh inside. The one unusual thing, in my brief experience with figs, is that the skin on all the figs so far is very tough. Almost like soft leather. Just the green outside skin.

The taste on the figs from these young trees is unremarkable. Slightly sweet, with the barest hint of berry (on very ripe fruit). But over-all pretty blah and no flavor stands out. No seed crunch at all.

Any ideas beyond a "verte type"?

Thanks,
CliffH

    Attached Images

  • Click image for larger version - Name: Ukn_from_Hwy105_-_Leaves_3.jpg, Views: 58, Size: 111027
  • Click image for larger version - Name: Ukn_from_Hwy105_-_Leaf_3.jpg, Views: 64, Size: 65965
  • Click image for larger version - Name: Ukn_from_Hwy105_Fruit_Group_1.jpg, Views: 63, Size: 54936
  • Click image for larger version - Name: Ukn_from_Hwy105_Fruit_Group_2.jpg, Views: 60, Size: 62077
  • Click image for larger version - Name: Ukn_from_Hwy105_3.jpg, Views: 63, Size: 42882
  • Click image for larger version - Name: Ukn_from_Hwy105_1.jpg, Views: 58, Size: 28577
  • Click image for larger version - Name: Ukn_from_Hwy105_4.jpg, Views: 67, Size: 164484
  • Click image for larger version - Name: Ukn_from_Hwy105_5.jpg, Views: 60, Size: 46749

Bump.  

I have no idea, but it looks good to me.  You could try emailing Dave Wilson Nursery if you don't get a positive ID here.   Since you're in Houston, here is your region's sales person, Leanne Barton: leeann@davewilson.com


Desert king is my guess..

I recently saw a posting for Brooklyn White figs. Some had red flesh inside. Could this actually be a Brooklyn White? The leaves are fairly close to many posted pics too.


Thanks,
CliffH

Doubt that Dave Wilson nursery would be providing an 'unknown' variety.  You could probably look on their web site for a list of the varieties they grow, see what matches best.

Adriatic

If it is really a Dave Wilson, they only have a handful of green varieties.  I would guess conadria.  Kadota is known for tough skin.  I generally think of it as having an amber interior but there seem to be both amber and red interior versions of which Dave Wilson's is the latter.

The leaves and figs looks like Excel.   Of course photos can be confusing.

it's definitely not Kadota or Excel.  Excel is a sport from Kadota.  Both are high yellow figs when ripe.

Dave Wilson Nursery lists on their wholesale list the following green figs:
Conadria
Desert King
Excel
Ischia Green
Janice Seedless Kadota
Kadota
Lattarula
Peter's Honey
White Genoa

Desert King should only be breba in Houston TX area
Color of pulp not right for Janice, Lattarula and Peter's Honey
Excel and Kadota are supposed to be less green, more yellow when ripe.
So maybe that narrows it down to Conadria, Ischia Green, White Genoa? 

 

Most Possible Conadria from what i have grown here.

Expanding on Ed's post, I haven't seen anyone describe Green Ischia as blah. That leaves White Genoa which is described as blah quite often or Conadria which is hit or miss.

Thank you for all the comments and help. But in reviewing the nurseries website, and that of DWN, I am no longer sure that it came from Dave Wilson. I was sure that I had seen earlier that this local company was on the DWN retailers list. So now it looks like I was in error on that.

White Genoa and Adriatic were also my best two guesses from the research that I have done. But, heck, six months ago I didn't know there were more than about 20 varieties of figs......

I sent another e-mail to the local wholesaler, just asking what green varieties that sold this last year. Their current website does not list any green figs. Hopefully they will answer this one. The local retail nursery still has about 20 of these trees (they didn't really care about the mis-label either, after I let them know).


CliffH.

Cliff: Adriatic is ,not blah,but super tasting,if you had one you would have known.
White Genoa is pink inside,and yeas,it could be blah tasting,but it will never be so red inside ,only if pollinated by the wasp.
So what is red inside like your fruit,and inferior tasting to Adriatic:
Conadria.

Thank you Herman. That was another variety that I considered, and it fits very well. I was just hoping I had something different. Especially when I can get these plants for $10 a piece this time of year....

I will still keep the tree. When it's dormant, I plan to remove it from the ground and move it to a container (I planted it in the same hole as a real Alma to make a group planting). Hopefully the fruit will improve next year.

Reply Cancel
Subscribe Share Cancel