I had an interesting researcher from Moscow who visited us today. She comes from Moscow, but said that there are figs growing in Russia, in the southern part close to the Black sea. She took lots of pictures and lots of notes as she was asking questions on growing figs in the cold climate. We spoke about FMV and ways to control it. 

Bass
Did you show her the greenhouse?

Hi Bass,
as always im curious, can you talk about what was said about fmv.
I just posted something about some of my figs fruit showing it as well was this mentioned.
Anything is appreciated.
Maybe one day you can get a russian type scion or plant that would be nice.

Hi Bass.  We have several unusual fruiting plants from Russia and Ukraine.  They are very serious about agriculture there, and they are exploring promising new plants.  A most wise course of action, both exploring new plants and expanding genetic diversity of current food plants.

Hope you are well my friend.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b

Show her this pic of a mature fig and how a older fig can harden to the cold:

That snow covered tree has a lovely shape to it.

noss

Wow. Do all Russian fig researchers look like that?

I wouldn't have expected her to be asking questions about growing figs in cold climates. But then again the Black sea has warm like the Mediterranean Sea, does this also mean that figs aren't or can't grow anywhere else in Russia.

Hi

She looks like the hotheaded head nurse on M.A.S.H. program from many years ago. Margaret I think name was.  I think that actress was of Polish Origine.

She spoke with broken English and she spoke with many Scientific terms, so some things I didn't absorb. However she explain to me how micro propagation of fmv affected figs is the solution into making a new plant that is not fmv affected. It is done by removing the tip of the fig, the tiny new growth and apply a certain type of rooting hormone in liquid, than put it into a gel growing media in plastic and place it in an incubator. Once you see roots in can be repotted. 

Frozen Joe: No.

Bass is just the luckiest man in the world.  ;-)

Best wishes to all.

John

Hi Losluna.  What zone are you in, and how much cold do you think the Zumwalt fig could take?

My mother has always dreamed of growing figs, but she lives in zone 5 (in the Chicago region but not any where near the lake).

She is getting older, so growing figs in ground would be much easier for her.  She has a good south facing cement block wall too, so that would help.

But I am looking for the most cold hardy varieties to plant for her.

Best wishes.

John

Thanks Bass,
i believe she might have been talking about the meristem a tiny piece within the shoot that has yet to be infected with the virus because of its slow movement and extracted and propagated in a strictly sterile enviorment - in a lab.
Its been done i have some pdf files when it caught my interest a while back.
There are a few other ways but there not as foolproof as mentioned above. 
Thanks and i know what you mean about scientific terms as many are in those pdf files and over my head.
It must have been nice to chat with someone from another country about figs doing research.

hI Loslunafarms,
now every one in Canada is wondering where to get a Zumwalt fig?

O.K. Akram, Here it is;

Bass,,,,,,,,,,,Playa Playa

The Zumwalt used to be sold on ebay a few years back. I used to know the guy that sold them. I have a couple of the trees. It is confirmed to give a large breba crop, but not sure on the main crop.

My main crop has always fallen off and thus some of us has postulated that it might be a sport of Desert King, but dont take my word on it.