Is a sal's fig corleone really quite rare?  It seems to go pretty high on ebay.  Are scions of this one hard to come by?

Definition of RARE
Rare is a word used to denote low numbers of abundance, uncommon, scarce

So in my OWN view if i break it down from reading both fig forums and gaining some knowledge (wish i could retain it) of members these are my thoughts of
Sals Corleone from above definition of Rare

low numbers of abundance - Yes
uncommon                      - i would say Yes
scarce                            at this point in time - Yes

Also the only source " Belleclare Nursery" that sold this particular plant # 31 Sals Corleone closed for good.

I guess then it is not rare for those who have it.

I have two Sal's C that I received as cuttings last winter!

The bigger plant has 5 unripe figs on it, will they ripen, who knows?

That's the limiting factor for folks in the north - will it ripen.  Folks in the south have different problems when evaluating figs, but more figs to choose from that will ripen there.  
This year I've had three main crop figs so far from Round Hill, a fig from Pennsylvania.  (It may be out there under more than one name from different sources.)  But my Celestes, which were probably all eaten in July down south, are still not even showing signs of ripening here. 
So when us short season folks get wind of a fig that ripens here (and is edible) we kind of go nuts to get one.  In my mind an OK fig is better than no fig. 

Hi Fignut,

You kinda sound like my little wife, she never met a ripe fig she didn't like!(although, she likes some better than others)

Anyone know if the "sal's" from UCD is the true sal's? I just put in a UCD order today and decided to add that one when I saw it on the list.

dan, it may be the top fig in your collection at your location. but i wonder if you lived a few hundred miles away if it would be the same? i'm convinced that part of this idea that there are about a zillion cultivars of figs has to do with the same genetic material performing differently under different conditions - ph, temp, etc. how could something basically propogated from cuttings have so many cultivars, and keep generating new ones in back yards?

the story is always the same "found in someone's yard". this as opposed to being the product of a professionally run breeding program, where new cultivars are produced via crossing/exchanging genetic material between plants. this wouldn't be a mom and pop enterprise.

i, for one, will be happy when genetic mapping is more complete, and the results are made available to all.

JSV

See: http://figs4fun.com/Info/USDA_Accession_Sals.pdf

Fully agree with fignut  -- almost all variants that can produce a decent breba crop & good sweetness is treasured in my zone. Based on this rationale, I have  a few other fig variants just to enjoy the flavour as bonus as well as hope for Indian summer.

maybe some sour-grape-taste... or maybe the m word...

So let me see if I got this right?

My Sal's Corleone figs are gonna taste like sour grapes Right?

So now that I know what to look forward to as far as taste, that "m" part has really throwed me a curve, could you explain the meaning of the "m" word Gorgi.
As you know, sometimes I'm sloooow.

Cecil,

As far I can back-source-trace, your S(C), it originated from
my VERY first (amongst some more) freebee offsprings
off my genuine source S(C) ... Enjoy!
(just privately, ask your direct source) 

Regarding the 'm' word, IT did cause some trouble to me
before; though I do not care any more, I prefer not
to re-start any more wars....

However, I still stand by my original somewhat-of-the
-demand-explanation.

Thanks Gorgi
Gotcha.

i still don't see why sal's fig seems to be the holy grail of figs. i've talked to several people who claim they'll be offering rooted cuttings in the 20 dollar range next spring. i do intend to get a sal's fig, but i'm not spending 80 dollars for a barely rooted cutting. to my way of thinking, i'm better off getting 3 established trees for that price. i just bought an atreano, a stella and a laterulla for 75 dollars delivered.

i shall have to wait. i've got 35 or so figs now, in another year, i'll have 50 cultivars :). i'll get both sal's and a hardy chicago among them. if james robin comes up with anymore of his fig (he himself calls it a sal's fig), then by golly i've have one of those too. luckily i have 6 acres to spread these things out on.

i've got about 1 acre devoted to my gardening. some of my land is too shady, and i love my forest, though i am planting chipaquins there, along with some paw paw, since they are understory trees .... however, i've got my eye on my neighbor's property, he's got two pieces, and he's struggling with money. if i can buy the piece next door, then i'll really have something :).

Wow, the Sal's fig (cutting) ended up at 103.50 + shipping.  Hehehe, wonder if that is a record for a rooted cutting?

Congrats to the person who won the Sal's and I hope you get many figs please post Pics next season and update on progress

i was born to be a farmer, but it's just not profitable unless you have a mega farm. still, having 12 acres (assuming i can buy the additional 6 from the guy next to me) and playing around is more fun than a guy should be allowed to have.

i've got over 60 fruit trees now, 30 blueberries, 52 grapes, lots of blackberries, 7 kinds of bananas. not to mention a green/shadehouse and an outdoor hydro unit soon. not to mention that i'm building a film studio under my oak trees. i'm having more fun now than at any time in my life. i'm not retired but i am certainly not working my butt off like i have the last few years.

congrats to whoever bought the sal's fig :). i'm hoping that's me in the spring!

dan i hope you get some more property. do you have drip irrigation? i can't imagine life without it.

I oiled the 5 Corleone figs on my S.C. that I rooted this yr. last Monday 9/7

two are getting bigger and changing color from green to yellow,
so maybe I will be able to post pictures of the guys soon.

I really don't think they will be near as good as they would be if ripened naturally, the other figs I have oiled didn't have the good taste that they should have had.
Stay tuned

I guess the Sal's C is not from Mt Etna, which is what I thought I read. Corleone Sicily is no where near Mt Etna. Maybe it was the ELS Sal's or Sal's(Gene Strain). I have a black unknown which I got from my uncle Sal, maybe I'll name it a Sal G which is his initials and mine Or a Hawthorne Sal which is the town where he lives. Any suggestions?

Wow, $103. Congrats to the seller. I would be airlayering every branch if I had one of those trees. I don't understand paying that much for that fig, but I definitely know what it's like to get the "gotta have it" bug. Good luck to whoever won it. I hope it does great for you.

Most know me and im not being harsh here what so ever. (italain kisses)
Concerning Sals Corleone , i would have paid that ebay price for it and more if need be why some might say?
Because for me its where it came from, not because of hardiness, fruit taste, or so called collectors item, but because for me it has special meaning .
I have fig trees that bear good, taste good and so forth in my climate so to me the Sals Corleone weather it bears good, taste good does not matter and neither does the price , long as i could afford it. For me you see when i look at it the special meaning it has to me thinking the region it came from is special maybe not to anyone else but to me. I have one a genuine one and if 1 must know i was not that buyer. It will grow in my area near chicago and it will fruit and if the fruit taste good that a bonus for like i said it does not matter, for those who have something personal to them will understand this for others perhaps not.
103.00 for a record no its not a record for a small plant for i have paid 145.00 total for another type of fig plant because i liked the unusual leaves and it was 6 to 8 inches tall only and dormant at the time of purchase, no special meaning to me but a beautiful plant perhaps only for my eyes to look at as others might disagree. Im not rich nor poor thankfully but retired and want to enjoy some things that are simple such as fig plant and in that for me comes memories, challenges, tasteing a variety, and enjoying the beauty of them each day.
Life is short enjoy it.

EDIT:
Hi Sal
hardy chicago is the 1 from Mt.Etna  Sicily

Best Health