You wait for 2-9 years to see if it fruits.  If it does, you taste and photograph the fruit.  You document everything.  A seedling is not true to it's parentage, so it's an original.  How do you register it, name it, and what is the procedure?

I only ask because I wonder.  I happen to have a nicely growing seedling from Black Mission Figs that I purchased at the grocery store.  I'm in it for the pure joy of birthing a baby.  Kid gloves. 

Chances are, no fruit ever, but just in case......... what is the procedure?

Suzi

Skip the first 3, the rest of the page gives you links to patent and other means

Knowing you you'll get a noire de col de Bordeaux beauty and it'll fetch $1,000 per cutting on ebay.

i have been thinking about this lastfew weeks. it would be neat to come out with new fig or two and name it anyway you want. i think jon did this few times. but how do you go about getting the seed that is fertile? even if you do, there is good chance it will not bear fig, or fig of less quality. but still will be interested. if the fig tastes really bad, it can be name "BT Jr."

50% chance it is a caprifig. Probably 20% chance it doesn't fruit. 5-10% chance you get something edible, and maybe good. Some fruit the second year, don't some fruit for several years. Some are "mature" in their first fruiting year, and some take several years to mature into what they will really be like. Some grow very vigorously, and some are really pokey. If you're in it for the fun, go for it. You can always graft onto it.

I am keeping about 100 seedlings this year from one tree, just to see how different they are. Already they have quite a wide range of leaf types.

Also brought home seeds from USDA/UC Davis this summer of 4-5 different varieties to "play" with. Seeds from DFIC 0023 Hybrid are already sprouting. So - they either did not need caprification (self-fertile) or regular caprifigs were a useable source of pollen for them

Thanks Jon!  I knew you'd come through!  This is a fun little adventure!  Would you allow a seedling to go dormant, or would you keep it inside as a houseplant through the winter (if you call it that in So. CA) months?

Suzi