Here's one of my Black Mission figs.  I really consider these the best fig for the Western USA in terms of taste, vigor, production and drying capabilities.  It's the fig that I compare all others to, just like when I taste a new citrus variety, "Is it as good as a Navel Orange?"  

Not the most perfectly ripe example in the photo but an average fig off my tree.

I don't know why Black Mission is so overlooked on this board but I would recommend them to anyone.

padsfan....

It seems that the rarer, more exotic varieties seem to be sought after by many growers.  I'll bet a properly ripened "Black Mission" will take the back seat to few figs.

I wish I could find a source ....(not from Willis Orchards).... for a larger size tree, that is FMV-free.

Loved the photos.  How large a tree do you have...in ground, or, containerized...how many years have you grown this variety...is it hardy where you are...what zone ? ? ? ? ?

Frank

You guys are right - haven't read much in the way of black mission . It sure does look fantastic . I'm going to have to keep my eyes out for it here on L.I. come spring.

Frank - what's the "not from Willis Orchard" mean?

Yeah, its funny to me that people get caught up in the "collecting" part of growing fruit but I must admit I am also a victim LOL.  Black Mission is the variety I would choose if I could only have one fig tree.  It is very common here in California tracing back to the Spanish friars (padres) centuries ago.  Let's just say they chose this variety for a reason!

I'm in San Diego so I have no idea about hardiness but I do know that they are grown in California's central valley commercially.  It gets a bit colder there in the winter...

One of the problems with Black Mission is that it's almost impossible to find one that is FMV free. However, they are very vigorous and most trees are not too affected by the virus.

Hopefully someone can chime in if they have a virus free strain!

padsfan, I am new to figs (4 months), but I agree with your sentiment on vigor and production. I purchased 3 1-gallon plants (1 foot tall) in May 2012 from Lowes and Up potted to 5 gallon buckets. The plants have grown to over 3 feet and had figs at every leaf node. Last week I removed more than 2-dozen figs from each plant. I left 6 figs on one plant to hopefully ripen (I have never tasted mission figs). Only one leaf on all three plants show any visible sign of the FMV disease (deformed veins with pale patch). All other discolorations were due to Leaf Rust which came with the plants.

I just picked a small bowl of ripe black Missions from my neighbor's tree yesterday. The second batch this year, and now the crop is done. But they sure are good. It's hard to imagine a better tasting fig, though I have not eaten many others thus far. There were two that had partially dried on the tree... Oh my!!!!

Although I now have some small missions growing, I was thinking I should ask them if I could set up and air layer or two on their tree. It's very healthy and vigorous, though I'm sure it must have FMV. Everything out here does.


In fact it was trying to find a nice Mission tree for our yard that got me into all this fig business to begin with.

Pattee...et al. :

I'm sorry to leave you hanging for an explanation. 

Most forum members already know about the Willis Orchards, and Ty-Ty Nursery reputation for sending the wrong varieties to customers.  Ty-Ty is the worst of the two.  I would love to buy a fruiting-size tree from Willis, but I may, or, may not,  get something else instead.  I don't have the time to waste waiting for figs, nor, do I relish the aggravation trying to get my money back if the tree dies, or is the wrong variety.  Besides...I have no idea if there trees are mosaic-free...nor, the origin of theie propagation wood.  If the wood comes from the West-Coast/Dave Wilson Wholesalers...it's probably contaminated.  I'd like to start with a clean tree.  In my climate zone the virus could be the kiss-of-death.

I did buy virus-free, "Black Mission" from  Florida Hill nursery, that specializes in tissue-culture propagation.  I bought 7 very small trees, and they're probably years away from fruiting.  I'll wait if I have to, or, maybe I'll get lucky and find a source for clean trees.

Ison's sells "instant orchard"-size trees, but again, I have no idea if their trees are clean.  Help!


Frank

BronxFigs, I have an issue with FMV also, but if the cultivar is vigorous, it may not be a major problem (at least in the northeast). Attached picture (taken 10 minutes ago) is the mission plant purchased in late May 2012. I left the lower figs on this plant in hopes of at least one ripening (I removed the smaller upper figs), but I am not optimistic. I also purchased a tissue culture Mission plant from Wells Springs, It is currently 3 feet tall and 1/2 inch diameter at soil line. I believe this is a good indication of vigor. As to cold hardiness, that remains to be seen.

The 4 foot level is there for scale.

Thanks Frank for that explanation. I understand wanting to keep your collection "clean". My collection has a couple (2)trees showing minor signs- of the trees I have just acquired. I have them segregated from the rest but don't know if that will matter.

Any way, come this spring I will be looking for a Mission myself and if I see any I'd be happy to let you know all the info and/or pick one up for you.

Pete, and Pattee:

From what I know...and that's not much...FMV will NOT spread in colder climes in the North-East.  All the trees in Brooklyn, The Bronx, and similar climates are all (usually) clean, vigorous, and virus-free.  However...if your trees are already infected, they will remain infected, and might fail when stressed by weather conditions, etc.  The cold weather kills off any mites that spread the disease...so, if your trees are clean, they will stay clean.  Different story on the West-Coast, and, down South.

Yes, please let me know if you find a clean source for trees.  I'm investigating; Ison's...and, Key Lime Pie Trees.  They both sell larger trees.   I wish Willis Orchards was reliable.

Pete...that FMV-free tree looks great.  I hope my 7 trees take off next season.  I plan on pleaching the 7 stems into a nice, fat, braid.

Thanks for the new info. and comments.


Frank

Frank you have a PM

Frank, I am not implying or stating that the tree is FMV free. Its probably infected. What I am saying is that vigorous growth may outpace any negative effects of the Virus.

Fig mites do not live in the northeast, as stated and dusting with Diatomaceous earth can deter sucking insects, reducing any possible infection of nearby plants. It also deters ants.

Padsfan, I agree that a good Black Mission is hard to beat.

Gina, Hello. I agree with your statement. Isolation procedures should be used at all times. I did not isolate a few of the potted plants that I purchased this year, and now I have Leaf Rust on most of my larger plants (the smaller plants are in a different location). I am not comparing leaf rust to FMV, just agreeing with your statement.

If one wants to know how real figs taste, one way is, to be in the right
hot/dry place where they flourish, right fresh ripe off the tree, yum yum jam!

Gina...

Yes, it is as you say.  An infected plant can infect a virus-free plant under the circumstances that you describe.  Thanks for the clarification, and for posting this information on the forum. It is important to be accurate for current, and, for the future readers who will/might browse through these threads, looking for insights.

By the way...if one were to guess, where in the USA is the most "ideal" climate for figs?  Probably somewhere in California?  Just, wondering-in-print.

Frank







Pattee...Thanks.

Just chopped up and burned my mission yesterday.

Figs were good to eat and even made fig bread with some and gave  total 4 cups of them to neighbor this season for fig bread which the church enjoyed all 6 loaves.
Wife made 3 loaves as well.

But as i downsize there are other figs types in my yard that were better.
Can't keep them all as its just too much work these days for moi.

Boo-Hoo! 

One man's garbage is another man's treasure!

...."Other fig types in my yard that were better"....  Martin, can you list these superior varieties, please...and, your critiques?  Did the "Blk-M" produce a good main-crop...and, did they ripen properly in your short-season?  Was the tree vigorous, and hardy?

Thanks
Frank

Frank to name a few madeira, ronde, vdb, hc, malta black.
Yes plant vigourous, big crop and ripened to perfection.
 If i can ripen a madeira to perfection i certainly can ripen a simpler mission the same way. 
I cheat mother nature .  ; )

Madeira was #1 in yard this season.

Martin....

Interesting.  Thanks for the opinions.  Information is always useful.  You are a master at cheating...well, you know what I mean.

Best regards,

Frank

Really? Interesting. Im sure that who can make a lot money if he finds how to cure FMV.

Howie....

Sorry to read that your figs from Florida Hill showed signs of FMV.  How long were you growing them?  Even clean, virus-free stock can be infected by sucking mites that live in your climate.  Forum members write that it's almost impossible for West-Coast trees not to show signs of some infection, even when clean stock is planted.

My trees from Florida Hill still look clean, but are showing signs of rust, which is common in this area at this time of year.  Rusts...I can deal with.

Wishing you luck, and happier growing results.

Frank