Hello,
I've been searching, reading and using all the great info available on this site. Thanks!
I am new to Figs but not to gardening. Since joining this forum, I have purchased and acquired 20 named 5 unknown fig varieties (named varieties were recommended for the northeast).

Attached are pictures of two unknown trees and figs, any help in finding the actual varietal names is appreciated.

The dark fig has a closed (tight) eye, small seeds and is sweet with a light raspberry finish. The dark fig tree has never been winterized and was severely pruned (to 3 feet) 5 years ago. The tree started ripening figs from mid July and is currently still ripening figs. The tree is approximately 12 Feet tall and 15 feet in diameter. There are currently five (5) one gallon rooted air layers attached under the canopy, on 1-1/2 inch and larger diameter branches. These air layers will be planted at my home in Upstate NY. Due to her age, the owner can no longer pick the figs from this tree. I will be (severely) pruning this tree later this year to the Japanese or Step-over espalier form to allow her easier access to the figs.  I will be calling this fig "BryantDark" for easier referencing.

The white fig has a very small eye, almost no seeds and is sweet with a creamy (rich) finish. The tree started ripening figs in late August and there are only a few figs remaining on the tree. The white fig tree has not been winterized in the last ten years but the roots have been protected with mulch.  I will be calling this fig "KrmkLight" for easier referencing.

neither fig has a distinct "fig" taste (or complex after taste, like Hardy Chicago). Both figs are growing in The Bronx, NY (at different locations). These pictures were taken on 9/28/12. I have access to three other fig trees that may require ID. All seem to be FMD (FMV) symptom free.

Please help with ID.
Thanks

welcome Pete!! sorry I can't help with the ID, hopefully someone will be able to help. those figs look delicious!!

Welcome Pete, I am also new to the fig fever, Cannot help you here, But I am interested In the one of the Air layers or cutting later in the season if they are for sale, I am also in New york like you.
Mark

Hi Pete and welcome . Good looking figs , but sorry I don't know enough as yet about figs to even render a guess. I know someone will though.

CTFIGS, Thanks...They taste good, but I do not have a lot to reference.

Lebmark, Thanks...I have a 1 gallon plant (potted in June) that you can have for free (Dark fig). I am in the Bronx 3-4 days a week (Morris Park section). Hopefully I will be able to offer cuttings for free (from the unknowns), after leaf fall. I purchased plants from Petals from the Past, Almost Eden and Edible Landscaping. Most plants have fruited (most pinched) and at least tripled in size. Only complaint is that these plants came with Leaf Rust which has infected my Local rust free plants. Note the leaf pictures show no signs of rust. With all the rain, it is difficult keeping ahead of the rust (currently 74 potted plants).

Pattee, Thanks...The Dark figs are smaller and lighter in color than the figs that ripened in August or early September. The White figs are also smaller but sweeter.

Pete,
Too new to help but wanted to say hello and welcome.  Good luck with the ID of your figs.  Do you know the history of any of your figs?

Doug, Thanks... I do not know the history of these figs (figs are not part of my ethnic heritage), but I know the neighborhood. I grew up several blocks from the Dark Fig, which is currently owned by an old family friend. The neighborhood had many Italian/Americans 40 years ago. I can personally trace the tree back 35 years at this location. The white fig and the other three unknowns that I am currently growing were passed around by Italian/American neighbors in the Morris Park section of The Bronx. These figs trees are at least 30 years old.

Pete...

Nice story to go with the nicer figs.  Thanks for the posting.  Always interested to read stories about figs that come from my surrounding nabes.  Da-Bronx is loaded with some good unknowns...clean too.  No FMV here!  However, there are some real "dogs" growing around here also.  I've eaten plenty of dry, latexy, corks from neighbor's trees. Yech!

Happy harvesting of your sweet crops.

Frank
Bronx, Throggs Neck

Welcome to the forum

The first one looks like one of the varieties that goes by the name Sicilian Red (or sometimes Red Sicilian).  However, there seem to be at least two different cultivars that get called Sicilian Red, so I won't be surprised if you find other members with more expertise telling you it's not Red Sicilian.  (Maybe the "other" version of Red Sicilian is considered the true one by that name).  Here's a link to another ID with pics:  http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Red-Sicilian-fig-5532817 
(the color of the interior could be from different levels of ripeness, but in most characteristics it looks close).  

From the leaf, it seems like one of the Mount Etna types.

Welcome to the forum.  Happy figging.

Mike   central NY state, zone 5

Sixth row, down two. Looks a lot like your white fig (leaf) known as Marsielles. Don't know the other still comparing.

I enjoy seeing members discover new varieties

Frank, Thanks...I have found other large trees, but the figs are usually tasteless or have large eyes and were rotting. I have taken cuttings from the five best trees that I had found (there are hundreds more).

Jennifer, Thanks for the welcome. I'm happy to be here. I have White Marseilles (from Petals from the Past) and they are different.

Mike, Thanks... The dark fig does look like the linked pictures of Red Sicilian. I guessed that the fig may be a Dark Sicilian and a Mount Etna Type. The major difference that I can see in the pictures is the fig eyes. At no time in the ripening process did the fig eyes on the dark fig open. The eyes stayed fairly closed and did not split, even with the heavy rains we had this year. At several points the tree was standing in 3-4 inches of water runoff (for several days). The dark figs are usually darker (burgundy), but the Red Sicilian looks very close, especially with the thin skins. Thanks again.

Another note: If the figs are left out at room temperature for 1 to 2 day after picking the berry flavor increases (I accidentally left a few figs in the car).


  

Jennifer,  
Pete's white fig is not Marseilles, in my opinion.  The eye is different, the shape of the fig is different, the flesh is different (in color, in texture, in size of filaments), Pete's fig is hollow in the center and Marseilles is not, and the leaf texture seems different too.  I don't know what it is, but I believe it is not Marseilles.

Mike   central NY state, zone 5

IDing Etnas seems really tricky. The fruit looks just like Sals but might be something else. Sals has a real sugary pop that I like.

Hoosierbanana, Thanks for commenting. I don't believe it is a Sal's (EL) because of the Forum description of the taste and pictures. I had a few ripe Hardy Chicago figs and they have a complex taste and a memorable finish (after taste). I have another dark unknown that has that complex type taste and I believe it may be similar to Sal's (EL), the leaves also match the posted Sal's (EL), five lobed shallow sinus. I aborted the Sal's (EL) fruit and opted for vegetative growth. I will be able to compare next year.

I really like Mt. Etnas, I have a bunch too but so far only tasted figs from Sal's, Gino's, Marseilles Black VS, and a couple of local unknowns.

Mike, I agree that there are differences due to culture in figs. I have observed several. An obvious one is in leaves, the mother dark fig tree has wide lobes, and all my rooted clones have narrow lobes, resembling those of Hardy Chicago. One large Cutting (over 1 inch in diameter and 4 feet tall), which is planted in a 5 gallon container produced fig embryos that were dark red not pale green.

I should have used "Tight" instead of "Closed" for the description of the fig eye. It is very tight until ripening at which point it remains fairly tight. As per other fig eye discussions on this forum, I am aware that ripe fig eyes are never closed, and that as they ripen they open. In my limited observations, I have found several figs that open just enough to allow fruit flies and small ants to enter. These openings are small, not as large as Brown Turkey's, but there is still a small pathway to the interior of the fig. The dark fig's eyes did enlarge but did not open, at no time did I find small fruit flies or small ants inside of intact figs. The only way that these figs soured or rotted was when holes were made on the sides by Wasps and Birds.

One of my goals for growing figs is to establish a similar in ground orchard. I am in the Rondout Valley and it has been revised to zone 6. Best of Luck to you also. I can send cuttings for your trials, when they are available and I would be interested to hear your observations.

Pete,
I agree with the other post and it is a great story. I would imagine that the families would only take the time to preserve and plant the figs that were the very best in flavor.  Beautiful looking plants. Would love to trade in the future when I have something to offer.  It looks like you are well on your way to pinning down an identification. 

dmartin, The dark fig tree is a very healthy and productive plant. To my knowledge It has not been fertilized or watered (other than rain) in the past 20 years. PM me and I will notify you when cuttings for the dark fig are available.

Pete,
PM sent.  Thank you.

It's nice "meeting" you Pete.  Rondout Valley has some beautiful country... how far are you from Minnewaska?  Once we get into leaf-dropping time and I do my fall pruning, I'll let you know what cuttings might be available to trade some with you.
  
As for culture differences... yeah... lots of impact.  I'm becoming convinced that splitting (or not) is one of the characteristics that is heavily affected by culture.  And ability to hold the fruit until ripening versus dropping them, seems heavily influenced by culture too.  In one of the varieties I have, I've got two trees that are clones from the same branch of the same mother, living in identical pots right next to each other through the summer.  But they're in different soil... one in promix with a few things added, and the other in native soil.  (I ran out of promix when I potted them).  Both trees are thriving, and both made figs this year, but one of them held the figs to ripen and the other dropped them all.  The dynamics, mechanics, and chemistry that's involved in how the roots regulate water management and nutrient uptake... it's just a huge impact for these potted trees.  I wouldn't be surprised if that sort of thing explains why some people say that Celeste splits and drops fruit, yet other people report no problem at all with that.  It could be genetic differences in their strains of Celeste, but from what I've seen it could just as easily be culture variations, maybe even more likely.  Variations in culture just seem huge.

Talk with you later.

Mike   central NY state, zone 5

Mike,
Thank you, the feeling is mutual. I am closer to the west end of the valley, on the south facing slope, about 10 miles from Minnewaska. I look forward to your list. Thanks again.

Hello from NY as well Pete!

Westchester county, though!

It would be nice to trade some cuttings in a couple months, will get back on that, I am very much interested in obtaining some trees that are already "weathered" up here in the region.

Take care, and good luck with the ID attempt!