I wonder if the 'neglect' of proper pruning forced the tree into making smaller fruits.   when the tree puts so much energy in making foliage where not needed, it lacks for fruiting. Or over producing also can make smaller fruits, this happens to other fruits as well (apples, peaches)- should have some to compare after a proper pruning.  In my tall tree, I get larger fruits where I pruned better, the branches I ignored, also ignored me!   

I believe the smaller fruit described above may be due to the trees winding down production and colder air temperatures. Your observations on pruning would apply to all fruit and flowers. If fruit is thinned and unnecessary foliage pruned the resulting fruit would typically be larger and possibly tastier. It may also ripen earlier. Most commercial fruiting trees and vines (grapes) are pruned for fruit production. That is one reason why I will be pruning using the Japanese espalier methods.

I was gifted a mature fig tree that has been growing next to the Bryantdark mother tree (it is visible in the first picture in the opening post of this topic). I had to transplant the tree ASAP because the in ground fig trees in NYC are breaking bud (waking from dormancy). The figs ripen later than the Bryantdark but have a mild "fig" taste and are sweeter.

 I will be calling it NolaDark for reference.
The tree has been cut back to ground level for the past 20 years, but has always grown back. I will try to post pictures of mature figs later this season.


 It took 6 hours to dig out and the main trunk (root) had a caliper of about 4 inches at 18 inches below soil line. The main trunk (root) was cut with a saw. The pruned ends are currently rooting in Sphagnum moss.

Pete, this tree will reward you for your long sweaty effort.
that is a nice rescue!

Some people save dogs, some people save cats, some people save turtles and dolphins, some people save injured animals, then there are those of us that save figs.  Thanks Pete for saving that NY fig tree!

Grasa, ... Hopefully. The effort was spread out over two evenings and one extended lunch "hour".

Steve, ... Hopefully the tree will thank me with figs this year.

Update: 4/26/13... Breba figs are currently swelling and leaf buds are opening on the Bryantdark in ground fig tree in NYC. Highs are 60's and Lows are 50's.

Goodie goodie can't wait!!!!!!!!!

Zone8
South West TX

Pete, My Chicago Hardy finally broke bud and threw out brebas up in Dutchess today.

Pete:

We are very grateful that you have done so much hard work saving some of these heirloom treasures.  You have been quite generous with the air-layers, and especially your friendship.  I personally want to thank you for the "Bryant-Dark" air-layer.  I think it will give me figs this season.  I can't wait!

Continued good luck and much success with your fig collection.


Frank

Update... 6/6/2013

Frank, ... You're welcome and Thanks, collecting and sharing cuttings from these plants not only benefit me (with healthy plants and figs) but also the community as a whole by placing healthy productive cultivars into circulation. Posting pictures of the tree's seasonal growth is to document The fruiting characteristics which will be applicable anywhere the tree is grown. 

Pictures of the Bryant Dark mother tree taken 6/5/2013.
Pictures of the Krmklight mother tree taken 5/3/2013 and 6/5/2013 with breba and main crop embryos.


 

Update: 6/21/2013

Unknown-Bryantdark and Unknown-Krmklight mother trees.

Krmklight today...After.

Update 7/19/13

Pictures of ripe Bryantdark breba.
The Jammy looking breba has the same taste as main crop figs.
The fig that was half eaten by birds (I ate the other half) was ripe, soft but firm and had a sweet acidic flavor similar to the acidic flavor of Hardy Chicago, but stronger. I prefer the flavor of the ripe (sweet acidic) over the very ripe (light raspberry jam) breba, neither has a figgy flavor..
Note the eyes are tight even on the "over ripe" fig, there was no leakage.


The figs also stay on the tree and do not drop or shake loose. The picture (poor quality) above from last year, of the main crop figs drying on the tree.

Looks great.  I love how dark the center is.

Pete....

More great documentation, and photos. 

"Bryant Dark"...potentially a two crop tree?  Breba, and main-cropper, that's good, and the story gets better as the photo essay goes along.

If it rivals "Bensonhurst Purple" / "Hardy Chicago" how can you lose?  Delicious figs, plus no FMD/V and, it grows unprotected in The Bronx, NYC,  Zone-7.

Thanks for the up-dated information.


Frank

Wow Pete those breba look super tasty.

Bob C,
The picture was taken in natural sunlight, and I had to get a good angle for better illumination, its actually a bit darker than pictured. The picture below was taken in Florescent lighting and is also lot lighter (and more yellow) than actual.

Frank,
Thanks.
It doesn't come close to Hardy Chicago in flavor. It just had the acidic finish flavor of HC. HC has a figgy flavor and a complex taste, with that acidic finish (after taste). I prefer the flavor of Hardy Chicago over the Bryantdark. The Bryantdark mother tree ripens figs from now until frost. The pictured figs were what was missed, after the tree was harvested earlier in the day. It is currently ripening about a dozen per day.
In fact Hardy Chicago is and has been my benchmark for dark figs, until I taste something better.

JohnnieB,
It was!

Attached is a picture of someone eating their first fig... one of the Bryantdark breba. I think we have another one hooked.

Wow Pete , I love the color - that jammy look ! Can't wait for mine to come of age. Thanks for all the updates .

You guys really inspire me!

Pete...

For me, any fig will do....even, "Brown Turkey" is just fine by me, as long as they are ripe.  Hate the latex hit on the tongue, from picked-to-soon figs.

Photo/text documentation is first-rate, and actually, interesting to follow.  Can't wait for the batch of ripe fig photos coming shortly.

Frank

Hi Pete,

I'm new to the forum and have been trying to learn as much as I can about the different varieties of figs.  I noticed early in this thread you had mentioned the possibility of cuttings from the unknown trees.  If you have any available the the BryantDark and the KrmkLight trees, I'd be happy to pay for the cuttings and postage.  PM me if you have any or will have any.

Thanks,
Jules 

Hello Jules,
This is actually the wrong time of the year for cuttings. Please PM me later in the year, and I will notify you when they become available. Thanks.

Update 7/26/13
Attached are pictures of Krmklight Breba picked today. On an extended lunch break, I went visiting looking for a few ripe breba figs. I was given permission to pick these two. They are not fully ripe, but it was "either now or never", there were only a few breba left on the tree.
The figs were sweet and mildly creamy without a figgy flavor, If they were fully ripe they may have been as sweet as the main crop figs from last year.

Update 8/23/13
Attached pictures of main crop figs harvested today from the Bryantdark in ground mother tree. Approximately 7 gallons were picked from an 8 foot ladder in 30 minutes, and the top of the tree was out of reach. The flavor is the same as last year no fig taste, sweet with a mild raspberry flavor and some seed crunch. Figs have been ripening for the past 1-1/2 weeks.