Posting Pictures of Several unknown fig Trees before leaf fall. Will add more detailed pictures as available. Have tagged figs with the current owners names until actual names are found. The RoseDark (small dark fig, red core) is currently being pruned. The RoseLight (white fig, amber core) has been severely pruned, It is the largest tree that I have found to date. They are owned by 87 year old Rosemary an Italian American, it was her fathers trees, He passed away at 95. This was her childhood home and she has lived and raised her family on the same block (three houses down). The LindaDark's owner has retired to Italy and currently no information about the tree. The TimLight (white fig, breba-pink stained flesh, light mottled pink core) is a tree that has been shared in the neighborhood. It ripens from July (Breba) to September. Will try to get pictures of figs.

Very nice, any pictures of the fruit? Thanks for sharing

Jennifer,

Thanks. I have a few lousy pictures, I will try for better pics later today. Hopefully there are figs left. I will also be meeting with Rosemary to get more info and ages of the trees.

These trees do not look old!  I wish I looked that good as I age!

All the trees in NYC look that good. They have also been cared for and regularly pruned. The 2nd tree, RoseLight is extremely large (for a NY tree). It has been severely pruned. It's main trunk diameter is over 8 inches. Pictures were taken 10/5/12.

Note attached pictures of Leaves and fruit of the above trees.

   
The RoseDark is still ripening fruit but the ones pictured are several days from being fully ripe.

 
The RoseLight ripened its last fruit the beginning of September.

  
The TimLight fig is the last fig on the tree and is several days from being fully ripe.

According to Rosemary C. the owner, the RoseDark tree is from a cutting started 70 years ago, acquired from a (Military) General Clarke in NYC. The RoseLight was brought here from Sicily in 1970.  The leaves are wet.

Thanks for all the hard work you have put into this effort All this work pays off in the long run. Keep posting and info on these trees.


Zone 8
South West TX

bigsmile542,
It actually is not any work at all. Its a pleasure talking with the older owners (gardeners) and hearing some of their stories. The pay off is that they usually give or invite me back for figs and cuttings. I will continue to update and post on new trees this season. I currently have contacts and access to 4 more trees that I have not yet posted.

Pete,

I was given a TimLight on a trade and it's growing very strong for me.  What is the flavor like?

Very nice story and pictures

Frank, ... The flavor and productivity is similar to Atreano (OR...original, from Bellaclaire) , in my opinion. Mild "fig" flavor with a sweet slightly rich taste, no after taste (complex flavor or finish).

JackHNVA, ... Thanks.

Thanks Pete.  What does OR stand for?

Update: 4/23/2013 Current state of the TimLight mother tree. It was severely pruned in November, 2012 by the new homeowner.

OMG Pete !! Quite a pruning !! I don't know if I'd have the nerve to do that. My cuttings are growing very , very strong also .

Pattee,
The new homeowner wanted to remove all the plants at the front of the house. He also removed a Wisteria vine that was 16-20 feet tall and covered the main entrance completely. I mentioned espaliering so he decided to leave the stubs and will be training the tree once it starts to grow.

Although I love the looks of wisteria, I have a lot of reservations planting them - they are soo very invasive (roots) and strong especially for a small area..

I'm glad you persuaded him to try the espaliering on the Tim light. 

A pair of Timlight fig trees in the Bronx... 2 blocks from the original posted tree. The visible growth is 5 years old. I spoke with the owner today and took these pictures. These are the parent stock of the TimLight tree... the roots are 15 years old. They have never been covered and are growing in the middle of a vegetable garden. The garden is on a south facing corner and gets sun all day long. Breba are swelling on every branch.

Pete , my Tim light's  have been very strong growing as well as the others. Been really busy here and a bit too chilly (mid to high 40's) at night to put any young plants out as yet, although my older trees are out already. Can't wait to get them all out of the house now !!
Are there 2 crops on the TimL ? I'm hoping they are sweet !! Our grandchildren seem to like the light interior figs better- I think it's just a visual thing with them , I prefer the dark ones . Oh who am I kidding I just like figs .
I'm anxious to grow enough different types to actually experience the differences in them.

RoseDark looks a bit like Hardy Chicago / Bensonhurst Purple to me.  Difficult to tell without closer pics of fully ripe fruit though.  Also, I'm growing one from a cutting you sent me (so when it gets to where it fruits, I'll compare "in person" rather than via photograph).  Does it taste at all like HC?  With the broad coverage you've provided on these trees Pete, I'm confident they'll be identified sooner or later if you keep up the visibility.  Thanks again.

Mike

Patti,... The Timlight produces a lot of breba. If you zoom in on the pictures posted yesterday the visible figs are all breba, which will ripen in late June/ early July. The main crop will ripen September /October. Its very prolific.

Mike,... The flavor is not as complex as Hardy Chicago's and the ripening times seem to be different (Rosedark is earlier). Hopefully someone will be able to conclusively identify them, if not, they will still produce healthy productive fig trees.

Update ... 5/14/2013
All the Timlight trees have breba figs that are growing and are currently about the size of a quarter. Attached pictures of two homes that have the identified Timlight fig trees. The original tree from which cuttings were taken has just started to produce buds.






 

Update...6/5/2013

Pictures taken today..

Rosedark fig tree with picture of breba and swelling main crop embryos.
Roselight fig tree with picture of breba and swelling main crop embryos.
Timlight mother fig tree with pictures of neighborhood tree with breba and swelling main crop figs.

Looking good. 

Update:  6/27/2013

Pictures taken today...
Unknown-Timlight mother tree and closeup of main crop figs.


Neighborhood Unknown-Timlight trees with breba at stagnant stage and swelling main crop figs.


 

Somehow I missed out on these but the Bryant Dark is producing main crop figs as we speak.  How do the Bryant darks compare to the Rose darks?