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texascockatoos

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Today I finally got the nerve to ask one of our clients about his history.   He has a very strong accent and his name suggested Greek.   While we were waiting for papers to be printed I finally asked him if he liked figs.  A huge smile came across his face.  I got a short story about his family in Greece and how they grow figs and olives and how they have grown both for generations.  He offered to bring me some cuttings, which I was so excited. 

What questions do I need to ask when he brings the cuttings?
Cathy


1.  what are the names of their fig trees.
2.  where in Greece are the parent trees located.
3.  I'll ask if possible to get pictures of the parent trees.

Do they have fig wasp in Greece?
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Cathy
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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
If he is really into figs and grows them by just asking basic questions like do you prefer dark skin type or light skin types, if you grow them how do you grow them and he will fill you with information probably non stop.
Then if your curious about anything he says  it may come natural to you on what to ask him in his conversation. Like things you are unsure of in growing them or simply do not know .
How long to get figs
How to know when fig is ripe
When to water
How he grows inground in containers
What type of soil
When and how much to fertilize.


Its a start hope others chime in.
Italiangirl74

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 

Ask him where they are from, which locality?Did he bring from old country and very importantly, Do they have a name!  Good luck and good for you, this really can bring people together when talking of figs! Wish you best of luck! Ciao
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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Cathy,

How about "got any more for Ruben?" ;-)
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texascockatoos

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
He hold me they have black ones, green ones and brown ones.  He mentioned how they start new trees and give to family members from small cuttings and how easy they are to get started.  He did tell me where he is from but I could not understand what he said (the accent), then the phone rang and our conversation was over.

Ciao,  what do you mean "bring from old country"?  He did call them by a name but it was in a different language or sounded like it to me.  I'll ask him to write down where the parent tree is from (locality), what the family calls them.    I did learn a lot from our short conversation but I know the names and places will not stick with me long enough to remember them before I can write them down.

Ruben, I hope I have enough to share with a lot of folks here. 

Anything else?
Cathy
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Cathy
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Posted Reply with quote  #6 

"bring from the old country" = "bring from back home in europe"
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Jason
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texascockatoos

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Sorry I don't know the lingo but I'm learning.

Yes, he personally brought them.
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Cathy
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Posted Reply with quote  #8 

I normally only hear my Italian friends use the term "old country", I'm just assuming it applies to Europe in general, or maybe just southern Europe. 
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Jason
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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Hello...im born in Greece...i speak the greek language if you need help i be happy to help you with the language....Saturday i'm leaving for Tucson Arizona for one month...i'am a dressmaker and my friend needs help for making ballroom dance dresses...she ask me if i can go...i hope i get a laptop with me that way i will be able to look at my e-mail and the forum here.... also when im there i look for some fig trees...
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texascockatoos

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
hi fotula,

I may just take you up on that offer.  Thanks so much for offering to help. 
He speaks english well, just with an accent but when he started talking about his home land, I was a deer in the headlights.
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Cathy
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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Ash the gentleman to write down the names and where they are from. Then accent won't be an issue.
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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Yes Satellitehead is correct, we use this term always, means the mother country or the country we/they originated.

Also, please to tell your friend, when he brings the cuttings to you, maybe he could separate them into bunches and marked which variety, sometimes you will get a huge bag and its all mixed up. Maybe if he give you 4or 5 or whatever cuttings from each individual, he can have them separated ahead of time for the sake of variety! It could cause identification problems when you are trying to root them. Tula would be wonderful to help you with Greek names, that would be much help.

Ciao Tula,,,, I got message will call you, yes, still have number! We need good chat!
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Maggie Maria zone 7
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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
You asked if they have a fig wasp in greece, Yes they do. While visiting Greek fig growers in my town, one of them had a large fig tree that he said in greece it makes very large figs, but it keeps dropping figs in our area. I told them about pollination and they said that "oh this is why my dad used to hang figs with insects on the trees". 
So I would ask if he's been getting figs planted it here.
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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Hey Cathy
 Ask if he grows them  here with success. if so they  probably do not need a wasp to pollinate.  I think when you ask  them about wasps they get confussed.  I am also Greek so if you need help with translating let me know
 Paul
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