Here is UcDavis Zidi , there were 2 that were sent and both were under my boat early on for shade. One made it but was stubborn , with a little push it has started to put on growth.

I heard figs are dark and good on this type. I also hear from some that it needs wasp and from another grower it does not.

Either way i find out for myself and give it enough time to see if it actually ripens figs naturally here near Chicago.
If not i have some tricks for it and it will be a lot of fun for me to experiment with in the future.

I was going to get it last year but I kept getting too much differing opinions on it.

I knew there was something I forgot to do.  I was surprised to see this a couple of weeks ago.  I could not get myself to get rid of my Zidi last year even with the controversy about whether it needs the wasp or not it has huge leafs.  Can this fig already tell us the answer or do I need to wait for its development?

TMC, will you stop forgeting !   ; )
Glad you post picture .
Its to early unless that fig is actually swelling now - then it will ripen and not drop.
If by chance it does ripen it will be interesting to see once our plants put on good amount of figs if they actually hold them and ripen them or will they drop and ripen one here and there.

But its a start at least.

Your is a UcDavis specimen i hope to compare ?

Hi Martin, Yes it is from a UCD cutting I started last year.  I thought I had done my homework before ordering last year and was surprised to later see there was some controversy about this variety.  Hopefully the fig gods will look favorably on us humble fig growers and reward us.

I really enjoyed the flavor of this fig last year. It's large and tasty indeed. This variety comes form Tunisia, and per the Tunisian growers it does require pollination. Anyways we will find out, please share with us your findings.

See Zidi  Davis shows it as a Smyrna type. Behaves like one here in San Diego.

So, Smyrna types require pollination correct Jon?

Yet, you're getting fruit from this one, right Bass?  -Interesting.

I rec'd a couple of cuttings of this one from UCD this year. I'm not going to "count my chickens before my eggs are hatched" though. So, it may be awhile before I'm able to report on this one.

Hopefully, we all get a suprise & have some fruits from Zidi. 

Zidi absolutely requires a pollinator. I have a large one and it was full of figs a few weeks ago.  Then the figs started to just dry up and fall off.  So, I stopped watering the tree and just left if alone.  It is a very fast growing tree.  I just wish I had the fig wasp in my area.  cheers,

Thanks Bass , yes will report one year when i know for sure.

If anyone curious please read this thread in its entirety.
It mentions what was done at Belleclare.
 http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fig/msg0821074524882.html

So then started the wheels turning again for me.
Now this season
I have gibberellin hormone spray and with one of my ischia's been sparingly useing it a weak dose of 10ml. Next spray will be at 20ml.

I may use seasons down the road on my Pastilliere and Zidi in fashion that was used at Belleclare on the figs themselves.

 I would use as last resort "only" after finding out for sure they will not produce figs like a common type fig tree.
That will take a few more seasons.

For me its pure fun to experiment even though they usually dont work out.

Bill,
I had figs of the Zidi at ucdavis and I don't have the tree myself.
Few years ago I started a collection of mid eastern figs when they had figs they all figs on all 10 trees fell off, I figured they're all Smyrna type. Then the following year most of them ripened. With Zidi it had been confirmed that it is a Smyrna type from many sources.

I have one. Still runty and slow growing.

I had Zidi figs all drop off for two seasons. I do not have the patience to wait and hope that MAYBE it will retain a few figs when it gets older. I've seen enough. Mine now resides in fig heaven. There are too many other more dependable and great tasting figs out there to be bothered with this one.........

Best of luck to all who are trying to grow it.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Yes Dan i understand ( we are all different.)

I have some fine tasting figs as well and some promising ones perhaps to taste as they ripen this season and beyond.

In my case i  learned to have patience with certain fig plants such as Pastilliere , Ischia Black and Zidi.

Not everyone has the patience and wants to move on .
Nothing wrong with that.
I like to experiment with these plants.
Thats me.

Martin,
What have you noticed using the gibberellin spray? Anything yet?

Oh but I do indeed have the patience with some trees...but do not have the patience for many trees.....especially if they have FMV.  

I have been growing a fig called Fico Negra (Breva) in the ground for several years. This tree produces the most beautiful MANLY looking figs. It is a medium to large, black, proud, and regal looking fig.....with its thick neck/stem. However, each year after they attain that beautiful look......they all fall off. I will continue to grow this cultivar for more years in hope that MAYBE just MAYBE one day it will ripen its figs.

Best of luck to you in your experiments.....

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

JD, i have used it on 1 of my ischia's only so far .
Have not noticed any growth that i can attribute to the spray.

What i have noticed is the leaves on it have turned a darker green and that i can say the spray did that somehow as the change happened suddenly as i have increased the spraying intervals.

I just mixed a new spray bottle with double the strength which is now at
20 ml , it will not harm plant at this point.
Im just trying to push it a little more at a time.

Its pure fun for me it really is.

But i can see how some would not bother i truly can as there are lots of other plants to easily grow.

Why bother with the ugly or infected ones that refuse.
For me i suppose i just get bored with a fig plants as most grow easily for me.

Dan for me its different as mentioned we all are different. 
Some of the best types of figs are infected, even oversea's its prominent from what i have read.
If any of ours came from same source it will appear eventually.

I tried to request Zidi but on the site it says its under quarantine...how did it get out?

I think that's some mistake they've made, they've had it since 1982 and I received a cutting from them a year or two ago.  I just emailed Howard at Davis to ask about it.

Howard replied and said it is not under quarantine but didn't quite understand my message, I guess, so I explained again that it is listed under quarantine on GRIN which prevents people from ordering it.

Thanks for the response harvey. I hope they lift the quarantine. Zidi looks like such a nice fig.

Just to be clear, it is not under quarantine.  The mother trees at been at Wolfskill since 1992.

Do you have caprifgs in your area, Henry?  You'll need to have them to have wasps pollinate the Zidi.