Unk. Glenoaks Fig Tree in Burbank. What Is this a fig type?

Author

Comment

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1402346118	Reply with quote #1

I have been eye-ing this tree since January of 2013, but in 2014 January, I got my first cutting from it and it's now in ground and , surprisingly, took right away and growing nicely. I asked the lady who knew very little english and she managed to tell me that they moved to this house last year and have been eating the figs since last harvest season... They are from Egypt but they don't know the origin of the tree in their front yard. She personally didn't care much about this variety because a Good fig , in her mind, should be one from Egypt....OK! So, she described this fig as Dark purple with Red interior With white spots...It sounded interesting , so I asked for a cutting. She generously offered as much as I would need. To be continued... (have a test today!)

PhilaGardener

Registered:1389014416
Posts: 199

Posted 1402363233	Reply with quote #2

Wow - with that trunk that must be an old one! I'm glad the new owners appreciate their "new" tree! __________________ Philadelphia Gardener Near Philly, but winters still feeling like Zone 6!

musillid

Registered:1327758167
Posts: 1,507

Posted 1402364735	Reply with quote #3

I must say I really enjoy the photo of that trunk. "Venerable" comes to mind. __________________ Dale non compost mentis in Zone 6a

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1402364885	Reply with quote #4

It's not VDB. That is a huge tree. VDB is a dwarf variety. Would be nice if you posted leaves and figs....... oh well, It's too big to be VdB. Maybe Black Mission? __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1402378293	Reply with quote #5

Update Followup: It was last week, when I decided to stop by and check upon the tree and hopefully see some fruit setting on it. I actually needed to know if this tree is a Bifera or Unifera. So, I went and saw a guy (arabic speaking) was smoking outside under the tree. I approached to the fence and asked him if I could take some pictures of this majestic tree..well, all my perfectly selected english words meant nothing for a sec, He knew only Welcome and Come in... This was the husband of the lady who had just arrived to US few months ago...from Egypt. He was very inviting and typical of a model MiddleEaster mannerism, very polite towards a stranger. I managed to explain the nature of my visit and he said ...do what you want until I come back...or something of that nature. So, I started to take pictures and turn leaves and branches to examine the ripe fruit and others...Turns out that this tree was a Bifera, I was finding some very few left behind Brebas and lots of Green, main crop figs on the tree. Few minutes later this Mister comes out with a tray with freshly brewed Black tea, and Fig Preserves in tiny glass plate with a tiny silver fork...I spent pleasant few more minutes and thanked him for everything including the opportunity for taking the pictures. It really felt good to see people still getting excited for a visiting total stranger...who would've thought, in Burbank out of all places. Is anybody familiar with this fig or help ID? The Tree with foliage The Old Trunk full of life. The Main Crop, still green with Pink Osteole. Not ripe Fig. Ripe fig with the open interior. Not ripe fig against the Old trunk. Not ripe fig Not ripe fig with the open interior. Redish Pink with white dots (that's how the lady of the house had described me in Jan 2013) Ripe fig with the Ostiole Side view for the shape. Crack, LOL yumm...

armando93223

Registered:1318984112
Posts: 1,164

Posted 1402380883	Reply with quote #6

Thanks for Posting, It looks like a Black Mission. My daughter had 3 Brebas, she said were sweet....... Harvey had a few good ones...... My Black Missions are not doing well. I saw some good ones in the neighborhood and alleys...LOL They look to be ready in about 3 weeks. __________________ Armando in the Heart of California

greenfig

Registered:1359790036
Posts: 3,183

Posted 1402381169	Reply with quote #7

I think it is a Black Mission as well. Have quite a few trees around on the streets and the figs look very similar, the taste is very good. __________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1402381600	Reply with quote #8

it was very sweet... actually, now that I am comparing with Harvy's new posts on brebas...it has a shorter neck and purplish-red (not rust red) color inside. Here's my little one in ground, it's the baby of this mother tree from last January cutting that the lady gave me.

lampo

Registered:1329071797
Posts: 2,062

Posted 1402381986	Reply with quote #9

Aaron, This is a nice find. Looks a delicious black breba... tell us about taste please ! ? Black Spanish (California Brown Turkey, San Pedro): This cultivar yields medium-sized, purplish-brown fruit with a red center. Black Spanish has an eye open. Fruit ripen in June and in August. ? is it ? Francisco

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1402382450	Reply with quote #10

Hi Francisco, the taste was of a perfectly ripe (caramel) fig, I would rate it easily over 9 on scale of 10 sweetness. It tastes nothing like juicy fresh fig, it tasted like a raspberry sugar candy. although , not that it has anything to do with the taste or overall quality, the tree was showing very heavy FMV ;/ Size... I don't have big hands. I think Brown Turkey is much bigger fig.

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1402425346	Reply with quote #11

I found this site where they are mentioning both Black Mission and Violet de Bordeaux...Iwas comparing with Black Spanish also but I'm leaning towards Black Mission, what do you all think? http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/growing-figs-in-the-home-garden/index.html 1-Black Spanish, 2-Bebera Preta and 3-Black Mission...and 4-mine.

m5allen

Registered:1378496146
Posts: 153

Posted 1402427640	Reply with quote #12

I enjoy reading your SoCal fig adventures. Keep them coming! __________________ -Mike Tampa, FL Zone 9b. Growing: Black Madeira, CDDG, Malta Black, VDB, Petite Negra, LSU Purple, Celeste, Battaglia, Alma and Grasa's Unknown Seattle Purple

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1402679598	Reply with quote #13

Thanks guys :)

twovkay

Registered:1340623156
Posts: 264

Posted 1402687229	Reply with quote #14

Agreed with the folks , love the fig adventures! __________________ Von Northern VA 7a

RichinNJ

Registered:1374784282
Posts: 1,687

Posted 1402687807	Reply with quote #15

Thats a good story and the fig tree is very interesting.

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1402734634	Reply with quote #16

This is a must to have fig variety guys...really good fig to start the base covered.

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1402765025	Reply with quote #17

you don't need wasp for this one Shailesh, it's just that wasps improve the taste.

Previous Topic | Next Topic

Modal title

Insert Code

Please paste your code into the box below: