Register  |   | 
 
Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Any info at all on Filacciano Bianco
 
 


Reply
  Author   Comment  
mgginva

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,857
Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Not long ago I posted a picture of my first ripe fig from a Filacciano Bianco I got from Gene Hosey's yard. 96 folks read the post but no one responded.

I can not find any info on this variety other then a tid bit on the figs4fun.com/Links/FigLink066.pdf, a small post on Gardenweb from Gene in '08 and the info Gene has on the East Coast Figs info page.

As Gene claims "the wood is more resistant to frost damage than others" I expected there to be more interest in this variety. There are, after all so many members looking for winter hardy varieties.

I have so far tasted 2 figs from this tree and I think they were good enough to warrant more attention to this fig - in my collection anyway. I rated the first 8.5 out of 10 and the second was about the same. 
Does anyone out there have this one?
Does anyone out there know anything about this variety.

Any additional info would be appreciated.
thx
mgg
__________________
Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list:   Perretta, 
rcantor

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 5,727
Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Looks like you're the only current source of info.  But the rest of us are interested.  We just don't have anything intelligent to say.  I don't even have anything funny to say unless it would be about the Fibonacci sequence but searching for that pun would quickly spiral out of control.  Sorry.
__________________
Zone 6, MO

Wish list:
Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.
ascpete

Registered:
Posts: 1,942
Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Hello Michael,
I will have to agree with Bob C. on this one : ) It sounds interesting.
I had not seen any info on this fig. I've been looking for cold hardy productive varieties, but had been concentrating of readily available cultivars.
I just now read the info that you posted on 7/5. You refer to the fig as a San Pedro type, which would mean only one crop, is that correct? Also how productive and healthy is this cultivar?
Thanks.
mgginva

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,857
Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Thx Bob. I did track down 2 members who had it in the past and am hoping for info from them.
__________________
Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list:   Perretta, 
mgginva

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,857
Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Pete,
I am relying on the info from Gene Hosey. My tree had 3 figs develop months ago that recently ripened - one was swiped by an evil presence and although I picked the remaining two figs a tad early - both figs were very good.

Gene does list as a San Pedro. The tree has a number of newer smaller figs coming on and it will be interesting to see how that develops.

As far as health goes -- it certainly has grown since I got it a year ago. When I got it it was darn close to death as the couple that bought Gene's townhouse in Wash, DC had not taken care of the figs he left behind and they were quite rough. I bought half of the fig trees in the spring and went back later and bought the other half as it turned out there were some interesting varieties there. 
I would say that this tree has responded as well or possibly even slightly better then the other trees from this collection and has grown substantially and as it is producing figs I'd say it's doing well.
__________________
Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list:   Perretta, 
rafed

Registered:
Posts: 5,308
Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Michael,

I have the Filacciano but I don't know which one.
It can either be the Bianco or Nero. Until it fruits  just have to wait.

Hopefully mine will be the Nero to we can exchange.
Rewton

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,946
Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Mike, I have this one from Gene also.  It was rooted in February and is definitely a good grower but of course you have more info than I do as yours is farther along.  Maybe I'll get a few figs next year.  I have heard from Gene that F. Bianca is very cold hardy in southern MD (bears breba crop without protection) and gives a very large crop of brebas.  I've also heard from a couple fig growers around Bethesda (who got it from Gene some time ago) that this is an excellent variety.

I am hoping that since it bears in July it might be good for the part of my yard that only gets 5-6 hours of direct sun.  My understanding is that, generally speaking, late bearing common figs need pretty much full sun.  I suppose our friends in the pacific northwest who grow Desert King can weigh in on whether San Pedro figs do ok in partial shade.
__________________
Steve MD zone 7a
mgginva

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,857
Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Rewton,
Excellent. I was hoping there were others that have some experience with this one - especially if planted in ground. Any way to get those folks involved in this thread?
__________________
Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list:   Perretta, 
Tam

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,084
Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Hi! Machael,

Al in Bethesda, Maryland has 2 large ‎Filacciano fig trees from Gene Hosey. In late April 2013 I came to his house and saw his 2 trees growing in big containers and there were many figs on his 2 trees. He told me that he likes Filacciano more than Desert King because Filacciano is more productive and reliable than Desert King in Bethesda, Maryland. Moreover, the most interesting about Filacciano is that about 15% of its main crops remain until ripe. The breba crops were taste like Desert King; however, its main crops were more tastier. In early May 2013, he planted his 2 trees in the ground. A block away from Al's house, there is another Italian fig collector whose name is Tina. Tina has collected many fig trees. Tina also has Filacciano fig tree in the ground. She bought her Filacciano tree from Al. That tree was planted in the ground early spring of 2013. I saw many brebas on her tree also. Last week I bought a big airlayer from the top of Tina's Filacciano tree for $30 dollars. Tina is a very nice fig lady.

Best,
Tam 
___________________________
Silver Spring, Maryland Zone 7a
mgginva

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,857
Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Tam,
Thank you for the info. My FB has main crop figs on it so perhaps I'll get to try those as well as the brebas this year. Congrats on your purchase. This fig seems to deserve wider acceptance but so few people have ever even heard of it. I hope it turns out to be as winter hardy as Gene Hosey thought. 
__________________
Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list:   Perretta, 
rcantor

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 5,727
Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ascpete
Hello Michael,
I will have to agree with Bob C. on this one : )


Well don't hurt yourself    :)
__________________
Zone 6, MO

Wish list:
Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.
Rewton

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,946
Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Tam, I was hoping you would chime in.  Funny that so far all of us that have this fig are in the DC/MD/northern VA area. It sounds like it will do well in a lot of areas though.

Steve
__________________
Steve MD zone 7a
mgginva

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,857
Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Steve,
I did send one up to NJ. Hopefully if this variety turns out to be as cold hardy as we all hope it'll spread around and start replacing all these BT's we have planted everywhere. All that's in the nurseries is BT, Celeste, some Hardy Chicago and a few Peter's Honey but still they sell out every year.
__________________
Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list:   Perretta, 
Rewton

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,946
Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Michael, agree, and am looking forward to tasting this variety.  It would be great to have a variety that bears a good crop in early July so as to spread the fig production season out from mid-summer until the cold weather sets in.  Since Desert King isn't so well suited for our area (if unprotected) hopefully F. Bianco will be the answer.
__________________
Steve MD zone 7a
mgginva

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,857
Posted Reply with quote  #15 
I agree Steve. Maybe we found a tree for the MD/DC/VA area that will lengthen our season. I liked the brebas so if I can get one or two of my main crop to ripen I'll be able to judge those as well. I hope Florea will do this as well but mine sure didn't produce figs early this year. Maybe Nordland, Tacoma Violet, Early Violet, Ventura or Binello, etc. will help as well. It would be a great move forward if we could find a decent variety of good cold hardy figs to spread around.
__________________
Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list:   Perretta, 
paully22

Registered:
Posts: 2,719
Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Michael, my Filacciano currently looks like DK as it push itself into ripeness. What was the interior color
of your FB ? Likely I get to pick my Filanciano by tomorrow or Tuesday.
mgginva

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,857
Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Pauly,
Here's a photo I posted 3 weeks ago. 

Attached Images
jpeg DSC_0179.jpg (49.76 KB, 57 views)


__________________
Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list:   Perretta, 

rafed

Registered:
Posts: 5,308
Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Paul,

Are you saying my Filacciano could be just another DK?

You know who I got it from so we may have the same ones.
Rewton

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,946
Posted Reply with quote  #19 
Rafed, my understanding is that the brebas on F. Bianco are more cold hardy than DK.  Whereas DK brebas would likely not make it here in the DC area unprotected the F. Bianco brebas do make it here.  At least that is the info that I am getting.  I'll have first hand experience in a couple years.  As far as the taste of F. Bianco vs. DK Michael and Paully will have to tell us about that.

Has anyone noticed that F. Bianco has a very upright growth habit (as opposed to bushy)?  My very young tree seems to have a long distance between nodes and hasn't put out any branches yet.
__________________
Steve MD zone 7a
mgginva

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,857
Posted Reply with quote  #20 
R,
Your trees sounds just like mine. A tall straight stick.
__________________
Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list:   Perretta, 
MichaelTucson

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,216
Posted Reply with quote  #21 
Hi Michael,
I've got a couple of small trees of Filacciano Bianco that I rooted from cuttings.  The cuttings came from a tree in Siracusa, Sicily (Italy).  I understand this variety is present in Calabria also.  My trees are too young to have fruited, but one of them is growing vigorously this year.  If I get figs from them next year I can compare notes with yours.  I'm glad to hear it's a variety you like the taste of.  One of mine is making branches (not just a single stick)... the other is small and single.  (There's a third that is so small I'm trying to nurse it along).  Glad to hear it's a good fig.

Mike   central NY state, zone 5a
 
__________________
Pauca sed matura.
mgginva

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,857
Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Hey Mike,
Your PM was full last time I tried to answer the PM you sent me. I figured you were busy. I'm glad to hear you have this variety. It does appear there are more of these around then we all thought at first. thx 4 info on locations. It's always nice to know where stuff comes from.
__________________
Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list:   Perretta, 
paully22

Registered:
Posts: 2,719
Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Its confirmed that my Filanciano is not DK. I was tempted to pick the fig to sample before the dog
gets it. It look similar to Michael's pic. I have 3 more brebas to pick. In the process of ripening,
the skin color looks like DK. As it gets more ready for picking it starts to turn yellowy blush. Very good
taste & a keeper. I think it would taste better if I have left it on tree for one more day. I will take picture
of the ripening ones to post or get someone to post them
greg88

Registered:
Posts: 800
Posted Reply with quote  #24 
Always looking for a good cold hardy variety
__________________
Greg North West Arkanasas Zone 6b
Wish list: any SPECTACULAR cold hardy figs, and/or perhaps a Niagra Bl., Laradek EBT, Kathleen's Bl, Hunt, a great UNK or anything anyone wants me to have???
Rewton

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,946
Posted Reply with quote  #25 
Paully, that's good to hear :)
__________________
Steve MD zone 7a
Tam

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,084
Posted Reply with quote  #26 
I just found the pictures of Filacciano which I took in the middle of July 2013. Filacciano had a lot of sweet juice. 
SoniSoni

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 777
Posted Reply with quote  #27 
 I sure hope you all have good luck with them can get them into the mainstream .  
Quickly please I'm getting old. 
 
__________________
Soni   GA. 7-8.  
 seeking Galicia Negra, Bianchi Guido, Violette de Sollies, Emerald Strawberry
Rewton

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,946
Posted Reply with quote  #28 
Tam, thanks for posting the photos.  They look great.  Do they taste like honey or jam etc.?
__________________
Steve MD zone 7a
mgginva

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,857
Posted Reply with quote  #29 
Tam, thx.
mgg
__________________
Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list:   Perretta, 
Tam

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,084
Posted Reply with quote  #30 
Steve: They do not taste like jam, but I remembered the ones that I ate had a little jelly taste.

Best,
Tam
paully22

Registered:
Posts: 2,719
Posted Reply with quote  #31 
Pasty like and good taste. I have pic's in my wife's camera and she is travelling overseas.
Tam

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,084
Posted Reply with quote  #32 
Paully22: A taste of jelly to you means a pasty like ? Yes, American jellies have pasty taste, but asian jellies have chewy taste. So, Ficciano figs have some pasty taste but they also have some chewy texture in the pulps. 

Best,
Tam
Tam

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,084
Posted Reply with quote  #33 
I talked to Al in Bethesda, Maryland and asked him to describe the taste of Filacciano. According to him, Filacciano figs  have soft, juicy and sweet with a little chewy texture in the pulps. He has been eating a few Filacciano main crops since last week and told me that for some unknown reason (too much rain in his area or rootbound?), the main crops do not taste as good as the breba crops this year. But they did taste a little sweet. 

Best,
Tam
Tam

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,084
Posted Reply with quote  #34 
Here are more information and photos of the Filacciano's main crops. I ate 2 yellowish green figs this afternoon. They were sweet and little jammy taste. The color of the figs are very nice and bright. They were more round shape. Al has been eating the main crops for at least a month now. Now he said that at least 20% or more of the main crops did not drop. 









Best,
Tam
The_celt

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 874
Posted Reply with quote  #35 
http://www.ficuscarica.com/carica/fracazzano%20bianco.html
__________________
http://sumosteaks.com/
Previous Topic | Next Topic
Print
Reply