mjbaransky
1371235341
Posted 1404509282
Reply with quote #1
So apparently the Desert King fig will only produce a Breba crop in the North East, which does not require the fig wasp.
In Pots Ronde De Bordeaux, Black Mission, JH Adriatic Sals El Gene , Celeste (EL) , Black Madeira, Sumacki, White Marseilles, Lebanese Red, Persian White, Genovese Nero Zone 6 - Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA. (Lehigh Valley - Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton)
figgary
1387147322
Posted 1404509850
Reply with quote #2
Desert King is from Madera, Ca. in the 1920's. I live in Northern Ca. and it is a very good fig. A friend has a 50 year old DK, and the breba crop is huge. It produces 3 crops some years, but the breba seems to be the best. I would think in the East, or anywhere with a short season, it might be worth growing for the early crop. Not sure about hardiness, but other members with experience will chime in.
mjbaransky
1371235341
Posted 1404509984
Reply with quote #3
I am guessing it came from somewhere before Madera, California - that is what I am wondering about.
In Pots Ronde De Bordeaux, Black Mission, JH Adriatic Sals El Gene , Celeste (EL) , Black Madeira, Sumacki, White Marseilles, Lebanese Red, Persian White, Genovese Nero Zone 6 - Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA. (Lehigh Valley - Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton)
drphil69
1390113240
Posted 1404510393
Reply with quote #4
I saw a video of large "King" fig tree in Canada, it was about trimming for a breba crop. Not sure if "King" is DK?
figgary
1387147322
Posted 1404511436
Reply with quote #5
Go to http://planetfig.com/cultivars/fcveng8588.html
figgary
1387147322
Posted 1404511792
Reply with quote #6
Here's a 2 photos I took of my friends DK figs a couple of weeks ago. They weren't quite ripe, but tasted ok.
sppsp
1373989212
Posted 1404516471
Reply with quote #7
I saw that same Canadian video. The guy showed how to prune the desert king tree for breba production. That video inspired me to add Desert king king to my wish list.
Shailesh, Pennsylvania, zone 6BDon't judge a fig tree by it's tag, just judge it by it's fig
figgary
1387147322
Posted 1404520419
Reply with quote #8
Shailesh, if you'd like, remind me in the fall, and I'll send you cuttings from my friends tree. He said it's too big, and he's going to prune it hard. It's 50 years old, healthy, and really produces.
Aaron4USA
1375832059
Posted 1404528722
Reply with quote #9
Shailesh, that was a great tutorial video, thanks for sharing.
drphil69
1390113240
Posted 1404528820
Reply with quote #10
Cool, that's the one!
figgary
1387147322
Posted 1404586438
Reply with quote #11
I just returned from my friend Joe's house, where I harvested some Desert King figs. Joe is in his 80's, and he moved this fig to his place from his dad's house 50 years ago. The figs were not quite ripe on my last visit 3 weeks ago, but with the warm weather and the birds, I almost missed the breba crop. The ripe figs were soft and dripping so much honey, my hand and arm were getting wet picking them. Honeybees were also happily filling themselves on the nectar. The fragrance of so many ripe and over-ripe figs was hanging in the warm morning air, and it took me back to my grandfathers farm and his huge Mission fig tree. Even though the large breba crop is finishing, the tree is loaded with it's main crop, which are several weeks away from ripening. Joe said that some years this tree ripens 3 crops. The taste is excellent, not too sweet, with light honey and juicy fig flavor. So here are some photos and I hope you all enjoy.
Feigenbaum
1377643723
Posted 1404594834
Reply with quote #12
Wow, Gary this tree is just fantastic!
lampo
1329071797
Posted 1404595951
Reply with quote #13
Very nice figs
Feigenbaum
1377643723
Posted 1404596926
Reply with quote #14
Francisco,
figgary
1387147322
Posted 1404598348
Reply with quote #15
Thanks, Shailesh, and thanks for the video. I'll remember it when I help Joe prune the tree this winter.
pawpawbill
1362180380
Posted 1404598871
Reply with quote #16
For in ground trees, I would worry the cold winter would kill off the Breba buds. Should work well in a pot wintered in a protected place. Anyone in the Northeast have much experience with DK?
lampo
1329071797
Posted 1404600837
Reply with quote #17
Christian,
Rewton
1291943117
Posted 1404607609
Reply with quote #18
Regarding DK in the northeast I have read in multiple instances in the forum about how the variety is very cold tolerant. However, as pawpawbill points out, the key is how senstive the undeveloped brebas are to the cold. Certainly if you keep it as a container tree you should be fine but would it be successful as in in-ground tree without protection? Someone on the forum in the northeast must have trialed it in-ground. Anyway, I'm growing the San Pedro fig Filacciano Bianco in ground because it has a track record in Maryland of having breba figs that can withstand the winter unprotected.
mjbaransky
1371235341
Posted 1404613158
Reply with quote #19
Figgary -
In Pots Ronde De Bordeaux, Black Mission, JH Adriatic Sals El Gene , Celeste (EL) , Black Madeira, Sumacki, White Marseilles, Lebanese Red, Persian White, Genovese Nero Zone 6 - Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA. (Lehigh Valley - Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton)
figgary
1387147322
Posted 1404619319
Reply with quote #20
Yes mj, this is the breba crop. No fig wasp needed. Desert King is known for the very productive breba crop. The main crop is usually less. I live in a fairly mild area of California, with summer highs usually in the 80's and nights lower 50's.
figgary
1387147322
Posted 1435798482
Reply with quote #21
I thought I'd bring back this topic, started by mj, rather than begin a new one. I went to Joe's house today to get some Desert Kings, from his 50 year old tree. They've been ripening for 10 days or so, but I was away, and hoping that I wasn't too late. I know that Paully says that Grantham's Royal is a better tasting fig than DK, but my GR has not produced yet. If it is better than DK, it must be phenominal, because these are really good.
brianm
1389664758
Posted 1435801249
Reply with quote #22
Thanks for sharing Gary.
Jarl_Berg
1435234917
Posted 1435803037
Reply with quote #23
I live in the mid Atlantic area and I added desert king to my collection just to increase my odds of getting early figs. Since its known for having reliable tasty brebas it's worth a shot.
