Wild Fig tree found in Pennsylvania.

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Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1225202393	Reply with quote #1

I found a wild fig growing on the edge of a sidewalk in Allentown, Pennsylvania, which is zone 6. As you all know figs are not native to the united states. Many seedlings are found growing wild in favorable conditions such as southern CA. The street is like a little alley, so the tree is sheltered from strong cold wind. The owner of the house next to that wild fig, said that he had a fig tree growing about 100 ft away from the wild one. He cut it down about 5 years ago. 3 years ago he noticed the wild fig sprouting in a crack between a telephone pole and the side walk. The leaves on that figs looked very interesting, pointy and resemble the leaves of a "Brunswick". The owner said that it just started bearing this year and it was a white fig. Could that be a seedling that sprouted? I just collected a couple cuttings. The owner is about to kill it, since it's growing in a wrong spot. He doesn't seem to enjoy eating figs like we do. I wanted to give the tree a chance. I'm guessing it should be a very hardy fig, not sure of the quality. __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

Dieseler

Registered:1215735852
Posts: 8,252

Posted 1225203045	Reply with quote #2

I cannot answer that for you Bass, but i have found veggies growing in my garden which is a good 100ft or more from neighbors garden that i did not grow, i suppose the birds dropped the seeds there in my garden, maybe something similar happend by you or maybe a one in million shot that a bird was carrying wood over for a nest and it somehow dropped in that spot and sprouted. Martin

Herman2

Registered:1189809424
Posts: 2,625

Posted 1225206790	Reply with quote #3

That fig might come from roots of the original fig. If not,then is a seed from a polinated fruit bought from store and discarded on pavement. These are real posibilities.!!

Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1225236453	Reply with quote #4

Here's how the leaves look: __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

gorgi

Registered:1188888396
Posts: 2,864

Posted 1225478228	Reply with quote #5

The leaves do look very interesting... About the 'wild' thing, my first impression was that some constapated bird may have [finally] dropped his/her thing while migrating over the northeast. But that does not make much sense either for the northbound trip in spring time when there should not be any ripe figs with viable seeds (down south) at that time. Edit: Re the bird thing, it would have made some sense if there was any viable figs seeds further up north than the NE (I think not!), while birds are mirating south (for winter) during fall (autumn). Sooo, (them) birds are out... __________________ George, NJ_z7a.

Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1225479645	Reply with quote #6

I understand that figs will need to be polinated in order ot produce viable seeds. However I had some fig seeds from my own figs germinate with no problem, they later died of drying up. So the question is, Do the fig really needs caprification in order to produce viable seeds? __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

gorgi

Registered:1188888396
Posts: 2,864

Posted 1225480591	Reply with quote #7

>>>> I understand that figs will need to be polinated in order [to] produce viable seeds. However I had some fig seeds from my own figs germinate with no problem, they later died of drying up. So the question is, Do the fig really needs caprification in order to produce viable seeds? Well, you may have discovered something agaist nature (veeery, veery, very unlikely); let us know... most probably there is another very good explanation, maybe as Herman previosly sugested. __________________ George, NJ_z7a.

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1241484124	Reply with quote #8

hi was reading about your wild fig find very interesting. I'm curious if you were able to successfully root cuttings . will be interesting to hear how you do with it ? If you can narrow down what type it is ect,and if it produces nice figs...GOOD LUCK __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1241485286	Reply with quote #9

Yes I was able to root all cuttings successfully. I will post photos of the fruit once they bear. I'm glad I collected cuttings because the mother tree was cut since it was growing in the crack of the sidewalks. __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

mommagoose

Registered:1280955561
Posts: 56

Posted 1281911221	Reply with quote #10

I am looking for cold Hardy figs to plant here in Upstate New York in a high tunnel. How did your cuttings do? Did you get any figs yet? Linda

Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1281919560	Reply with quote #11

My tree still haven't fruited, it still small. but there are many figs that should bear for you especially since you're planting it in a high tunnel. You may need to provide some extra protection if there's no heat in there. __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

GregMartin

Registered:1370378358
Posts: 550

Posted 1406377759	Reply with quote #12

Dredging up an old one. Bass, did this one survive and fruit for you? If it hung in there did it do ok this past winter? __________________ zone 5 Maine Seeking: Saint Martin, Naples White, Black Tuscan, Bécane, French Alps, Abruzzi, Tenica, Wild Mountain Figs from the coldest corners (Iranian, Turkish or other...would love seeds too)

fico_silvestre

Registered:1417021765
Posts: 1

Posted 1417031294	Reply with quote #13

Bump!! Bass, did this one survive and fruit for you? If it hung in there did it do ok this past winter?

joann1536

Registered:1409975734
Posts: 274

Posted 1417041728 · Edited	Reply with quote #14

I'd be more inclined to think there were still live roots underground, and that it sprouted from them. My parents had an Italian prune tree in their yard. They planted it in 1954, and cut it down about 25 years ago. A couple of years ago, the prune tree reemerged right in the middle of a Eureka lemon tree. The lemon tree is a good 25 to 30 feet away from where the old prune tree grew. __________________ USDA Zone 9b Wish list: Abruzzi, Pasquale, Tagliacozzo, Zingarella, Godfather. Any unk Italian, especially from Abruzzo.

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