Some months back I got some Italian 88 cuttings through Jon, and
They've done really well. I cut them all in half, and all but one made it.
I think I have 7 or 8 plants left, after a couple of trades.
That's not them problem....

(Wish I'd had that problem with the Negronne, Abebereira, and Portland 3 cuttings)

...the problem I have is that I can't find any info or pictures on this variety.

Anybody growing it, or have you come across pics or writing about it?

I don't even know what color this variety is!

Thanks

here is the info. 

http://www.crfg.org/chapters/golden_gate/Italian%20numbered%20figs.pdf

edit: sorry to say the description says.. "IT 88 - Yellow, very vigorous. Patrick Schafer (PS) says these are worthless, buggy & watery"

Worthless, Buggy, and Watery...wow I can hardly wait.

Vince, you have this one too? HA! Who knows, it's one person's opinion. Soil, climate, so many things can affect it. We can always use them for rootstock if they're that Vigorous. Maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised.

Thank you for finding that, Pete.

The cuttings came from a very vigorous tree in San Jose.  I have not seen the tree during the fruit season but the area receives less heat than where I'm at (Panache doesn't ripen there, reportedly, but I picked ripe Panache in July).  Pat Schafer is from a cooler area as well.  Jon mentioned to me that he had read positive comments about it somewhere so I think it's certainly worth being tried by people in other areas.  There was obviously a reason that Todd Kennedy decided to bring it back from Italy initially.  I hope it turns out some great fruit for some folks.

@ Ruuting--Yes, I purchased 5 cuttings during the winter, and they all rooted...one thing for sure, they are very vigorous growers...the juvenile leaves are light green, and at first glance they look like 'early' lettuce...maybe they will do good here in N.J...."time will tell" !!


@ HarveyC--You are definately right about soil & climate conditions being an important factor in the final taste of the fig...maybe we will all be pleasently surprised.    :)  :)

I'm pretty sure it was collected as a superior tasting variety.  If you live on a cool, rainy coast it might not work but for everyone else it's probably great.  I have one from Jon and it was as hard to get as the Italian 256.  I'm sure they're both superior in taste.  I wish my Italian 256 survived.  I'm glad my Italian 88 did.  I imagine they're worth similar amounts.

I have several cuttings that are now in one gal pots and growing like weeds so we can get a good idea how they will perform in several
different areas of the country.

bob, I-256 or I-258? i haven't heard about 256.. as to I-88, yupe. wait and see if it's a keeper for you. i kept my Paradiso Gene although it can get nasty after heavy rain. the taste when the weather cooperates is worth the trouble. but when it rains.. boy.. that thing can get really ugly really quick. it will more or less open up its eye big enough for good size wasp to fly right into it. trying to chase away wasps and hornets to remove the soured fig afterward is no fun.