Hello everyone!

First, i apologize for my english, i have several difficulties with the language...
I deal with agriculture and gardening as a hobby, since i was a child.
From a few years i  discovered the wonderful world of figs, and i started to collect them.

Before starting to gather information on figs, i cultivated some varieties, but didn't know the enormous diversity , and i was convinced that there were basically only "blacks" and "white" figs.

Luckily, in a few years, i managed to pick up a decent collection, and new varieties and new varieties are added each year (most are all small plants).

In my country the fig is cultivated for centuries, and is one of most common and important fruiting plants.
Unfortunately, the sardinian varieties haven't been thoroughly investigated.
I'm trying to retrieve old varieties;  i have found some in my village, and in others.

[url=http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/42873791?sid=21105276272391&uid=2129&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3738296&uid=2]Here[/url] a document in italian about cultivars of northern Sardinia (you must be logged in this site for reading).


In the future i hope to be able to talk in more detail of my figs, and posting some photos.

I don't know what to write...Thank you, and greetings from Sardinia. Bye...

Hi Fico, welcome to the forum!

I actually grow a variety from Sardinia called Macca.

I hope to see some fruit of it this year.

Rob

Welcome Fico!   I look forward to learning more from you about fig culture in Sardinia.   Great that you are trying to preserve the old varieties!

Great to have you on the forum, please share some photos of your collection!

Fico, welcome to the forum!

I just looked at pictures of your home on Google, and it is beautiful!  Don't worry about you English, it is more than fine, better some Americans..  LOL

You will certainly find additional cultivars to grow, it is just a mater of time and looking.

Scott

Thanksfor the welcome, i'm very happy to be in this forum, i read so many times a lot of topics from this site.

Rob, i heard about "Macca" fig, but i never seen. Pictures or links? Googling i find nothing.
You know, "macca" in sardinian means crazy, is funny, i don't know why a fig it's called crazy!

Welcome to the forum, Fico.  Looking forward to hearing about and seeing your varieties!

Benvenuti Fico!
You may find some figs you are intimate with but know only as black fig or white fig now have American names.

Welcome to the forum Fico, looking forward to learn the many interesting experiences that you have with growing figs in your country. By the way, I think you are doing very well with English. Good luck and good growing.

Il tuo inglese è buono... sicuramente meglio del mio italiano, ma provo. Ok. Basta. :X

I'd love to see what you find! Do you grow any figs from outside of Sardinia?

Welcome Fico
Benvenuto mio Zio viene della sardegna.
Lot of good people here to help and learn
ciao

I try to answer to all ...
For me it is relatively easy to grow figs, i live in the center of Mediterranean Sea, the climate is ideal for the fig: hot and dry summers, indispensable for obtaining good quality fruit, and mild winters, so it's definitely harder to grow figs for the majority of users of this forum, rather than for me, therefore those who cultivate figs in difficult conditions, like much of north America has all my admiration.

I grow, in addition to sardinian varieties, some italian and european varieties.
Mostly are little plants, some bought, other from cuttings.
In Italy, and even more in Sardinia, are on sale the same old varieties, about ten (Brogiotto bianco and nero, Verdino, Dottato...), it is difficult to obtain new varieties, especially those rare and endangered.
Some nurseries, given the growing interest for this species, started importing from France the most popular french varieties.

At present i've approx. 30 varieties, the most common of my zone, of Italy and of France.

If you like i can take pictures of my plants, but there is little to see; in the coming months certainly will post photos of leaves and fruits.

@Luzzu: which zone of Sardinia?

Welcome aboard! I can't wait for your figs to grow so you can share your pictures with us.

Welcome, benvenuto fico, come ti chiami?

I read some of the article you linked to , it mentions a cultivar called "Genovese." We have a very fine fig here called Genovese Nero, there is also a bianco. I wonder if they are related to the Sardinian Genovese?

Hi rafaelissimo,
the problem with varieties found in USA is that in America people gave a new name to varieties unknown, like "Italian", "Sicilian" "Genoa", then is difficult to identify these varieties with with their real names.
Have to add, that all variety have a lot of dialectal synonyms.
Nurseries also give new names to the plants, even for a matter of marketing.
"Geographical" names, often are misleading, because even if the mother plant was found them, does not mean that it is native to that place.
In Italy, for example, "Genovese" fig is usually "Brogiotto bianco". The sardinian Genovese fig is another variety, which received that name because imported in Sardinia from Genoa.
In USA there is White and Black Genoa, that in Italy will surely have another name, or maybe they aren't even italian!

cis4elk, i will certainly update you on my figs.

Welcome!  You should be able to get cuttings from Pons - he has many outstanding varieties

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Montserrat-Pons-i-Boscana/100711893251

Welcome Fico!

Thank you!
rcantor, Monserrat "donates" cuttings to those who request it?

He sells them.  Ask RobSter010 for details.

Welcome to the forum Fico.

Salve, Fico. Welcome to the forum. There are many members here of Italian origin including myself. Sono di origine Calabrese, ho studiato a Padova e adesso vivo nella Florida. Siamo tutti grandi amanti di fichi.

Welcome, Fico

Welcom to the forum, Fico

Welcome Fico!

Have you heard of Montserrat Pons from Mallorca?  He wrote a book called "Les Figueres A Les Illes Balears" which documents the fig varieties from the Balearic Islands.  Some of the same varieties in his book may be growing on Sardinia as well.

Hi Fico,
Welcome !
When the season allows, do not hesitate to show us photos of your varieties of figs leaves and fruits :) .
Do you have the fig-wasp were you are ? You should be able to grow more than varieties than me .
I have to stick to parthenocarpic type of figs as those don't need the fig-wasp.
What is good with French people is that some like to name what they see or have - French were sort of in a competition with English people to name plants and animals in past centuries...
It is handy when trying to exchange plants or infos on plants ... And of course, now nurseries do take that opportunity to sell accurate and recognizable products.
Which is good for us customers with zones in the limit of hardiness for fig trees.

Thank you very much, it's very nice to receive a welcome so warm.

Yes jdsfrance, there is the wasp, but i think i have almost only parthenocarpic varieties, maybe some of my new varieties are san pedro, i have to check.
I'd like to try to grow figs that require caprification, like Smyrna types.

I would appreciate if someone could explain to me how to purchase from Montserrat, perhaps with a private message, if you cannot publicly.

Buon venuto Fico

Hi Fico
Welcome to the forum
Congratulations
It's not usual to read a member interested to grow Smyrna varieties
These are excellent figs. Please protect your Caprifigs.
I may help you with scions of a couple of such varieties and/or San Pedro from Portugal, and now is the time!!... here some pics.

cheers
Francisco
Portugal
(zone 11)

       

Thanks to all!

Hi lampo,
i have had exchanges of cuttings with some portuguese, i received Colhão de burro, Três num prato, Pingo de mel. 
Very nice figs in your pictures, i heard that portuguese varieties are among the best; what variety in the photos?

I'm interested in figs that require caprification, for me it's a fascinating practice, and i'm curious to see the results. I read that in common varieties can even be counterproductive.

Caprifigs are very common here, people don't know caprification, and not practice caprification, at least in my area. 

If you are interested, we can exchange! I've some interesting varieties, i think it would be perfect for portugal.

Welcome to the forum, Fico! Here in California I often visit farmer's markets. In the season, you can see people selling a lot of figs. I like to start a fig discussion , I am often surprised how open people are and what you can learn. I am sure the markets at your place are no different.

Thank you greenfig,
here is another world. I live in a very small village, figs are hard to find for sale,
but fortunately if people want a fig there are a lot of plants in the countryside, and just go to pick them up.
Many people also have orchards for personal consumption. In other areas it's easier to find them, where, of course,
those who want to eat them is forced to buy them because there aren't.
It must be said, that the fig is good only if it's perfectly ripe, and in the markets the figs for sale are picked unripe.
Those who have never eaten a fig just picked from the plant has never really eaten a fig!

Fico, welcome to the forum. Even over here the markets sell unripe figs. I worked many years as a produce manager in a large supermarket chain and found that when the figs were nice and ripe most people thought they were going bad and would not purchase them. I would try to explain but no use, I would often have to reduce to sell. What a shame. Of course I knew better :).

Hi Fico,

The first 3 pictures on my previous msg show Inchário Preto and Inchário Branco figs.
Both are Smyrna fruit and caprification is mandatory.
These are among our best figs, both for the table (fresh) and/or dried, for winter consumption

Caprification is good for ALL figs but you have to be wise at the time of pollination (generally by mid June) not to allow excessive numbers of insects to approach your figs.

The big figs on the 4th picture are Lampeira Preta (a San Pedro variety) showing the first brebas by the 3rd week of May and a main (second) crop in September. This second crop to ripen needs pollination.

For a start these 3 exceptional varieties are a good choice for you to initiate your field  trials with the Caprification process . You shall receive my PM soon.
The Portuguese varieties you say to have already traded are great also.

Living in a small village in the countryside you should be well positioned to learn from the local older people and get 'hands on' experience on most matters related to caprification, rooting and grafting scions, pruning, fertilizing, etc...
Can you please send pictures of your figs and Caprifigs ??
Are your figs rooted in ground or in pots ??

Francisco
Portugal

In a country when a product is not common, it's normal that people doesn't know its characteristics.
I think that also in most Italian cities ripe figs be discarded, figs aren't a fruit common like apples or bananas,
and not all know them well as more common fruits.
Fig is a special fruit, and if there is a forum like this , it means that there are many to think this!

Lampo, i've seen your photo album, congratulations!
Unfortunately older's people wisdom is a wealth that is disappearing, since people, to eat fruits and vegetables,
no longer needed to cultivate, because it was in a supermarket.
Many people abandoned orchards and gardens, trees of ancient varieties have been cut off, and agronomic pratices have become prerogative
of a few people.
I ask olders especially to know varieties names.

I will post photos as soon as possible.
I've not caprifigs in my orchard, but i could plant them if necessary.
My figs are all rooted in pots. Since some time i make root my cuttings in a plastic bag, and when well rooted, i put them in a pot. The plant grow in the pot during spring and summer,
then is transplanted in the ground, during autumn or winter.
This year i'm also experimenting rooting in the ground of big cuttings, we will see the results in a few weeks...
waiting for PM...

Fico, welcome to the forum!

Fico,

PM sent

Hello Fico!  Welcome to the forum. 

I have been a member for a long time, but only pop into the forum now and then.  I have time now due to a bad cold.  

We have just enough trees for our family and neighbors.  I have many favorites and welcome new trees now and then.  I live in a Mediterranean climate in Southern California, USA, where it rarely freezes, and if it does, it doesn't last long.  I start cuttings under an orange tree in the shade, laid vertically in the dirt in trenches.  When they grow, they get potted until big enough to go to their final home in the ground, on our property.  We are on a hillside overlooking a small town, and there are no fresh figs for sale in stores here either.  You need to grow them if you want fresh ones, and I think I am the only person around here that does!  I've driven the streets of this area, and never seen one fig tree, which surprises me since they grow so well here.  There are huge commercial citrus orchards though, and we have citrus trees too.

Your fig photos are beautiful and the figs look tasty!  After 4 - 5 years of collecting figs, there are some favorites that I keep back-up figs in pots.  We do have gophers here, and they love the roots of fig trees.   We all have specific things we like in a fig.  I love sweet, honey, juicy flavorful figs.  Not a fan of dry figs.  I would not give up the Kadota or Mary Lane Seedless in the Yellow varieties.  Green outside with red inside, so far Verte is by far my favorite, and my Bourgosette Gris that has never produced, has tons of figs on it so it might be a favorite too.  I am not sure yet which dark fig is my favorite.  Violette de Bordeaux is a little to dry in this climate for me.  The birds got to Ronde de Bordeaux, so not sure.  Hardy Chicago and Black Mission are equally good, but I don't LOVE either one.  LSU Scott's Black is just a baby.  Marseilles vs Black got planted on a side hill that is hard to navigate, so nobody got down there to taste it's fruit. 

We have a saying here about trees planted in ground.  "First year they sleep.  Second year they creep.  Third year they leap!"  That seems to be the way of trees here.  All my trees, grapevines and roses in ground follow that pattern.  The first year fruit is never as good as that that comes when the tree is more mature.  These things take time.

Enjoy the forum.  Lots of knowledge here.  Look forward to your posts.

Suzi

Lampo, i replied to the PM.

Thanks DesertDance, but figs on the pics aren't mine, are lampo's pics. 
It's strange that there are no figs in your area! I think that the dark-skinned figs are tastier,
 but i'm ready to be proven wrong.

Poking into the phone, i found some pics taken in january, of inground cuttings.

I used this technique:  dug a hole wide enough and deep, filled with good soil, and i put the cuttings,
in oblique-horizontal position,leaving only protrude a few centimeteres. I chose a damp spot under 
a rock, but well drained and fertile.These are big cuttings, some of almost 70-80 centimeters.   
   

My father used another technique: he put cuttings, bent to "L" shape, in a deep and large hole, 
but burying only the bottom of the cutting. Soil is clayey.

I've posted an identical topic like this with pictures, but i made a mess with pics.
Images trespassed the edges and made it impossible to read. There's a way to post pics
that to be displayed should be clicked? 
      
      
   





































l

.

You can get an account at tinypic.com and upload your photos there.  There are other photo hosting sites you can use also. 

I may try your rock method.  Our hillside is covered with boulders, but it's hard to find where they stop.  Some just get wider under the dirt..........

Suzi

Ciao Cl....!

Nice you followed my suggestion to join figs4fun. Your cuttings have been callusing, yet. Think roots will appear next week.
Like the first few hours showed, here are many many people being interested in what you can tell about sardinian figs.

I'm looking forward to your pics in the summer.

Greetings from Munich!

Bernd

Welcome Fico! I'm a newbie here as well. Lots of great info and people here. Looking forward to seeing your pics!

Hello!
I try again to post the pics of cuttings planted directly in ground.

Welcome to the forum Fico...

Fico, wow!  Those are huge cuttings stuck into the ground.  How much is below in relation to what is above.  You know me!  I love the ways of our fathers.  I like just planting figs in dirt and there is no stress with that!  My only success has been with cuttings in dirt.  Gonna try a new method this weekend, not with figs, with my dying lime tree.  So going with perlite.  Just an experiment.  I owe a Winery owner a gift, and they are Italian.  My big job is to bring them some really good fig cuttings, but the problem is, nothing went dormant here.  We never had winter yet.  So, gonna try to root a few tips, but worst case, I'll air layer, which I do not wish to do!  A pain!!
Suzi

Fico, you have a private message from me.  I hope you know how to access it.  If not, I'm wondering which side of the boulder to plant the cutting in the manner you describe.  North, South, East, West.  Which is best?

Thanks!

Suzi

Welcome Fico.

welcome Fico!   Reading your post is like taking a mini vacation from my  home.  It will be fun the follow your journey to acquire the old figs and learn about them.  Most exciting will be your sharing with us.   I am newbie also and your english is just fine.   Joyce

Welcome Fico

Ciao e benvenuto, Fico!

Benvenuto Fico
Mario Di Natale from Wallingford Ct ,USA originally from the mountains of Abbruzzo near Teramo