I thought it would be fun to see pictures and hear about unknown figs you are currently growing.  I have several unknown cuttings rooting but won't have figs for some time yet. 

The other day when my husband asked why I'm into figs so much I said, "a fig is like a surprise that you plant then wait for it to grow, then you wait again for its fruit then you wait some more for the fruit to ripen...AND THEN one day you get to open it up and eat the treasure inside!" 

Had this unknown and last year it surprises us with its awesome taste. Will look for pictures
and post if I find them. It sure rank amongst my best. It is hardy, neglected and left in 1 gal
pot for years, barely grew but man, the taste is just awesome. It will have a brand new good size
pot before month's end.

Paully22, I would love to see pictures!  Isn't that something how even neglected as neglected as it was it had some great fruit?!

Unknowns are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.

Maybe I have been fortunate.
All the unknown figs I have known have been grown and well take care by someone else before me for a long time. 
They all turned out to be pleasant surprises and some really dazzled me and are now my favourite figs.

A very very good unk from last year. "Loganville library fig". Most likely a common variety, I'll let you guys and gals deside but the figs are awesome.

Pino, you make a good point. Some of these unknowns have been cultivated for many years and then passed down to us. That is very fortunate. Chris, your unknown fig looks beautiful and deliscious. And, you have taken nice care of it. The shape of your fig bush is very nice! How would you describe the flavor? More and more, the discovery of a new fig tree in a different city has become a sort of "treasure hunt" for me. The beauty of the find is of course its fruit. And also, that it will always be, to some degree, your very own unique fig. An unknown forever! How cool is that?

Hey Meg. This is the actual tree outside the library. I do not have it in my yard but I tasted plenty of figs from the mom tree.It's been there for a long time but I only noticed it last summer for the first time. All that growth are root suckers . Now that the tree is dormant you can clearly see that it has either died back or was cut down over the years. I will stop a take a few pics tomorrow on the way home from work. The fruit looks a lot like a Celeste or SE brown turkey ,both of which are very common on this part of the country, the leaf however looks a lot different than the traditional three lobed and five lobed Celeste/ SE turkey. Sweet figgy flavor, not peachy like the CHardy but more melony I guess. Very small eye and even though we got lots and lots of rain ,no sign of splitting or bag spoilage.

Chris, that is one nice bush! Yes, do take a picture of it to share with us. Very nice! I have been diligent about collecting cuttings from around my area and beyond. I have eaten some very good figs from trees nearby...i wish I had a fig now!

[QUOTE]More and more, the discovery of a new fig tree in a different city has become a sort of "treasure hunt" for me. The beauty of the find is of course its fruit. And also, that it will always be, to some degree, your very own unique fig. An unknown forever! How cool is that?[/QUOTE]

Meg, I love how you put this! You're right, it feels like a treasure hunt for me, too.

Right now, I have no camera in order to share pics, but can describe a few Unknowns I am working with.

The Unk BT cuttings which I got from you are in moss, and i'm going to be transferring them to Mai's bag method within a day or two, as I spotted small root buds on a few of them. Yay!! I'm so relieved because when I received them, on top of the regular shipping time, they had actually had to spend days stored somewhere because there was no delivery possible due to the deep-snow blizzard we had.

The first cuttings I received from here on the board are Unk type and although they were very challenging to root, two are now doing well. One has large leaves developing that look similar to Celeste, but the root structure is completely different, as well as the look of the cuttings themselves.

The Unk Sheepshead is developing sturdy and really attractive leaves, which are very different from the other types of figs I have here also leafing out.

And I also have CB1 Unk NC cuttings which are rooting. I'm very excited about these in part because the mother tree is a beauty.

Can't wait to try the fruit from all of these...

Hi, Joy! So glad that the Un BT are going well. I have all my unknowns going right now too! I have Daisy's, Amber's, Sheepshead, and I also bought an Unk Louisiana yellow vatiety that has ONE huge leaf, which is so much bigger than all the others. I'll post a picture tonight. Not sure, should I cut off that humungous leaf since it has no roots yet? Please tell me what you think I should do.

found the pictures in my cell phone. Would get my son to help post

Hi Meg, here's photos of my favorite unknown. I've told the story before, I got it from Harvey C as Italian 376, a dark fig. Haven't yet figured out what it is, one of the other numbered Italian varieties maybe. Amazing flavor in my climate, and beautiful to boot.
   

Gary,

That looks like a very special fig.  Very unique colors!

OH MY GOSH!!! What a different looking fig, Gary! Wow!! It almost looks like an avocado as far as the outside goes. But its beautifully speckled! And the inside looks like it melts in your mouth. Whats the flavor like? Is it a berry or a honey flavor? And, should you consider selling some of these cuttings, I would be the first in line! Its funny because the more I see unknowns, I want them. I mean obviously I love the beautiful & deliscious known varieties but you have ONE unique fig!!! Amazing! Does anyone else have this one? Paully22, Our cell phones....what would we do without them?!

It is, Frank. Those pics are of the brebas, taken July 7, last year. The main crop looks very different, but still taste amazing. Here is main crop, taken in early October.
 

Meg, I'm starting some cuttings to spread it around, I just wish I could find out what it is. Harvey started it from a cutting that he got at a CRFG scion exchange, labeled as Italian 376. So someone has it.

The "Italian 376" looks very interesting.   I have a Navid Unk Dark Greek and an Unk,. From Turkey (Navid) that I am excited about. 

Gary, you are right, the main crop does looks totally different!  Yes, I'm sure someone else has it.  Really a cool looking fig.  So glad you have a piece of this variety!

Mario, do post some of your unknowns if possible.  I think this really makes the unknowns so cool.

I'm a sucker for unknowns. I've got 60+ of them. When I find them I always try to get the story behind them. Usually it is something like "my grandfather brought this over from the old country. It was the best fig in the village." Yeah, I want that one! Happy Hunting!

Hey, Aaron!!  I love unknowns!  In fact, your unknowns are very good ones!  Getting the background on them is good.  A story behind it makes it even better.  I would love to know the stories behind some of your unknowns and, if you have pictures please post!

I've posted on many of them. If you search my name you can find them. As they grow, I'll post more.

Okay, I'll search for them.

Another unk that I tasted a fig from. "Folly beach dark unk"" that I found on winter 2014 while at work in Folly beach ,located a few miles off of Charleston SC.
Looked like a very old tree almost Bonzai looking in stature and shape but almost ten feet tall. It survived some very cold temps with no die back and it was a surprise to me considering that constant frozen Atlantic breeze . We had actual temps in the teens there throughout the winter with wind chills way below zero.
I took three cuttings. All three rooted and grew very quickly. Two of them produced at least a dozen very late figs that I took of. I kept one and gifted the two other trees to friends .
The one that I kept produced only two tiny figs with a huge flavor this past season. The leaf is very Celeste looking and that would also explain the cold hardiness . As for the fruit! Maybe!!!! Looking forward to tasting more this year.

@Meg.
Still owe you the pics from the L.L. Fig! I ll shoot for tomorrow .

[QUOTE=Smyfigs]Hi, Joy! So glad that the Un BT are going well. I have all my unknowns going right now too! I have Daisy's, Amber's, Sheepshead, and I also bought an Unk Louisiana yellow vatiety that has ONE huge leaf, which is so much bigger than all the others. I'll post a picture tonight. Not sure, should I cut off that humungous leaf since it has no roots yet? Please tell me what you think I should do.[/QUOTE]

Your unknowns look like they're doing well, Meg! :) And that leaf is amazingly large for the cutting not having roots yet. I don't think I would cut it off, but maybe someone more experienced could chip in with pros and cons.

Right now, I have a bunch of mulberry cuttings that are really leafing out. These are in bags (Mai's method), clear cups, and also grouped in a gallon planter with plastic humidity bag over the top. There are no roots visible at all in the containers where they could be seen through the sides. So I did some research and found that the opinion is held by some that leafy growth can promote root development, which I hope is true! I also have some fig cuttings that are showing leaves without apparent roots.

This is a great thread, btw...

Chris, I agree, the Folly Beach dark UNK does look a lot like Celeste.

Thanks Steve, what do you think about the Loganville Library tree I posted before.

Here are the pics of the dormant tree Meg . This is what it looks like now. Check out all the dead growth on one of the pics. Most likely die back during the 2013-14 winter. Most of the tall shoots are last summers' growth that also produced fruit.

El Molino is my unknown, still trying to find out what it is. It looks great and tastes awesome. Do I care what is its name? :)

  Harvey's Italian 376 or I 376, is from the same person that introduced the I 258 everyone (me too) seems to be looking for.

The figs were given numbers because the grower lost his references to the origins of these particular figs and associated them this way.

  Other people have them and these are their names now.

Mike, I think you may be missing my point. The fig I got from Harvey was supposed to be Italian 376. 376 is a dark fig. Mine is green, so not 376. Just don't know what it is yet.

Hey, Joy...yes, I'm happy that they are alive.  It is a HUGE leaf on it.  It's a Louisiana yellow unknown.  I got it from Ebay but who knows if it's any good or even if it's yellow...lol  But that too will be fun to discover!

Chris, that is a nice shaped bush.  I did see the dead trunk...it's still alive!  So, is this tree actually at the library? 

Hi, Igor: So, can you tell me about El Molina.  First, where did it come from?  Did you find it?  It sounds great!  The name sounds kinda reddish like...is it red inside?

Thanks Gary,

 Still a beautiful fig :)

I think I have fig-ured it out. I've been going through my fig photos from this past year, and I saw photos of my Lampeira Branca, one of my favorites. The pics were of main crop of a plant in 15 a gallon pot. It did not set brebas. The main crop looks identical to the main crop of the unk 376. It would make sense, as the CRFG scion exchange hands out Lampeiras. I'll know for sure when my potted one ripens brebas. My in-ground unk produced later than the potted fig, so I didn't have them side by side to compare. Here is a photo of main crop Lampeira. What do you think?
 

Very nice looking fig,Gary. I could almost taste it :-)

My best unknown for 2015. Just awesome! Anyone know what it might be??

Paul
Would need to see a leaf photo of your unk to get a better idea.  But it does have a resemblance to Bisiri Black JP and I can tell you that Bisiri had an intense rich taste.

Thanks Pino. I will post pictures of leaves in late spring.

I can't remember where I got this one in Vancouver. It was lumped together with some unknowns I have. It
was totally neglected. I was not around last Sept when main crop ripen. Picture was a breba. This unknown has never
been protected and it is still in its 1 gal pot for at least 4 years. Last season, its roots grew out from the pot and tree
is currently healthy.

Note - there are lots of fig trees in Vancouver. Many Italians/Greeks have fig trees. Almost all these folks have no
idea what their names are. They can only say they got it from friends within their community or cite the trees came
from Italy/Greece.

Paully: There are many, many fig trees in So Cal. Lots of immigrants from all parts of the world come here. My friend from Morocco had a tree in her back yard that no doubt was at least 50 years old. The figs were a beautiful green almost yellow and had a berry flavor. This is what I remember from 20 years ago. She sold the house about 10 years ago and I have since lost track of her but I recall the street where she lived and have been intending to go there, ring the bell with hopes the owners havent chopped it down. To be continued...

[QUOTE=Smyfigs]Paully: There are many, many fig trees in So Cal. Lots of immigrants from all parts of the world come here. My friend from Morocco had a tree in her back yard that no doubt was at least 50 years old. The figs were a beautiful green almost yellow and had a berry flavor. This is what I remember from 20 years ago. She sold the house about 10 years ago and I have since lost track of her but I recall the street where she lived and have been intending to go there, ring the bell with hopes the owners havent chopped it down. To be continued...[/QUOTE]

Meg, that sounds like a delicious  and unusual fig! Looking forward to the continuation...:)

I still haven't had a chance to go by to check out the unknown near me, due to the continuously inclement weather. Just yesterday had between 4-6 inches of snow on the ground, and now with sleety rain coming down. But later today a nice streak is supposed to be starting, so I hope to contact the owner sometime this week.

By the way, today I noticed the first tiny leaf buds on two of your cuttings. Very exciting!
How is your LA Unknown with the super large leaf coming along?

[QUOTE=figgary]Hi Meg, here's photos of my favorite unknown. I've told the story before, I got it from Harvey C as Italian 376, a dark fig. Haven't yet figured out what it is, one of the other numbered Italian varieties maybe. Amazing flavor in my climate, and beautiful to boot.
   [/QUOTE]
  
Similar. Breba.

Hello, Joy!  I got close to going over to my friend's old house but didn't get the opportunity.  I will go and I'll post it here!  By the way, I did remove that huge leaf from my Unk. Yellow Louisiana Heirloom.  Now it's getting another one!  Huh!

Fedy, you and Gary have the same fig?!  Did you also get it from Harvey?  How do you like the taste?  Interesting!

My figs of Nikitsky Botanical Garden. (Yalta)
Variety of Bulgaria. Pomorie.

[QUOTE]Hello, Joy!  I got close to going over to my friend's old house but didn't get the opportunity.  I will go and I'll post it here!  By the way, I did remove that huge leaf from my Unk. Yellow Louisiana Heirloom.  Now it's getting another one!  Huh![/QUOTE]

Hi Meg....Just found your reply, as I've had so much going on the past week, have hardly had any time on the forum, which I miss! I did try calling the lady with the fig tree, but haven't been able to get ahold of her yet. However....I've been considering "dropping by" with concealed trimmer in hand to see if she would be open to sharing a couple of cuttings! :) Also, I plan to offer to trade some of my extra ones (also goji etc.) with her if she wants.

You're braver than I would have prob been with the huge leaf! It's good to hear that it's getting another so quickly. It sounds like a vigorous and determined figlet, and I'm looking forward to hearing if this variety produces any figs this year for you. Hope things go well when you get the opportunity to get by your friend's old house...