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Subject: Monster Seattle Fig & Mystery Fig Replies: 7
Posted By: mwamsley Views: 863
 
The Denny Party arrived in Seattle 161 years ago in 1851, and the land where the tree is planted was Cheif Leschi's territory for another 7 years.

Even though it is huge, I would guess it was planted in the 1900s.

I'll ask someone else that might know a bit more of its history.

Subject: Monster Seattle Fig & Mystery Fig Replies: 7
Posted By: mwamsley Views: 863
 
The house was built in 1921. I don't see it in the old photo attached to the parcel records. It would be on the far left.

Subject: Monster Seattle Fig & Mystery Fig Replies: 7
Posted By: mwamsley Views: 863
 
I had a chance to meet up with a few figs4fun posters this morning for some Seattle fig exploring. It was great having a chance to meet up with Little John (Wildforager) & Kiwibob!

(I'm sorry about the size of these photos....I've spent too long trying to shrink them)

This monster fig tree is at 33rd Ave S & Mt Baker Blvd (Little John, L; Kiwibob R). No sign of figs.




Shots of the mystery main-crop-ripening fig (rare in Seattle) in the same neighborhood from October of last year. I have no leaf shots of it, but plan to observe it better this year. This fruit was slightly underripe. Without the aid of leaves, what are some similar looking figs?




Mark



Subject: Gillette Fig First Crop Replies: 22
Posted By: mwamsley Views: 2,297
 
Really cool to see this tree fruiting.

As I had mentioned, the original tree was removed shortly after I took the cuttings. Now if I could only acquire a copy!

Subject: Zidi Fig Replies: 49
Posted By: mwamsley Views: 6,501
 
figman, you are correct. A #1 is ideal. But what they found out was, that out of 4 bagged figs on one study branch, one was able to ripen - or "color" - and was seedless. A very good sign of being parthenocarpic.

Mark
Seattle, WA

Subject: Zidi Fig Replies: 49
Posted By: mwamsley Views: 6,501
 
When they did their test, their sample size was low and the data showed variability. Instead of rating them persistent (not needing caprification/pollination) or smyrna (needing caprification/pollination) they used as scale based on their observations.

1=clearly persistent
2=reasonably persistent
3=unsure persistent
4=clearly Smyrna?

Mark
Seattle, WA

Subject: Zidi Fig Replies: 49
Posted By: mwamsley Views: 6,501
 
I'm sorry this is an old post.

In 2005 UCD did caprification test and found that DFIC036 Zidi is "2=reasonably persistent". That's out of 4. The bagged fruit was listed as "large, no seeds in bagged."

BUT further down the list another DFIC036 Zidi is listed as "3=unsure persistent."

DFIC051 Marabout (2 examples), DFIC057 Calimyrna (2 examples) & DFIC087 Snowden (2 examples) seem to be the most consistent at "3=unsure persistent."

Mark
Seattle, WA

Subject: UCD DNA Information Availability? Replies: 1
Posted By: mwamsley Views: 3,451
 
It was mentioned in a thread below that there has been some preliminary DNA testing at Davis. Specifically Dark No1 Portuguese. Does anybody have the preliminary data?

I have some results but they don't include Dark No1 Portuguese, so I must be missing something. I would like to know the other Group 6 members.

Here is a table:


Mark
Seattle, WA

Subject: Focus on Breba Crop Cultivars Replies: 11
Posted By: mwamsley Views: 4,008
 
Hi paully22- does your friend grow breba crop figs, or are you referring to main crop figs ripening in Oct? I have a greenhouse, but use it for trickier fruits.

I believe there must be a big difference in how brebas ripen here in our cool spring than they do in places like CA or locations with high spring heat and humidity. Description of bland and tasteless don't match the quality we get from local trees. Every year we get DELICIOUS brebas from our neighbors King tree and other neighborhood trees that are likely Lattarula, Brunswick, Magnolia and Negronne. Maybe it's because they aren't rushed into ripening? The equivalent of cooking BBQ ribs - a slow roast?!

I have a friend that has been trying to sort out figs up here as well. He has a site with a few pictures:
http://www.geocities.com/kiwibobg/kiwifruitsalad3

His studies have proven very valuable to me and I would like to continue the trials.

pitangadiego - I've always found your photos of 'King' very interesting. In the NW, 'Kings' look a lot more like Ray Givens photos. They never turn yellow. Is this a climatic result, or possibly a different cultivar? Does your King ever produce Main crop figs? They don't even form on our trees.

Unripe King Fig
Unripe King Fig (notice the fig scales)

King tree
Desert King Tree


It's interesting that you mention the 'Vashion Island' fig. I've heard that around the turn of the century, there was a fig orchard there. Kiwibob's 'Vashion Violet' came from that area and he believes it's a 'Brunswick'.

Mark
Seattle, WA

Subject: Focus on Breba Crop Cultivars Replies: 11
Posted By: mwamsley Views: 4,008
 
Hi All-
 
I'm new to this forum, but I recognize a few names from other sites.
 
I would be very interested in compiling a list of cultivars the are known for a large, good, breba crop. I live in Seattle, and the consensus here by many "experts" is that there are very few main crops that can properly ripen here. It's either a good breba crop, or it's useless. Unlike other growers in the country, extreme hardiness is not an issue with me. Figs are at home in our mediterranean - we just lack the long growing season and have low heat units. 
 
I am still testing some of the early main croppers, but I would like to get a better grasp on the breba kings. UCD did a study a few years ago, and their breba list is as follows:


% BranchesBrebasBreba
w/ Brebasper branchscore
DFIC085King1007.6257.63
DFIC162White Texas Everbearing62.52.751.72
DFIC076135-15s452.1250.96
DFIC084Dauphine52.51.50.79
DFIC035Orphan47.510.48
DFIC017Brown Turkey400.8750.35
DFIC012Mission2510.25
DFIC066Kadota 2510.25
DFIC003Marabout-c B (Gulbun?)102.50.25
DFIC063Violette de Bordeaux250.750.19
DFIC019UCR 276-1417.50.8750.15
DFIC109K6-5250.250.06
DFIC004UCR29112.50.250.03
DFIC053St. Jean5.50.3750.02



Any personal observations would be greatly appreciated.

Mark
Seattle, WA

This is a photo of what I believe is a 'Gillette/Croisic' fig in our climate: