It took a bit of detective work but I finally found a source to send me wasp-ladened caprifigs next Spring! I'm to contact him again come Easter-time. He says his wasps start emerging mid-May into June. He and his family have fig orchards in the central valley; Mission, Kadota and Calimyrna.

I asked him his thought on caprification of common figs. Did a caprified common fig produce a better fig? He said he has a block of Mission next to Calimyrna. Some of the Mission do get caprified by wasps set out for the Calimyrna but he has never noticed a difference in flavor or size of the Mission. He did say caprified Kadota and Mission are a prettier/darker red inside but he couldn't say they were any better taste-wise or they would be caprifying all common figs. Good point.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to next year's experiment...hoping to establish wasps in the 3 caprifig trees I have.

Sue

Thanks Sue i enjoyed that reading .

I'll be very interested to hear how your experiment goes; to find out whether you're able to actually get the wasps established in your area.

http://www.archive.org/details/kadotafigtreatis00clarrich

If caprification of the common fig were truly significantly better than uncaprified I would think all commercial figs orchards in SoCal would caprify them. The cost would be minimal after a few seasons if they grew their own caprifig trees.

I'll contact some of the orchards in the central valley and ask them their opinion. Should be an interesting subject to investigate.

Sue
Caprification of common fig may not make difference in taste as mentioned but will it help in expediting the ripening?
The question is only of theoretical interest for some locations.

I will definitely ask the growers their take on caprification's benefit: early ripening, better taste, larger fruit, etc.. Above all, they should know, it's their livelihood! I think their input trumps any educational pamphlet or study. They have decades of hands-on education. If the two agree, fabulous. If not, I'm going with the farmers...

Sue

Sue,

Yeah, I know, you and Jon having fun at Davis...I'm envious. I wanted to go too but I just couldn't get away.

So what are the differences you noticed in the caprified vs uncaprified figs? Did they taste better? Seedier? Larger? Earlier ripening? If the differences are significantly better if caprified, why wouldn't the farmers caprify all figs? I'd think they would want to maximize their production.

Sue

Sue, how did your experiment work out?  Any update?  As you know, I'm on a mission to get the wasp in my area and keeping it here!  While Jon and I were at UCD, I asked if they (UCD) could be my source for fig wasp and Howard said no.  So, I'm searching for another source.  I heard Florida has the fig wasp and I got a few feelers out now.  If the wasp live fine in Florida, then it will live fine here.  Howard at UCD told me figs there do taste, smell, look, and feel different because they have been caprified.  The figs are larger, seedier and do taste different.  Wait till you see my video of the Brown Turkey and California Brown Turkey figs Jon and I tasted at UCD!  They were in my top 5 best tasting figs this year!  This year, they were jet black and extremely sweet!....but Jon won't admit it!  They were pretty close to the taste of Zidi, which is an awesome tasting fig!

If it really makes a difference even those of us in cold weather areas could get a few caprifigs every May or June and have them pollinate our figs.  Anyone know the timing of the flight of the wasps?

Robert, reading between the lines, my best guess is earlyish June.

Dennis is a little optimistic. They were the best BTs I have tasted, but they are still BTs. Not even close to Zidi. Not even.

Sorry.  Rereading Sue's post, mid May they start, so they'd need to be sent early May.

Curious as to where one is able to obtain these caprifig fruits? 

Are there Fig wasps in southern texas...San Antonio

I would urge an extremely cautious approach to introducing alien species to any area.

There are reasons that they are not there and the potential harm from importing could be great.  Check with your local Extension Office before doing any importing.

Maybe I am too cautious but I urge at least some effort of investigation prior to doing anything.

I would agree with Danny. I would be concerned what kind of change that would be introduced to the eco system balance.

Hi Svanessa,
Did the introduction of the wasp work ? Do you still have them ?