Hello
My last posting for help to id this fig resulted in finding the original owner that brought the fig from Italy.

This fig originated from Valoze's Greenhouses; http://valozesgreenhouse.com/about/

The fig was brought over from Italy by the grandfather Sal Valoze 50 years ago and this family fig is still growing in their main greenhouse.  According to them the fig tree can be found happily living in many homes around the capital district (Albany NY).  They call this fig "Valoze fig tree".

Thought I would do a topic on this fig and see if any other f4f members are growing this fig and how they like it and if anyone recognizes the fig family variety and what part of Italy it originated.

My container grown 2yr old fig was very sweet, chewy and a rich taste.  Could eat a basket of them.  The fig said to be cold hardy.  It sure seems very happy at my place and it is a keeper for me.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

Thanks for looking

 

Great idea to get a topic started on this fig, Pino. I like the story behind it and a beautiful fig with what appears to be excellent taste. It really looks like a great fig. Is it possible to get a photo of the mother tree?

Great idea Meg!
Albany NY is 250 miles away from me so hopefully someone else from the capital district can visit the mother tree that is still growing there at Valoze's Greenhouses.

Yes, maybe a F4F member who is close to Valoze can do it. It sure will be great to see it!

I live in the Albany area and have a few of the Valoze fig trees. I have a Valoze tree that has been in the ground for maybe 10 years and does better than any other tree in my collection. The tree is fast growing, very productive, and cold hardy. It also roots from cuttings extremely easily. It seems like it's hands down the best fig variety for my area, probably because it has been in the northeast for over 50 years. I can post a photo of the mother tree as soon as I can get a chance to visit the Valoze greenhouse. I would offer some cuttings to members but I do a bad job of keeping my cuttings organized and they are all mixed up with my other trees.

Pvc12
How do you cover it for winter. And when does the fruit ripen in the Albany area.
Cian

Congrats Pino. Another good one for Canada.

To protect my trees in the winter I encircle them with carpet and fill with leaves.
Here is a photo of the protected tree:  

The Valoze figs usually ripen in Early September through October until the first frost (usually mid October).
I have relatives who have the Valoze's in pots and they ripen a month earlier in August.

Paul, nice of you to offer to get a photo of the mother tree. I think we will all enjoy that. Does the Valoze nursery sell these trees?

Wish I had discovered Valoze figs when I lived outside of Albany. I would have started growing figs much earlier.  

Anyhow, Valoze has a large nursery operation with outlets in both Cohoes, NY and Latham, NY.  My guess is if someone were to write to them and ask, some cuttings might be obtainable or possibly even a dormant tree. The south end of Albany had a large Italian population, I bet there are several trees in back yards that could be sources for this cultivar too. Sounds like it really deserves to have a higher profile than it does.

Hi Pino.
Thank you for posting that great looking fig, I live about half hour from that nursery,
I'll be visiting the nursery to see if they sell plants.
Vito

The mother tree is a huge stump like tree where they continually remove cuttings to grow the trees that they sell. If your lucky enough to get a tree it will usually be about 3ft tall with figs on it already and cost somewhere in the area of $20. They have  limited amount of trees, and they sell very fast in the spring.

Thanks Pino for the information and bringing this great fig to light. Looks very interesting and attractive. The fruit resembles Negronne/VdB, but with a longer neck, yet the leaves are close to Mt.Etna type. If it is doing great in your area, I am sure it is a good fig for areas with summer.

Just to save every ones time (including Valoze's). I called them. They were very nice. They said they don't sell cuttings. They don't ship. They said once they put the rooted cuttings for sale they sell them quickly (couple weeks). The woman I spoke to felt bad for me and said I could buy some from such and such nursery, and that they ship. I said but are they Valoze figs? And she said no. LOL

Mohan, thanks but really thanks should go to Sal Valoze who brought this fig over from Italy and to Paul for growing it for 10 years and giving us his insights  

Blackfoot, thanks for following up with the nursery! 
Too bad I didn't know you were going to call it would be nice to know what part of Italy the Valoze  brought this fig from.

Thanks Pino. Would love to trial it. Can I make you an air layer Preto, CddN, Cdd Gris, Florea to reciprocate.
What is MC on your wish list ?

Paul, 
Thanks on the Florea but I have one coming.  I need to update my list.
MC is Melanzana Calabrese.  I am still trying to nail this one down since what I thought I had is likely LdA.

The other figs you are offering would be like a wish come true!! 
I can only promise to make my figs available for you or be your back up on anything I have.
grazie mille!

Thx for all the follow up & sharing here. Im on the West coast so I am not able to visit when they offer the tree... i am still hopeful for a picture of the mother tree!

To any Valoze owner...I would be happy to trade or pay a reasonable amount for some cuttings.

Pino, you have a Bella tree.

I went to Valoze'S nursery a couple of days ago, and to save everyone time, there will knot be any rooted cuttings, I spoke with who I think is the owner and said it's very hard to root,he would get two cuttings out of ten to root so he didn't root any this year. The mother tree is a trunk about eight inches round four feet tall with a big nob on top without any branches, he was kind and busy and cut me four tiny little cuttings about two inches long with a couple of leaves on them.
He said he will have figs trees for sale, not the Valoze's.
Vito

Si, bella vera!
Thanks Lewi!

Hope someone comes through for you. 
My plant has grown very well but is still only 2yrs old.  Am doing a couple of air layers for friends but no cuttings this year.

Thanks for letting us know Vito and good luck with the cuttings!

I wouldn't be too discouraged with those comments.  Everyone has a different skill level rooting cuttings.
I am anything but an expert at rooting cuttings but I had good luck with them.

Hi Vito,
I am very suprised to hear that! I have been going there for many years and the only trees for sale were the fig trees from that mother tree. I wonder if something changed in the management and they no longer have the desire to produce the rooted cuttings?

Hi Paul.
It was my first time there, although I've passed it hundreds of times.
I was also surprised because there was no branches on the plant, I can't imagine they would cut all the branches and throw them away.
Vito