snaglpus
Registered:1244258188 Posts: 4,072
Posted 1377645106
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#1
Good day, after dinner I strolled thru my container garden and checked on a few trees. Ventura and Marva Sika. Both trees had ripe figs. I did not take all of them. I left some on for later in the week. Marva Sika has been constantly ripening over the last 7 days. The racoons got most of the first crop until they ate the hot meals I left for them . I think I got most of them. BUt they are still turning over my large pots trying to get the figs. It's been hot here over the past few days and it will stay constant for at least another week or so, no rain. This is perfect fig weather. Figs are ripening every day but I'm only picking about every 2 days now. Two days ago I picked one totally ripe Ventura and it was crazy sweet! I gave the other half to my wife. After one bite she fell to the floor! She got up laughing saying, "man that's good!" Today, a few more ripen and just could not wait to taste them. Here are a few pictures. Hey they taste 10 times better than they look! And they look absolutely terrific! The middle one is Marva Sika. The coons were hitting Marva Sika and my La'Goccia d'Oro so hard that I had to move them to the front of my garage. Every night they were knocking down my tree picking the ripe figs. I love the taste of Marva Sika. THANK YOU BASS!!! TO ENLARGE THESE PIC, MOUSE OVER, RIGHT CLICK, OPEN IN NEW TAB OR WINDOW Enjoy!IMGP0135_1.jpg IMGP0136_1.jpg IMGP0137_1.jpg IMGP0138_1.jpg IMGP0139_1.jpg IMGP0140_1.jpg
__________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a
kubota1
Registered:1342900232 Posts: 1,364
Posted 1377646792
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#2
Glad to hear about the Ventura. Mine are fast growers.
__________________ Art- Western Pa. 6a
bugs
Registered:1305326403 Posts: 356
Posted 1377647627
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#3
Glad to hear that they were that good
Rewton
Registered:1291943117 Posts: 1,946
Posted 1377654773
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#4
Dennis, I've read that Ventura grows as a compact/small tree/bush and is good for a tight spot in the yard. That would seem to not fit with what Art observed. What do you think? I started several green figs this year (Ventura, Adriatic JH, Battaglia Green, Atreano, Vasilika Sika, Stella etc). I started feeling overwhelmed and gave the Ventura to a friend to try out. If it does really well for her as it has for you I'll have to get an airlayer off of it.
__________________ Steve MD zone 7a
snaglpus
Registered:1244258188 Posts: 4,072
Posted 1377655972
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#5
I have these, Ventura, Adriatic JH, Battaglia Green, Atreano, Vasilika Sika, Stella, Strawberry, De La Senyora, Verte, Strawberry Verte, Ischia Green, Green Paradise, and Lyndhurst White. Out of all of those I listed, Atreano is the biggest monster! My Ventura is straight up tree and did not grow much last year but I did not fertilizer that much this year either. All of those I listed seem to get better with age. I gota get me another Ventura, I love that rich fig taste.
__________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a
pitangadiego
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Registered:1188871011 Posts: 5,447
Posted 1377657460
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#6
The Ventura AD grows like a weed on steroids. The years when I saw the parent tree, current years growth was as mush as 10' and more than 1" in diameter - probably closer to 1-1/2.
__________________ Encanto Farms Nursery
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rcantor
Registered:1309799312 Posts: 5,724
Posted 1377657536
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#7
They look like great figs!
__________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.
snaglpus
Registered:1244258188 Posts: 4,072
Posted 1377658822
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#8
Jon, I can't remember how tall my tree was last year. This year it's 7' tall and has twice more figs. Last year, most of my figs split and the rain soured them. Not the case this year.
__________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a
JustPeachy
Registered:1374695228 Posts: 304
Posted 1377690086
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#9
The figs look yummy but I'm curious....what is a "hot meal" for a racoon?
__________________ Sophie~
Sophies Choices: Sultane, Sal's , Hardy Chicago and varieties suitable to z7b...not too picky at this point since we are still a fig growing virgin!
snaglpus
Registered:1244258188 Posts: 4,072
Posted 1377706522
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#10
Sophie, 6 plastic plates each with a table spoon of warm potted meat and 2 big chunks of "Just One Bite" rat poison. It looks like corn. Every morning I'm out picking up 25g pots that have been pulled to the ground by coons and possums. And they crap on my deck too! After 7 days of feeding them their last meal, today no pots were on the ground but all 6 plates were clean. I had one 5ft tree broken completely by them and other trees bent down at a 30 degree angle. I got tired of trapping them.
__________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a
greenfig
Registered:1359790036 Posts: 3,182
Posted 1377712919
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#11
Dennis, I had a similar problem but on a smaller scale (although I have gazillions of squirrels, they go 10 to 1 for a coon). I used the coyote urine pellets, I was surprised that they actually worked! I got them at OSH. For the past 2 weeks my pots were not touched by the pests (or I cannot tell, which is the same to me). Have you tried them? That is not a poison, just a repellent.
__________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal
paully22
Registered:1195324538 Posts: 2,719
Posted 1377717586
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#12
I am glad to hear about Ventura. I had neglected my tree for over 5 yrs as the figs never ripen. But this warmer spring & summer, I have lots of figs on Ventura and not taking any chances, I have moved it to the green house. Thanks for the info Dennis. My wife & friends will be happy to enjoy them.
JustPeachy
Registered:1374695228 Posts: 304
Posted 1377825867
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#13
Quote:
Originally Posted by snaglpus Sophie, 6 plastic plates each with a table spoon of warm potted meat and 2 big chunks of "Just One Bite" rat poison. It looks like corn. Every morning I'm out picking up 25g pots that have been pulled to the ground by coons and possums. And they crap on my deck too! After 7 days of feeding them their last meal, today no pots were on the ground but all 6 plates were clean. I had one 5ft tree broken completely by them and other trees bent down at a 30 degree angle. I got tired of trapping them.
Wow. I'm sorry I even asked. I can totally understand your frustration over the ruination of all your hard work and continued efforts. Personally, I couldn't bring myself to just lay out poison. I'm in a suburb and there are too many slack jerk-offs that let their dogs and cats out to crap all over every ones yards. I'd be afraid one of them would eat it instead of the target coon or possum. I guess I spent too many years in service of the Humane Society. Animals that die of poisoning endue the worst kind of prolonged suffering imaginable. I've seen it all and I think I'd rather see one put down by gun shot to be honest. It would actually be more humane.
__________________ Sophie~
Sophies Choices: Sultane, Sal's , Hardy Chicago and varieties suitable to z7b...not too picky at this point since we are still a fig growing virgin!
javajunkie
Registered:1362970391 Posts: 1,523
Posted 1377827144
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#14
Go Dennis Go, where do you buy the one bite?
__________________ Tami SE Texas
snaglpus
Registered:1244258188 Posts: 4,072
Posted 1377827368
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#15
Sophie, I see your point. I too live in the city and yes some dogs and cats roam the neighbor hood along with coyotes and foxes. I can't tell neighbors to keep their animals indoors. I tried that. We have a leash law but it's not enforced unless someone complains or gets bit by a dog or cat. I called the humane folks and they said they will be happy to trap the critters and relocate it. But as soon as they catch one, they drive to the top of the hill let the animal out.
So, I go a do what I gota do. Sorry. Thanks for your comment.
__________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a
snaglpus
Registered:1244258188 Posts: 4,072
Posted 1377830991
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#16
Tami, I buy it from Amazon. Its called Just One Bite. Here is the link for the Just one Bite Bar. I buy in bulk and get the 10lb bucket. I got a lot of critters.
__________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a
javajunkie
Registered:1362970391 Posts: 1,523
Posted 1377858173
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#17
Thanks Dennis, as you already know I am trapping and drowning it's not going as fast as I had hoped. Right after I read your post last night the dog goes nuts and I look out back and there were 3 of the damn things just looking right back at me. GRRRRR So, Do you mix it with the potted meat or just on top?
__________________ Tami SE Texas