Which fig varieties were most commonly grown in Ft. Worth, Texas circa 1950?

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GreenFin

Registered:1331268315
Posts: 684

Posted 1390012422	Reply with quote #1

My Dad told me that he ate a lot of tasty figs as a young kid in Ft. Worth, Texas, but that he hasn't really eaten any figs since the family moved north around 1950. I'm trying to figure out the most likely candidates for what he ate, so that I can grow them all and hopefully let him taste something from his childhood. From my reading on this site, I think the most likely candidates are Southern Brown Turkey, Celeste, and Alma. Is that correct? Are there any other varieties that may have been fairly common in that area at that time? Thanks for the help :) __________________ James, zone 6a Kansas (zone 10 greenhouses); wish list is in my profile http://www.FigCuttings.com

Chapman

Registered:1267669490
Posts: 351

Posted 1390013088	Reply with quote #2

Alma was released by Texas A&M in 1974 so that was later. I've read about a Magnolia fig that was grown a lot in Texas back when they had canneries. __________________ South Louisiana, Zone 9

GreenFin

Registered:1331268315
Posts: 684

Posted 1390013484	Reply with quote #3

Thanks Chapman, I'll cross Alma off the list and do some reading up on Magnolia/Brunswick. __________________ James, zone 6a Kansas (zone 10 greenhouses); wish list is in my profile http://www.FigCuttings.com

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1390014065	Reply with quote #4

The book I got that was written in the 1920's said Magnolia and Celeste were very common in TX __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

GreenFin

Registered:1331268315
Posts: 684

Posted 1390014525	Reply with quote #5

Thanks Gloria :) I'll definitely add Magnolia/Brunswick to the list. Celeste Magnolia/Brunswick Southern Brown Turkey __________________ James, zone 6a Kansas (zone 10 greenhouses); wish list is in my profile http://www.FigCuttings.com

palazzophoto

Registered:1365388327
Posts: 140

Posted 1390020033	Reply with quote #6

90% of the old/mature trees i find in old neighborhoods in Houston are Celeste. I have never seen a large Brunswick, though they are common i think that they die back to the ground in cold years. But definitey: Celeste Brunswick Brown Turkey(80% of what Texans call Brown Turkey or Tx Everbearing are actually Celeste) A lot of Sicilian immigrants brought Celeste to Texas and also acquired from others shortly after arriving, i have trees that my family brought from Sicily in the early 1900's. You can hardly kill a Celeste in Texas, plus the are the best tasting of the three. just my thoughts __________________ Justin Palazzo Wish List: Red Sicilian,Red Israel,Sbayi, Martinenca Rimada(any of the Rimada family) Dauphine/Grantham's Royal,Figo Preto, Olympian Quality Unknown Cultivars

GreenFin

Registered:1331268315
Posts: 684

Posted 1390021669	Reply with quote #7

Thank you for the further insight, palazzophoto! __________________ James, zone 6a Kansas (zone 10 greenhouses); wish list is in my profile http://www.FigCuttings.com

Chapman

Registered:1267669490
Posts: 351

Posted 1390068928	Reply with quote #8

Palazzophoto, that is interesting about the origin of the Celeste trees. They certainly spread through Louisiana to become the most popular fig tree. __________________ South Louisiana, Zone 9

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1390095891	Reply with quote #9

Celeste has sicilian origin? good to know. __________________ Pete Durham, NC Zone 7b "don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher *** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. * * and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...***

palazzophoto

Registered:1365388327
Posts: 140

Posted 1390110284	Reply with quote #10

Celeste is Malta,as in the island off the Italian coast....look it up __________________ Justin Palazzo Wish List: Red Sicilian,Red Israel,Sbayi, Martinenca Rimada(any of the Rimada family) Dauphine/Grantham's Royal,Figo Preto, Olympian Quality Unknown Cultivars

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