King Arthur?

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jtp

Registered:1271516015
Posts: 980

Posted 1335466737	Reply with quote #1

One of our local nurseries is selling a cold-tolerant, black fig called King Arthur. Anyone know anything about this variety?

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1335468737	Reply with quote #2

It seems to originate from Hackney Nursery in Greensboro Florida. They are wholesaling 3# 2-3ft. for $8.50 ea. Here goes a picture of it that I borrowed from them. Hackney's phone #1800 622 8605. __________________ 7a, DE

FMD

Registered:1309800590
Posts: 1,327

Posted 1335470162	Reply with quote #3

Tallahassee Nurseries is selling these figs. Greensboro is 20 miles from Tallahassee. Makes sense now. I guess there's no law prohibiting the naming of figs. Maybe King Arthur brought the specimen back from the Crusades? More likely,... Brown Turkey by any other name. __________________ Frank Tallahassee, FL Zone 8b North Florida Figs

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1335471946	Reply with quote #4

You are right FMD, those figgers!!!! There is no way they paid one cent to acquire any of those cuttings from a valid source if they managed to get thousands at once and are selling them for all of $8.50 each after potting and raising them for edit: six months maybe? I suppose it their own "special selection" of BT, ha, if they spent years growing out a sport for their own stock they would want more $ I know the big guys can do a low margin but I doubt they would if they really had something special. By the way, I think the reason big nurseries like growing BT is that they can get them loaded with figs so fast. __________________ 7a, DE

jtp

Registered:1271516015
Posts: 980

Posted 1335473643	Reply with quote #5

Talk about a mark up. Those same trees are going for $19.99 here.

Gina

Registered:1330452963
Posts: 2,260

Posted 1335475176	Reply with quote #6

When I was first looking for a Mission fig, at our local discount nursery, they were selling a 2 foot single whip in a one gallon pot for $24.99. That is when I innocently decided to start some cuttings of my own, and the trail has led here... (Spending that $25 would have saved me a lot of money, work, and garden space, lol.) Is there any entity that is currently working to develop new fig varieties? Or is anything new like this most likely a re-name of something previously existing? The taxonomy of figs is so messed up, that would be very easy to do. __________________ WillsC's new fig forum: http://www.Ourfigs.com (and blueberries)

BronxFigs

Registered:1333154764
Posts: 1,864

Posted 1335479297	Reply with quote #7

Gina.... Last sentence, first paragraph...I agree. I buy the largest, bearing-age, trees that I can find and pay the price. I cannot be bothered waiting for cuttings to root, then grow out, then wait for figs, hopefully in three years minimum. I let someone else take the risk, let them grow it, and then I step in and pay the vig. But, I get instant fruit. Frankie don't do "waiting" very well. The only time I will raise a cutting would be to acquire a rare variety. And then, it better be a good fig, from a reputable source. Frank __________________ Bronx, NYC Zone-7

springlakenj

Registered:1320370452
Posts: 281

Posted 1335486859	Reply with quote #8

I hear ya Frank. But I definitely find some satisfaction in dividing, rooting, etc, turning one plant into a bunch or growing a small one into a big one. __________________ John G. Spring Lake Hts, NJ Zone 7A

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1335524012	Reply with quote #9

maybe i should call my VdB, guinevere, and my KB morgan la fay. pete __________________ 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...***

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1335568023	Reply with quote #10

Rooting your own cuttings is witnessing in the miracle of life. That said, if I could afford (or even find) several great varieties that were 5 yrs old and well cared for I'd like them, too. __________________ 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.

Gina

Registered:1330452963
Posts: 2,260

Posted 1335578102	Reply with quote #11

Quote: Originally Posted by BronxFigs Gina.... Last sentence, first paragraph...I agree. I buy the largest, bearing-age, trees that I can find and pay the price. I cannot be bothered waiting for cuttings to root, then grow out, then wait for figs, hopefully in three years minimum. I let someone else take the risk, let them grow it, and then I step in and pay the vig. But, I get instant fruit. Frankie don't do "waiting" very well. The only time I will raise a cutting would be to acquire a rare variety. And then, it better be a good fig, from a reputable source. Frank I understand. If I could, if $ would permit, I would do both - buy large trees, as well as starting cuttings. I'd love the immediate gratification of having trees and fruit fast. But unfortunately in my area, there just aren't that many interesting fig trees for sale. The only way to get anything besides generic Brown Turkeys (gobble, gobble), Mission (very good), and some green thing (meh) is to go the cutting route. Or do more expensive mail order. So I do cuttings... and it's the most fun plant thing I've done since finding a source for low-chill blueberries. :) :) :) __________________ WillsC's new fig forum: http://www.Ourfigs.com (and blueberries)

saxonfig

Registered:1258080612
Posts: 1,370

Posted 1335583274	Reply with quote #12

I found some similar to these at Tractor Supply earlier this spring while they were still dormant. They were trained in a similar three trunk habit as the ones pictured above. These were labeled as BT and were 19.99 each. They were also a bit larger. I bought two of them. They make great rootstock for grafting onto. Black Ischia seems to like BT as rootstock so far :) . No pics yet. Will come later. __________________ Fig Well And Prosper! Bill - SW KY. Zone 6b. 36.5N I'm fruitnut on ebay.

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1383235859	Reply with quote #13

bump. Just found this fig and I'm planning on getting one today. Just wondering if it was a black fig or not? __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1394223175	Reply with quote #14

Hey Brent and John, what is the ruling on this King Arthur fig? Is it Brown Turkey? Celeste? __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

jtp

Registered:1271516015
Posts: 980

Posted 1394241993	Reply with quote #15

I never ended up buying one. All of the trees at that particular nursery were loaded with some sort of beetle about the size of a quarter. They were kind of iridescent green. At any rate, they were eating everything - figs, leaves, branches - with abandon. I wanted no part of bringing them or any grubs that may have been in the pots home.

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1394247440	Reply with quote #16

I took another look around, they have some more for sale this year. I also took a look at the flickr photo and found a much larger size where you can get a good look at that ripening fig. It would stretch this thread out quite a bit so downloaded and cut the fig out to make smaller... but I apparently do not have permission to upload the pic? A first for me. In the larger photos it does look like English Brown turkey to me. King Arthur was English right? http://www.flickr.com/photos/48182328@N04/5961065050/sizes/o/ __________________ 7a, DE

paully22

Registered:1195324538
Posts: 2,719

Posted 1394256138	Reply with quote #17

Appropriate name should be The Queen --- it is productive. But the thought that it is likely a BT really spoils the enthusiam.

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1394257006	Reply with quote #18

wart was a limey. but what is exactly is an english? is it picts from the north who settled in lowlands? or is it a viking invaders from yonder yrs? or is it normans from france? he supposedly protected britons from the saxons, but isn't england comprised of various groups of people who just happened to be occupying the kingdom at the time? __________________ 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...***

plantguy

Registered:1394281078
Posts: 2

Posted 1394282934	Reply with quote #19

I am the guy with the King Arthur figs on the flickr site. I have emailed the person who brought the original plant to us. It is not ours, I believe it was a "pass a long" / "selection" from a customer up in the North Georgia mountains. My memory it was chosen for its hardiness. I don't think we named it, I believe it came to us with that name. It is very common in the industry for individuals and/or company's to name selections. To the point, it can be confusing at times. Many times the reason for the selection is hardiness, compact growth, longer bloom time, re-blooming, larger or smaller fruit, etc. Some are patented, some trademarked, others just passed along for free. I have been in the business for over 25 years and seen many plants with different names but were all were the same plant. Maybe a different strain. Some of the loropetalum's are a prime example. Sometimes the plant was brought from another country by more than one person, thus each gave it a name. Not saying it is good or bad, just part of the industry. I am no expert on figs, but hopefully the person(s) that we picked the original plants up from can give us more info. Once he contacts me, I will be glad to share. You can decide from there if it is a BT selection or something else. I will be interested to see what you can determine from the information I can provide. I am always looking to learn more about plants and their history. Thanks and have a great day!

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1394338427	Reply with quote #20

Thanks Plant guy. I found a couple for sale in Charlotte last year. I picked up 2 of them. They were strong tall and very healthy. I'll post pics this summer with leaf patterns. Ninety-nine percent of every thing sold in Charlotte is either Brown Turkey, Celeste, and Mission. I was able to trace the source of my trees. Mine came from Johnson Nursery up near Winston-Salem. I called the nursery but they couldn't tell me anything about the fig. It frustrates the heck out of me because nursery owner tell every person that ask, that Brown Turkey and Celeste are the only figs that grow in our area. And that's flat out not true! Sounds like King Arthur is an unknown fig. I'm a big fan of Unknows! Thanks again for the info on King Arthur. The more information we can obtain about a fig, the better! __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

paully22

Registered:1195324538
Posts: 2,719

Posted 1394360546	Reply with quote #21

Hey Dennis I can understand your frustration. I have a similar one here that state it is an IMPROVED CELESTE but not LSU.

rafed

Registered:1252876934
Posts: 5,308

Posted 1394370188	Reply with quote #22

Dennis, Think that's bad? Try having someone tell you straight in your face that figs "DO NOT" grow in Michigan. That's when I pull out my phone and show them pictures of my yard. I tell them to start counting as all these figs pictured are not the same.

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1394382696	Reply with quote #23

Yeah, that's pretty bad Rafed. Every year I call around and ask nurseries if they have any figs. Spring has sprung in Charlotte with sporatic freezing temps coming at random. Some have figs, but most don't. There's one nursery that I called tried to sell me....guess what? you guessed it! brown turkey and Celeste. I asked the owner do they push only those 2 figs......WHY? She said, because that is what they have sold for more than 30 years. She asked me what I was looking for and I asked here what can she get? She said, she can get a fig called Brown Yellow. I questioned the name. So, she called her supplier and called me back 5 minutes later. She said, the tree is called LU Gold. She said, she never heard of that tree before and heard its a large white fig. I told her the name of the fig is LSU Gold and educated her about LSU Gold. I asked her who was the source and she said she did not know. HA, i knew that was a lie! She just didn't want to tell me. So, I told her to order me 2. She said, done ----they wil arrive on Wednesday. When that tree comes in, I know it will have a source tag. I'm going to call that nursery and talk to them. It's the least I can do. My goal is to educate educate, educate these guys. __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

schaplin

Registered:1392175246
Posts: 662

Posted 1394415200	Reply with quote #24

Hi Well if I have my way the nursery I'm at will be offering new varieties of figs in the future. They have been intrigued by what I'm doing with the cuttings and are letting me have a little space in the Cravo house to trial the figs in. We are in Salisbury NC so not too far from Charlotte so down the road you will be able to check the place out. John the owner is really cool and an old style plant guy who grows tons of stuff and is always up for a new challenge. __________________ Wish List: @Hmari, @Maltese beauty, @Col de Dame Grise, @Bryant Dark, @Lynhurst White, @Melcedonia Dark, @Panevino Dark, @Paradiso

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1394419168	Reply with quote #25

back in 96, i used to drive by salisbury every sunday. used to go to charlotte every sunday for kendo practice. i always wondered if salistbury steak was started from there... i always stopped by taco hell on the way back for a bite.. didn't have time for the salisbury steak... __________________ 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...***

schaplin

Registered:1392175246
Posts: 662

Posted 1394421512	Reply with quote #26

I don't know about the steak thing although it did cross my mind. Funny I used to be a fencer and was on-line looking to see if I could start fencing again. At some point I will be in your neck of the woods since there are a few places I want to visit. I believe there is a large lemur research facility located near Durham and a cool plant place (Plant delights in Raleigh) that I need to see. __________________ Wish List: @Hmari, @Maltese beauty, @Col de Dame Grise, @Bryant Dark, @Lynhurst White, @Melcedonia Dark, @Panevino Dark, @Paradiso

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1394422584	Reply with quote #27

did bit of foil back in college. would have loved epee, but didn't get into it. kendo was more of my thing. being a korean by birth and not very good at playing with balls, all my sports have been martial arts. did join UNC-CH fencing club sometime ago.. but i was more or less ignored. didn't find them very inviting. i was in h.s. wrestling team, but they didn't let me throw anyone and choking was not allowed. lemur center at duke is very nice. i go there every summer for the cub scouts in my pack. i'll probably organize a visit this coming summer also. not sure about "plant delight". but let me know if you plan a visit in summer. we can hit lemur center with cubs and i might have a tree or two for you. __________________ 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...***

schaplin

Registered:1392175246
Posts: 662

Posted 1394426556	Reply with quote #28

I fenced for 20 plus years plus did some coaching but haven't picked up a foil, epee or sabre in years although I still have them all. Can't wait to go to the Lemur center and I have a bunch of stuff I've been saving to donate to them. I've loved lemurs since Gerald Durrell's book the Aya Aya and I. __________________ Wish List: @Hmari, @Maltese beauty, @Col de Dame Grise, @Bryant Dark, @Lynhurst White, @Melcedonia Dark, @Panevino Dark, @Paradiso

plantguy

Registered:1394281078
Posts: 2

Posted 1394464600	Reply with quote #29

Here is the information that I have found on King Arthur fig. It is a plant found in NW GA near Dalton, growing next to the front porch of an old house. The home owners name is "Arthur". From what I can tell, the plant has been there for possibly over 50 years. It survived the mid 80's freezes- minus 10 to 15 up there. It has been sold up thru the NC mountains for years. So far I am told that they keep coming back up each spring. I am told it is a heavy fruiter and that it gets big.

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1399754369	Reply with quote #30

Hey Plantguy, is King Arthur a black fig? What color is the interior? __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1400463302	Reply with quote #31

I don't think this fig is a black fig. My tree looks exactly like my Desert King. The jury will be out in a few weeks! __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1402861812	Reply with quote #32

Yeap, King Arthur is truly Desert King! I got 5 King Arthurs. These trees are not small and they are not fully grown, but they are full of brebas! One is just about ripe and I had to cover it with a green organza bag. The fig is swollen, drooping, and the color changed from bright green to a pale green. Here are a few pics. I'll take more then the fig ripens. enjoy, __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1403144575	Reply with quote #33

I must be one of only a few that have this fig....not many comments. Well, CONFIRMED.....this fig is not Desert King! So, this fig is truly a "King Arthur" fig, whatever that is! It's super hardy all the way down to 5 degrees in my zone. The figs are long and brown ribbed, and sweet. One fig ripen today and here it is! Anybody else got this fig? __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

Ruuting

Registered:1359310699
Posts: 613

Posted 1403152401	Reply with quote #34

Dennis, that's a massive fig! How would you rate the flavor? It looks like it was perfectly ripe. __________________ Rui Southeast CT, zone 6B

donpaid

Registered:1388952715
Posts: 216

Posted 1403154605	Reply with quote #35

It must have been a surprise thinking it was a DK and then seeing the skin change color! Looks like a great fig. Congrats!

Ong888

Registered:1384036692
Posts: 140

Posted 1403178389	Reply with quote #36

Wow....... Very very nice fig there Dennis........ Should get one of that variety..... Thanks for the sharing.... Ong Indonesia

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1403922555	Reply with quote #37

Went on a business trip to San Diego. Got home today, and look what was fully ripe on the tree? Another King Arthur fig! It was not figgy but very sweet! Sweeter than the first. __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

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