Register  |   | 
 
Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > First Harvest Verte Pics & Review
 
 


Reply
  Author   Comment  
DesertDance

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 4,518
Posted Reply with quote  #1 
I purchased this as a tree from Driveway Farmer a couple years ago.  It didn't produce figs until it went in-ground here.  It was planted last fall, and took off this spring.  Aggressive grower.

I ate a ripened fig a month ago.  It was yellow in color.  I was waiting for yellow to appear, but it didn't.  I guess this is a green fig.  I tested a few, and they dropped in my hand.

Here we go  The little guy on the right was lying on the ground.  Most are shriveled, but still green.

Verte.July14.3.jpg

The one center was soft, but not shriveled.  I opened them up.  Sorry for the blur:

Verte.July14.2.jpg 

Taste profile:  This is year one, so the flavor will improve for sure.  I found the non-shriveled center fig to taste more like a strawberry.  The more the shrivel, the richer the flavor.  You get a berry flavor, but not as jammy as VdB. 

Obviously we tasted a few prior to this shot:

Verte.July14.jpg   
I liked the one in the center the best.  I'll be out there to pick prior to shrivel.

Suzi

__________________
Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
GeneDaniels

Registered:
Posts: 1,014
Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Suzi,

Is this what they call Strawberry Verte, also known as Green Ischia? If so, then I am very happy as I have a TC Strawberry Verte that is growing like a weed this year! I am thinking it will give figs next year and I am hoping they are like the ones you are showing. I have never had a green fig, but green to fool the birds with a red center sounds wonderful!
__________________
Zone 7b (Central Arkansas) Seven trees in the ground: Hardy Chicago, Celeste(?), LSU gold, Italian Black, Southern Brown Turkey(?), Strawberry Verte, and Unk yellow.  Trees in pots: VdB, CdD, and Sicilian?
newnandawg

Registered:
Posts: 2,535
Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Suzi, very nice. If its the same as Green Ischia, I let mine go because it was not very tasty at all. I had another cutting but it did not make it.

Gene, I have a Lyndhurst White which is green when ripe. I bird enjoyed some of  it before I could get to it. LOL
DesertDance

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 4,518
Posted Reply with quote  #4 
I think it's pretty much standard that the first crop isn't the best.  After a few years is when the real flavor kicks in.

Gene and Mike, I'm pretty sure this is the same as Green Ischia / Strawberry Verte.  When I bought it, Driveway Farmer had it labeled simply Verte. 

It is planted where it is to provide shade to our dining room on the west of the house.  I have set goals for it.  I stand in the same place daily and watch it grow.  It's new goal is another foot, which I have no doubt it will hit prior to September.

I'll do an update on flavor next year and the next and the next, hoping for improvement.  It's a good fig, but not in the top ten...YET!  It's a baby.

For those in cooler areas, this might be a good one.  Mine never went dormant last winter when all the rest did.

Suzi
__________________
Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
greenfig

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 3,182
Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Suzi,
Thanks for the post!
Nice looking figs but my Strawberry Verte fruit is about twice larger, I got mine from Jon.
Could you find out the history of yours, please?
It just looks different from my SV, the skin is thicker, the void inside, and the color not as red.
__________________
wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal
DesertDance

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 4,518
Posted Reply with quote  #6 
I'll PM Driveway Farmer to see if he can pop in here and give some history.  He may not even remember.  It was a while ago.  I'll give it a whirl.

Suzi
__________________
Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
hblta

Registered:
Posts: 711
Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Can't find it now, but I think I read somewhere that while Verte and Green Ischia aer synonymous, Strawberry Verte was distict.  It was/is a Verte mutant that had/has way more strawberry flavour than the regular. and hence the name. Someone that has been around longer than me might know for sure.
__________________
*************
Grant
Kitchener Ontario Canada
Z5b
fignutty

Registered:
Posts: 580
Posted Reply with quote  #8 
It looks similar to my Strawberry Verte. But I like mine all shriveled up. The flavor is mostly in the skin and resembles some of my nectarine which is a good thing. The center is very sweet and berry like.
__________________
Steve in Alpine TX 7b/8a
Wish list:  Sangue Dolce, Siblawi, Victoria, Emalyn's Purple, Colonel Littman's Black Cross
drivewayfarmer

Registered:
Posts: 773
Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Suzi ,
I got your PM , but I have never had Verte myself , so I don't think you could have gotten it from me.
__________________
Kerry Zone 5 NH
Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra  .
DesertDance

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 4,518
Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Sorry Kerry.  Just looked at my spreadsheet.  I got it from Ruben.  And it is Strawberry Verte AKA UCR143-36.  He sent me a live plant.  It was a long time ago, and I don't know his screen name. 

I was so sure I got it from you.  During our move, I lost track of many members.  Time to get back on track.

Thanks for responding.  Maybe you need this fig.  It's pretty cold hardy.  Never went dormant here last year.

Suzi
__________________
Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
greenfig

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 3,182
Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Suzi,
Are you sure that the 143-36 is the same as the Jon's SV?
It doesn't look like...
__________________
wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal
DesertDance

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 4,518
Posted Reply with quote  #12 
greenfig, I am not sure.  I have this spreadsheet that I could not bear to look at until today when Kerry told me he did not send me Verte.  So, I had to revisit all the figs I lost in the "Mother of all Fungus Gnat infestations,"  and I got the fig from Ruben (not sure screen name), but it was called Strawberry Verte.  Not sure if it was from Jon originally, but I got it from Ruben... I should know his screen name, but I don't remember.   I do research and maybe I just put that UC Davis number on there.  Not sure.  Long time and a lot of pain ago.

There will be a day when I will face my losses, and put those I lost again, on my wish list.  Very sad to lose so many living plants.

On top of this I feel bad that I didn't give Ruben credit for this fig.........

I'll be posting more pics next year when it's a little bigger and better, but now my mission is to find Ruben!

Suzi
__________________
Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
DesertDance

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 4,518
Posted Reply with quote  #13 
On the bright side, I know for a fact, Martin didn't send this to me!!  LOL!
__________________
Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
greenfig

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 3,182
Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Suzi,
I wish you good luck with your figs!
I believe you need a real SV! The one that gets 10 points on your taste scale :)
Similar to what Steve and myself have, it is a good fig.
__________________
wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal
MGorski

Registered:
Posts: 370
Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Suzi, 143-36 is also called Emerald Strawberry and is different than Strawberry Verte. I have a 143-36 that has figs for the first time this year, but not ripe yet. It is one of two plants next to each other, one is an unknown. I'm not sure which is which. I suspect the very fast growing, lush one is 143-36. Can you also show pictures of the leaves or the actual tree? Thanks:)

Mike in Hanover, VA
__________________
Zone-7, previously Mescalito
snaglpus

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 4,072
Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Suzi, 143-36 is also called Emerald Strawberry. It is not the same as SV. Your tree is SV. Don't throw it away. 
__________________
Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
DesertDance

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 4,518
Posted Reply with quote  #17 
The thing is, I might have tagged it 143-36 all by myself in my spreadsheet while doing beginner research.  I will post photos of the tree and leaves today.  It's dark right now.  We are having unusual weather.  It's hot and sticky, muggy, and we, in dry Southern California are not prepared for that.  I couldn't sleep, so I'm up really early with the AC and fan on.  I often look at what other names for something might be, and add that to my spreadsheet.  Does anyone know Ruben's screen name?  He would certainly know what he shipped to me.  It was an entire plant, not cuttings.   I'm pretty sure he tagged it Verte.  Ruben is in Texas.  I found his address, but not his screen name.  Bad record keeping on my part.

The tree has more than doubled it's size since it went in ground last September.
Suzi
__________________
Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
DesertDance

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 4,518
Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Here are pics taken this morning.  I found 3 more ripe figs, so another breakfast.

The Tree

Verte.Tree.7-27-14.jpg 

The leaves vary.  Two leaves.  Same tree.  The entire tree has varied leaves.

VerteLeaves.Figs2.jpg 

Figs and leaves

VerteLeaves.Figs.jpg 

So which is it? 

Suzi

__________________
Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
cis4elk

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,718
Posted Reply with quote  #19 
Suzi, I suggest doing it the old fashioned way and send him a letter and include your email address so he can contact you faster. You might have an answer in a week.
__________________
Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6
Wants List: For everyone to clean-up after themselves and co-exist peacefully. Let's think more about the future of our planet and less about ourselves.  :)
DesertDance

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 4,518
Posted Reply with quote  #20 
OK Calvin.  I hope he remembers.  Wish I knew his screen name.  I'll stick a note in the mail tomorrow.

Suzi
__________________
Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
kubota1

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,364
Posted Reply with quote  #21 
Suzi, His screen name is go4broek. I don't think he posts anymore.
__________________
Art- Western Pa. 6a
DesertDance

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 4,518
Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Thank you Art.  I just sent him a PM!  Much easier than snail mail.  I linked to this thread.  Maybe he'll pop in with some history.

I understand the no posting thing.  Life sometimes gets in the way.  We had 1 major death, one house remodel and sale, then another major remodel and move all in 2 years, and that takes a lot of online time!!

Suzi
__________________
Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
MGorski

Registered:
Posts: 370
Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Suzi, thanks for posting the pictures, not sure if it matches either plant I have thought to be 143-36, though leaf ID can be tricky for me. It looks a bit more like my Strawberry Verte, but they are mostly single and three lobed. I hope you can find your answer, or someone else can make an ID from your photos.

Mike in Hanover, VA
__________________
Zone-7, previously Mescalito
DesertDance

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 4,518
Posted Reply with quote  #24 
Just walked out there.  The main trunks are supported by sticks so they will grow tall, but tonight I noticed a ton of new figs at every leaf on every branch.  This is a very prolific tree.  You harvest figs, it grows more.

Last year these figs appeared in November, and I knew they wouldn't ripen, but first harvest was in April.  I am pretty sure the new ones will ripen by September. 

We're figuring out our schedule here..........

Suzi
__________________
Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
MGorski

Registered:
Posts: 370
Posted Reply with quote  #25 
Here you go Suzi, this is likely what you have- http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/verteischia-green-update-5867146?highlight=verte&pid=1273727315#post1273727315

Mike in Hanover, VA
__________________
Zone-7, previously Mescalito
DesertDance

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 4,518
Posted Reply with quote  #26 
I didn't get cuttings.  I bought a plant named Verte.  I hope Ruben responds to my PM plea.  I will say this is a really vigorous HUGE tree, and prolific is sort of underspin.  It's an 80 footer if somebody lets it, but we'll stop it at 20'. 

Just going to hide and watch.  Green Ischia, I've heard is also a delicious fig.  Shhhhhhhh

Suzi
__________________
Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
Previous Topic | Next Topic
Print
Reply