intro and short fig story w/ pictures of "Filacciano"

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donpaid

Registered:1388952715
Posts: 216

Posted 1416863678 · Edited	Reply with quote #1

Hi Forum. I have been a member of the forum for about 10 months, but I have yet to introduce my self officially. My name's Dan and I am from and currently live in Northern San Diego County. Short Fig Story: My family is of Italian descent, so figs have been a huge part of my diet. One confession though: other than a brown turkey fig and not including dried figs, I have never had a fresh purple, violet, black, or dark fig. It's always been green figs: more specifically, a large, green skinned, red/pink/amber fleshed, intermediate variety (parthenocarpic breba, caducous main crop) that my grandparents "smuggled" over from Italy in the 70s. My grandma tells me that the variety is known as "Filacciano" in Italy. I have learned a lot in the past few months by this forum's members, especially regarding fig pollination, fig reproduction, and propagation techniques. I thank you all for your input, documentation, photos, and observations you've shared, and especially Jon from Encanto Farms for his work. I hope to add what I can to the forum from my own observations. I see wild fig trees growing all over the place in SoCal, so I'll definitely be sharing pictures with you all. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone.

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1416864033	Reply with quote #2

Great to have you, Dan. Merry Christmas to you as well. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

greg88

Registered:1359498953
Posts: 800

Posted 1416864960	Reply with quote #3

Welcome! Can you tell us more about the flavor of the family fig? __________________ Greg North West Arkanasas Zone 6b Wish list: any SPECTACULAR cold hardy figs, and/or perhaps a Niagra Bl., Laradek EBT, Kathleen's Bl, Hunt, a great UNK or anything anyone wants me to have???

eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,101

Posted 1416867466	Reply with quote #4

Welcome Don. Do you know where in Italy this heirloom originated? I assume from your history that you have the fig wasp in your area and get the second fig crop? How do the brebas compare with the (pollinated) main crop? __________________ Ed Zone 6A - Southwest PA --------------------------- Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid), Col Littman's Black Cross. And any cold hardy early fig.

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1416867511	Reply with quote #5

Hi Dan welcome and benvenuto. Filacciano is a name I have seen before on the forum, is it the same one? Your fig sounds similar to Desert King. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

RichinNJ

Registered:1374784282
Posts: 1,687

Posted 1416868153	Reply with quote #6

Welcome

Feigenbaum

Registered:1377643723
Posts: 382

Posted 1416868719	Reply with quote #7

Welcome Dan and thanks for that nice introduction! __________________ Hi from Germany! (Zone 7b) Christian

coop951

Registered:1217167527
Posts: 596

Posted 1416869149	Reply with quote #8

Hi Dan You are surrounded by fig fanciers of all types, and in many cases here, lovers of Italian figs Welcome aboard, Coop __________________ Coop Northern NJ Zone 7a

Ruuting

Registered:1359310699
Posts: 613

Posted 1416870204	Reply with quote #9

Welcome, Dan. Time to acquire some dark figs:) __________________ Rui Southeast CT, zone 6B

Hershell

Registered:1396922438
Posts: 650

Posted 1416871123	Reply with quote #10

Welcome Dan and a happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you. And tell us more about that fig. __________________ Hershell Zone 8. Ray City, Ga.

deerhunter16b

Registered:1352062719
Posts: 785

Posted 1416872177	Reply with quote #11

Welcome Dan __________________ john Zone 7a

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1416875256	Reply with quote #12

Welcome Dan and thanks for sharing about your fig. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

waynea

Registered:1362316304
Posts: 1,886

Posted 1416875665	Reply with quote #13

Welcome to the forum Dan, thanks for sharing.

donpaid

Registered:1388952715
Posts: 216

Posted 1416876401	Reply with quote #14

I'm pleasantly surprised by the friendly responses! Thank you all! Greg, I akin the flavor of the brebas to be a sweet honey with light stwawberry. The best way I can describe the main crops flavor is sweet raspberry with some acid. I suspect the difference in taste between the crops has to do with the main crop being pollinated. (Again, the main crop needs to be pollinated to produce edible fruits.) Ed, The family fig comes from Ciociaria, an old region in the Apennines between Rome and Naples. This doesn't necessarily mean that it originated there. It could have been brought in from another part of Italy and possibly even another part of Europe hundreds of years ago. I don't know for sure. But I believe the trees from which my grandparents got the original cuttings are still alive and fruitful. And yes, I do live in an area with the wasp. And as far as the breba/main crop comparison, I'll refer you to the response I gave to Greg. Ciao Rafael, I just did a quick "Filacciano" word search...and wow, I recognize the fruit and leaf patterns. They are very similar if not identical to what I see on my trees. And yes, it could very well be DK! Rui, It's already on my to-do list. I know there is a little rivalry between dark and light fig eaters. I gotta say I'm on the light side due to inexperience with dark figs, but I'd love to hear the dark side's "argument" :) Hershell, It's about as hardy as a brown turkey fig. The brebas are pretty huge. My grandparents brought it to Los Angeles in 1973 in the form of 1 cutting in the carry-on lol. Now we have about 10 full sized trees. I'll try to find some pictures of the Filacciano fig.

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1416877000	Reply with quote #15

Welcome aboard the wild fig ride.... __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

donpaid

Registered:1388952715
Posts: 216

Posted 1416877201	Reply with quote #16

Brebas Attached Images danpics3_312.JPG (981.37 KB, 123 views) danpics3_332_1.jpg (372.57 KB, 119 views) danpics3_267-1.jpg (285.35 KB, 111 views)

donpaid

Registered:1388952715
Posts: 216

Posted 1416877749	Reply with quote #17

Pollinated main crop Attached Images danpics3_594-1.jpg (890.38 KB, 99 views) danpics3_596-1.jpg (631.99 KB, 111 views) danpics3_586-1.jpg (523.24 KB, 96 views) danpics3_583-1.jpg (697.91 KB, 81 views)

donpaid

Registered:1388952715
Posts: 216

Posted 1416877842	Reply with quote #18

sorry the pictures are kinda huge, I have to work on my file re-sizing skills

tylerj

Registered:1347291507
Posts: 646

Posted 1416878312	Reply with quote #19

nice looking fig there Don! and welcome to the forum! Tyler __________________ London, Ontario zone 6a Wish List: Martinenca Rimada, Genovese Nero AF, Galicia Negra, Brooklyn White

Elfarach

Registered:1409716614
Posts: 288

Posted 1416879047	Reply with quote #20

Welcome to the forum Don... Good looking figs... __________________ Simon C. So. Cal (El Monte) Zone 10a Wish list: Adriatic JH, Raspberry Latte, Violet de Sollies, Col de Dame Black, Ischia Black, Takoma Violet

Frankallen

Registered:1371842383
Posts: 994

Posted 1416879134	Reply with quote #21

Welcome Dan, that sure is a good looking Fig! Interesting history about your Family :) __________________ Frank from Bama- Zone 7-b Alabama .................................................... "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever". Mahatma Gandhi

lampo

Registered:1329071797
Posts: 2,062

Posted 1416879215	Reply with quote #22

Don, Welcome to the forum Your pictures are great as well as your figs ! No need for re-sizing IMO You seem to have all the ingredients to grow fantastic figs Francisco Portugal

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1416880278	Reply with quote #23

Don - welcome! A few of us on the forum are growing a San Pedro fig called Filacciano Bianco which is supposed to be derived from the Lazio region of Italy. So it sounds like it comes from roughly the same part of Italy as your family heirloom fig and may very well be the same. I'm pretty certain it is not the same as Desert King, another green San Pedro fig. mgginva is growing both so he could confirm this. You are lucky you have the wasp. Here we only get the breba crop. According to Michael a few main crop ripen but the vast majority do not. Mine is all wrapped up for winter protection so that those brebas form next Spring! __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

drivewayfarmer

Registered:1260287641
Posts: 773

Posted 1416882035	Reply with quote #24

Welcome Don . Here are some pictures of Filacciano Bianco from a plant shared with me by a generous f4f member. . Tasted very good to me. Can't find the leaf pictures I took. __________________ Kerry Zone 5 NH Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra .

schaplin

Registered:1392175246
Posts: 662

Posted 1416882907	Reply with quote #25

Welcome Dan Great story! I myself strive for balance rather than the light or the dark side. I believe in taking the best from both worlds. Your figs look terrific. __________________ Wish List: @Hmari, @Maltese beauty, @Col de Dame Grise, @Bryant Dark, @Lynhurst White, @Melcedonia Dark, @Panevino Dark, @Paradiso

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1416885982	Reply with quote #26

Dan U r one lucky dude to live in Socal and have a pollinated second crop. The pics look luscious. I prefer green figs, but there is no argument really. When you try a plump, ripe Preto you will know all is right in the universe. Attached Images image.jpg (53.64 KB, 46 views) image.jpg (56.97 KB, 47 views) __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

cis4elk

Registered:1347840383
Posts: 1,718

Posted 1416886912	Reply with quote #27

Don, welcome and thanks for sharing the story and pictures with us. The figs look great! Kerry, those are main crop FB right? They look excellent also. :) :D ;) __________________ 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. :)

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,727

Posted 1416892357	Reply with quote #28

Welcome! If you want some high quality, inexpensive dark fig cuttings, look here: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/update-11212014-still-lots-of-hardy-chicago-cuttings-for-postage-available-7159620 __________________ 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.

nycfig

Registered:1380768118
Posts: 886

Posted 1416925728	Reply with quote #29

Welcome, Dan! Your Filacciano looks wonderful! __________________ Danny NYC Z7a It's all about the figs! Facebook: NYCfigs Buying Fig Trees and Cuttings From the Internet

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1416930333	Reply with quote #30

Good job Kerry! That variety has done very well for you in a short time. __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

MichaelTucson

Registered:1333340598
Posts: 1,216

Posted 1416934495	Reply with quote #31

Welcome Dan. Nice pictures. I'm growing that variety (Filacciano Bianco) also. Mike central NY state, zone 5a __________________ Pauca sed matura.

donpaid

Registered:1388952715
Posts: 216

Posted 1416948288	Reply with quote #32

Thanks everyone! Steve, that's very interesting. It looks like my grandma was right. It seems to all add up: San Pedro variety, from Lazio, green skin, pink/red/amber flesh. I wonder why they'd call it Filacciano Bianco though. Is there a Filacciano Nero out there somewhere? Kerry, awesome! Looks like the fruit that my trees produce. schaplin, I agree with you 100%. Yellow, green, emerald, purple, violet, brown, black, red...they're all delicious! Why not have them all?? :) Rafael, Haha I suppose it's a lucky circumstance. In SoCal, you stick a fig tree in the ground, give it some water and it takes off. I tip my hat to all those who do the "fig shuffle" and who grow figs in pots in colder climates and persevere through the hours spent on fertilizing and watering and root pruning and transplanting. Ohh I've heard about the Figo Preto and Black Madeira...those sure look and sound good....maybe in a few years after I earn my stripes. Bob, I appreciate the offer! It's awesome to know there are so many generous members on this forum. Before I get any cuttings, I need to get all dialed in with my propagation techniques and I need to find the space. Room for the trees is my issue right now.

drivewayfarmer

Registered:1260287641
Posts: 773

Posted 1416961953	Reply with quote #33

Dan , I posted those photos wondering if you thought they were the same as your Filacciano. Calvin , of the three figs on that plant 2 looked like breba and one looked like it was main crop. All were good. Rewton , someone sent me a really nice plant , that is why it did so well for a young one. Ended the year about 4.5 to 5 feet tall , I should have pinched it early in the season to get more branching. Dan , hope you can find plenty of room there in fig paradise for lots of fig trees. __________________ Kerry Zone 5 NH Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra .

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1416966396	Reply with quote #34

Kerry, I sent you the F. Bianco, lol! It was rooted around Sept. 2013 and I kept it growing in a 1 gallon container on a sunny windowsill all winter. Not entering dormancy didn't seem to hurt it apparently. Glad it is doing well. __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

donpaid

Registered:1388952715
Posts: 216

Posted 1416968654	Reply with quote #35

Kerry and Rewton, I think there is enough evidence in the pictures to conclude that we grow the same variety. My Filacciano appears to be the same as your Filacciano Bianco (Fil B). The shape is identical, but I think the most striking similarity is the elongated shape of the top portion of the fig and the woody neck, which is short and stubby. How has Fil B performed in your area/climate? Is it cold hardy at all? And Rewton, how did you come across Fil B cuttings?? I don't think it's in the F4F collection.

ChrisK

Registered:1415844271
Posts: 937

Posted 1416972830	Reply with quote #36

Welcome Don,even though You signed up way before me and happy holidays to You also! Beautiful figs followed by a great story! Thanks for sharing brother! __________________ ChrisK Atl GA Zone 7b-8a

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1417016525	Reply with quote #37

Don, Welcome to THE forum where it all happens :) Great presentation of Filacciano Fig, a seemingly very nice variety. Thanks for sharing the pictorial and the family story.

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