Another newbie to the forum

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fitzski

Registered:1418923211
Posts: 79

Posted 1419006179	Reply with quote #1

Hello all, My name is Kevin and I have a fig problem. It all started back when my sister-in-laws father (came over from Portugal when he was 18) passed away and my brother and I removed his fig tree from the house before it was sold. My brother took the "big tree" (8-10 feet high and wide) and gave me the "baby" that was growing at the base. Since then, I have split my tree 3 times as it has grown. I now have two large trees from that one that I keep outside and one that goes in my greenhouse. I also have many 1-2 yr old trees from that original. I'd like to try and figure out the variety since the only thing I know is what he told my brother that he brought a cutting back from his hometown in Portugal but he may have also just bought it here in MA. He was known to tell a tall tale now and then. Next fall I'll post pictures and see if anyone can help identify it further. This past year I received some cuttings from UCD that are doing great and also bought a few trees from Logees in CT and figtrees.net in MA. How do I stop? :) It's nice to know that there are people out there like me. We could have worse addictions, right? Hope everyone has a great holiday. Kevin __________________ Kevin Zone 5b/6a(Eastern MA)

dirtguy50

Registered:1398135169
Posts: 256

Posted 1419006594 · Edited	Reply with quote #2

Welcome Kevin. What is your location/zone (MA ?) as it sounds like you have a hardy tree for growing in the ground. It's a good idea to put that information in your profile so folks don't keep asking where you are. Great story and great results. __________________ No, your other left! Zone 6b, Keith in SW Wish List: Violette de Bordeaux & Marsilles Black VS

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,712

Posted 1419007101	Reply with quote #3

Welcome, Kevin. For me, I started with well over 100 one-gallon trees from the '12/'13 winter rooting. I now have less than 30 potted trees. I was lucky to taste a bunch of new varieties this year which allowed me to weed out the similar tasting ones. I have a few 'top-shelf' varieties I hope to taste next year. I plan to duplicate the best-of-the-best and see where it goes from there. If it wasn't for winter storage space, I'd have more trees, but then again, they will all need up-potting and/or root pruning which adds a LOT of work. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

cis4elk

Registered:1347840383
Posts: 1,718

Posted 1419007230	Reply with quote #4

(In the tone of a support group) Hi Kevin. Welcome to the forum where enabling is not only common practice but encouraged. __________________ 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. :)

waynea

Registered:1362316304
Posts: 1,886

Posted 1419009351	Reply with quote #5

Welcome to the forum Kevin. Your question...."How do I stop? :) ".... has no simple answer. Even the best known "fig psychologists" are baffled. The most accepted answer is "there is no cure" to fig addiction only a minimal treatment. Good luck and good growing.

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1419011183	Reply with quote #6

Welcome! You can't really say it's a problem until you go over 10,000 varieties and all you're wearing is fig leaves... __________________ 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.

Frankallen

Registered:1371842383
Posts: 994

Posted 1419013130 · Edited	Reply with quote #7

Kevin, Welcome to the Forum! We can not help you with your "Fig Addiction" ...The worse addiction besides growing them, is Eating em!! The "Pros" here will probably figure out what Fig Tree you have. This time next year you will be "Fig Poor"... : ) __________________ 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

GreenFin

Registered:1331268315
Posts: 684

Posted 1419013950	Reply with quote #8

Hi Kevin, welcome to the board. Next year at this time you might have 50-100 varieties. And many here would simply call that a good start :) __________________ James, zone 6a Kansas (zone 10 greenhouses); wish list is in my profile http://www.FigCuttings.com

DaveL

Registered:1418927587
Posts: 247

Posted 1419015582	Reply with quote #9

Hi Kevin, I am down in Southeast Ct.not far from you. Shopped at Logees, a very interesting place. From reading all these post, I feel we are all suffering from some sort of figdiction. I don't think there is a cure. Welcome. Dave __________________ Dave Waterford, Ct. Zone 6B

figgary

Registered:1387147322
Posts: 833

Posted 1419020132	Reply with quote #10

Welcome Kevin. I'm one of the only members not addicted.... I can quit any time I want;-)) __________________ Gary in CA 9A Seeking: Bebera Branca*, Colonel Littman's Cross

WillsC

Registered:1348087628
Posts: 1,698

Posted 1419020739	Reply with quote #11

Welcome Kevin......one of us, one of us.....

Otmani007

Registered:1404531079
Posts: 573

Posted 1419035335	Reply with quote #12

Welcome to the forum, Kevin. __________________ Dallas, TX - Zone 8a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanche, Brogiotto Bianco, Sicilian White, Panache Otmani

RichinNJ

Registered:1374784282
Posts: 1,687

Posted 1419036706	Reply with quote #13

Welcome

Elfarach

Registered:1409716614
Posts: 288

Posted 1419036879	Reply with quote #14

Welcome to the forum Kevin... __________________ 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

fitzski

Registered:1418923211
Posts: 79

Posted 1419038911	Reply with quote #15

Thanks for the nice welcome. Questions to follow as we get closer to spring. __________________ Kevin Zone 5b/6a(Eastern MA)

nycfig

Registered:1380768118
Posts: 884

Posted 1419039038	Reply with quote #16

Welcome to the forum, Kevin! __________________ Danny NYC Z7a It's all about the figs! Facebook: NYCfigs Buying Fig Trees and Cuttings From the Internet

fignatic

Registered:1415840587
Posts: 54

Posted 1419045154	Reply with quote #17

Welcome to the forum from the Garden State __________________ joe paradiso 6B New Jersey

donpaid

Registered:1388952715
Posts: 216

Posted 1419046146	Reply with quote #18

Great story Kevin! Just warning you, it ain't gonna stop; it's only going to get worse, but since we're talking about figs, it's only going to get better :) And next August when you are stuffing your face with delicious figs, you're realize the addiction is IN FACT a blessing. Welcome!

PhilaGardener

Registered:1389014416
Posts: 199

Posted 1419046630	Reply with quote #19

Hi Kevin! Welcome!!! __________________ Philadelphia Gardener Near Philly, but winters still feeling like Zone 6!

Bevman

Registered:1405028595
Posts: 79

Posted 1419048700	Reply with quote #20

A fig problem would mean your fig tree is sick or struggling. Growing, caring for, and eating figs is not a problem, after all, this is called, Figs 4 Fun. Welcome Kevin __________________ Arthur, Saint Louis CO, MO (Z 6B)

zone5figger

Registered:1395082963
Posts: 250

Posted 1419072992	Reply with quote #21

Welcome Kevin, nice intro. Sounds like you are off and running with the figs, and you got a great start with that family heirloom- post pics of that one when you are able! __________________ Jesse- zone 5, 1000' elevation

Norhayati

Registered:1381365278
Posts: 341

Posted 1419078196	Reply with quote #22

Welcome to the forum Kevin. Norhayati __________________ Norhayati Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Wish list: Black Madeira

schaplin

Registered:1392175246
Posts: 662

Posted 1419098337	Reply with quote #23

You have found a home here. Your habit will be feed as there are many dealers. Good luck as there is no cure. __________________ Wish List: @Hmari, @Maltese beauty, @Col de Dame Grise, @Bryant Dark, @Lynhurst White, @Melcedonia Dark, @Panevino Dark, @Paradiso

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1419101106	Reply with quote #24

Hi Fitzski, Welcome to the forum. Do you know from which region in Portugal the tree is supposed to have been brought from ? Do you know if the tree produced figs where she was ? One crop ? Two crops ? Do you know the color ? Did your tree produce figs for you this year ? As for the number of trees, it is a matter of having to taste the fruits and test the trees at one own location that drives one to acquire more trees. I honestly think that, once, one has found 4 or 5 good different productive strains, then it is just the normal care to the orchard. So don't be afraid to add 200 trees more just to be sure not to miss the most exceptional strain :) . Imagine missing that strain ... What a drama ! __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

pino

Registered:1383190021
Posts: 2,117

Posted 1419103557	Reply with quote #25

Welcome to the forum Kevin. It is nice to see people from colder climates growing figs since it is much more challenging for us. Your fig addiction will pass but not before you acquire a nice collection and choose your own favourites. That sounds like an interesting fig tree in your family! 8-10 feet tall in Zone 5b. How was it protected from winter all those years? I would think it would have to be a very cold hardy variety. __________________ Pino, zone 6, Niagara, JCJ Acres Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.

fitzski

Registered:1418923211
Posts: 79

Posted 1419120574	Reply with quote #26

The family heirloom fig that I have ( for now I call it a Batista Fig after my sister-in-laws father's surname), it produces one crop of figs a year. The figs are black/brown with a raspberry center. Very nice taste to them. It is cold hardy but will dieback if not properly covered for winter. The main tree died back to to the roots last year even though it was wrapped for winter (leaves/plastic). It was my first year doing this and I failed miserably. My sister-in-laws father used to tie the branches up, surround it with hay bales and stuff the center with leaves and then cover with plastic. I'm told he had minimal dieback every year. That must have been a lot of work for an 8-10 foot high and wide tree. I'll share pictures next summer of the leaves and fruit next summer. __________________ Kevin Zone 5b/6a(Eastern MA)

RichinNJ

Registered:1374784282
Posts: 1,687

Posted 1419121797 · Edited	Reply with quote #27

Quote: Originally Posted by fitzski The family heirloom fig that I have ( for now I call it a Batista Fig after my sister-in-laws father's surname), it produces one crop of figs a year. The figs are black/brown with a raspberry center. Very nice taste to them. It is cold hardy but will dieback if not properly covered for winter. The main tree died back to to the roots last year even though it was wrapped for winter (leaves/plastic). It was my first year doing this and I failed miserably. My sister-in-laws father used to tie the branches up, surround it with hay bales and stuff the center with leaves and then cover with plastic. I'm told he had minimal dieback every year. That must have been a lot of work for an 8-10 foot high and wide tree. I'll share pictures next summer of the leaves and fruit next summer. Old school... So many of our immigrant parents and grand parents went to great lengths for their fig trees.

Hershell

Registered:1396922438
Posts: 650

Posted 1419124142	Reply with quote #28

Welcome to the forum Kevin. Get used to being called an addict. __________________ Hershell Zone 8. Ray City, Ga.

waynea

Registered:1362316304
Posts: 1,886

Posted 1419128221	Reply with quote #29

Being called an "addict", when related to figs does not qualify as "name calling", so you will not get in trouble when you call someone an addict, it is widely accepted on this forum. Also no cure. :)

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1419144319	Reply with quote #30

Kevin, Welcome to THE forum, where it all happens :)

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