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Ken

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Can anyone identify this fig tree variety?

It is in a relative's back yard (Southern California); it was planted about twenty years ago; the pictures were taken this afternoon (June 17, 2014).

Thanks.

-Ken

   Unknown_Fig_KEN_Photo_2.jpg  Unknown_Fig_KEN_Photo_1.jpg  Unknown_Fig_KEN_Photo_0.jpg 

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RichinNJ

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Any idea where it came from - Italian relatives?
FiggieFive_0

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
I was just looking at Mike's (Newnandawg) post.  Hmm, I was just thinking they look really similar, leaf pattern and, more importantly, the fruit itself, in my honest and humble opinion.

Nate
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Ken

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
No doubt it was purchased from a local nursery a couple of decades ago.  It was a slow developer until about two years ago.  Seems to be producing a lot these days.  The main crop looks to be substantially greater than recent years. 

Looks sort of like Bass' "breba on the Calabrese fig" link:
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/calabrese-fig-breba-4729581
Ken

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Nate - The leaves on the one I visited today had very plump lobes by comparison.
MGorski

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Ken, How does it taste?

Mike in Hanover, VA
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Ong888

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
What a beautiful fruit and tree..... It's really slow grower for 20 year old tree..... Worth the waiting


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budihartono71

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
wow its beautiful fruit.............
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jdsfrance

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Hi Ken,
Considering that fig to be a breba, the closest match for me would be "Longue d'aout" .
The tree seems to be in a shady position so the leaves are a bit different than mine, but that fruit makes me think of my "Longue d'aout" - when she decides to fruit for me.
If you have more photos of figs - side + eye + split open ... It might help .
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Ken

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
I'm going over there this coming Saturday.  I'll bring my camera (the previous photos were taken with a borrowed cell phone).  The taste of the fruit has been excellent over the years, albeit infrequent.  I don't believe the infrequency is related to the tree itself, but to the lack of water, pruning, and most of all, sunshine.  This year it's getting more water because it's next to some grape vines that are producing.
vito12831

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Hi Ken.
Great looking fig. If or when they prune it I would love to trade some cuttings.
Vito
RichinNJ

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
The leaves on this one look very similar to a tree that I took cuttings off last fall before the big freeze. The owner said he brought it himself from Italy. I call it "Dago Pete's Purple Italian unk." Maybe this fall I will have fruit from the plants I'm growing.
vito12831

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Rich,

I have to put my two cents in here. I am very proud of my Italian heritage. When my parents brought us to this country we experienced so much prejudice and I can remember till this day how hurtful that was. May I ask why you would choose to call this fig "Dago....?

Vito
BronxFigs

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Ken-

Just a thought.....try air layering a nice size branch off that original tree, and then growing the resulting tree in a full-sun location.  The fruiting characteristics might improve instead of being so erratic.  It won't take long to grow a rooted air-layer to bearing age in the Southern California climate.  All figs will benefit by growing in full sun.  Too shady a location makes trees grow lanky and weak = few figs.  The tree is probably not reaching its full potential in the shade.

Good luck.  It looks like this variety could be a winner....under the right circumstances.


Frank
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RichinNJ

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Quote:
Originally Posted by vito12831
Rich,

I have to put my two cents in here. I am very proud of my Italian heritage. When my parents brought us to this country we experienced so much prejudice and I can remember till this day how hurtful that was. May I ask why you would choose to call this fig "Dago....?

Vito


Done without prejudice ... I lived in a very ethnic neighborhood in East Detroit when I was young and my grandfather was a Polish bartender... He had a lot of interesting " sayings" ...

I'm sure Pete would be happy his cuttings have notoriety

Btw your cuttings are doing great. One of them I'll give to my father who now has an interest in figs.
Ken

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Frank - I do a bit of air layering of fig (and other fruit trees) from time to time and might bring over my air layering kit on Saturday.  There are a lot of places with full sun I can put the clone(s).  And I suspect you're right: the fig gets way too much shade, even in late June.  The only reason the grapes are doing well is because they've taken over the flat roof of the house!  Good idea, Frank.  Thanks.
Ken

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Your idea was a good one.  There was a side-branch that needed to be removed anyway, so I was allowed to air-layer it.

Side_Branch.jpg 
Aaron4USA

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Ken, that's an awesome find.
It does resemble the one I found in Venice Beach and called it after the location Venice Beach Fig...WOW ...you should check and compare...
Some people suggested that it could be Melinzana Calabrese... due to the shape and the color of the skin and the interior...
Ken

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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
This is true, but the leaf lobes seem less plump.  Send me an email (or private message)with the Venice Beach location and I'll go take a look (I lived in Venice for nearly two decades -- probably as long as the tree!).  I lived on both Navy St. and on Brooks Avenue.  Is the fig on a walk street?
Aaron4USA

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
That could be because the one you have access to is in more shade, the one I had cuttings from is fully exposed to sun for 10 hrs of not more per day. That produced smaller and tougher leaves and much better/sweeter fruit.
Ken

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
I have an air layer in process and I have three very happy trees from cuttings in one-gallon trade pots, awaiting further development.  All cuttings rooted, which is nice.
BronxFigs

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Ken-

Just read through your latest postings.  I wish you success with the air-layering and cuttings.  I'll bet money that these tree will be reaching their full potential, growing in a new, sunny location, with your proper culture, watering, etc.

Good luck with your new acquisitions.


Frank
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Ken

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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Thanks, Frank.  I have been blessed with some good luck, fig wise these days. -K.
Ken

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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
Freshly_Up-potted and trimmed Longue d'Aout.jpg 
Otmani007

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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
Well done, Ken and congrats on the results.
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Aaron4USA

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Posted Reply with quote  #26 
They look great Ken, nice job you have done :)
nycfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
Very nice Ken. Congrats!
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musillid

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Posted Reply with quote  #28 
Vito,

   I am sorry you were the subject of prejudice. I never felt it much myself, but in my youth, the county seat to the east red-lined Italians. Even this day and age someone calling me with a problem said he was very confident that [we] people know how "fix" things. That pretty much ended that conversation.

    But, figs bring people together.  Just look at this forum. Even with the uninitiated, there is an opportunity to make new friends. Unfortunately, sometimes people use labels indiscriminately without mal intent. You are right to question, and right to give the benefit of the doubt.

    By the way, not that I'm an expert, but those photos say Longue d'Aout to me.
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Ken

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Posted Reply with quote  #29 
Aaron - PM for you just now.  I am beginning to think that you were right about the more plausible identity of this fig. Melinzana Calabrese is more likely than Longue d'Aout, I suspect.
Ken

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Posted Reply with quote  #30 
Frank - (and others)

I met with the owner of the fig tree's property last week and we agreed on a very sunny location for the air layer's planting.  She is in a canyon, so it took some seasonal calculations to find the perfect (sort of) spot.  Although there may not be a "perfect" location with water available, the location we identified is vastly superior to the mother tree who, as stated above, is in shade pretty much all the time.
rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #31 
Strong work!
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Ken

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Posted Reply with quote  #32 
All air-layers doing well in their respective pots and in the ground. It  was a lucky season.
Smyfigs

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Posted Reply with quote  #33 

Beautiful variety, Ken.
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