The Profichi caprifig

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lampo

Registered:1329071797
Posts: 2,062

Posted 1428703485	Reply with quote #1

Certainly originated from a fertile seed dropped by a bird (?), this robust Caprifig sitting in a corner of an old house in ruin, provides enough wasps and pollen to caprificate many edible figs in the neighborhood. The fruit seen on the pictures belong to the Profichi crop, on last year's wood, just like the previous winter crop (the Mamme) This figs carry inside hundreds of wasps maturing in the short styled pistillate flowers ( the galls) as well as a 'bush' of male flowers just under the ostiole where the precious pollen originates. In about 60 days, if all goes well, the caprification process of the surrounding edible varieties, Common and Smyrna, will hopefully start. Francisco Portugal

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1428706081	Reply with quote #2

Great pictures, great info. Thank you Francisco. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

figpig_66

Registered:1416870358
Posts: 2,678

Posted 1428717617	Reply with quote #3

I wish we had these in Louisiana. They really are beautiful __________________ RICHIE BONI HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity Wish list. Col de dame blanc Col de rimada Lsu numbered figs

greenfig

Registered:1359790036
Posts: 3,182

Posted 1428718203	Reply with quote #4

Very nice, Francisco! I missed this time of the year when you make us all jealous :) __________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1428749618	Reply with quote #5

Hi Lampo, Science is so that some sacrifice need to be done. 2 months are 8 weeks, one fig cut in the middle per week, that would be 8 figs cut for us to follow the wasps developing in their nests ... Just saying, that this could be fun for all of us to follow such a photo reportage ... It is up to you ... In my Zone7, I'll never get to see that film in the wild ... __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

lampo

Registered:1329071797
Posts: 2,062

Posted 1428777183 · Edited	Reply with quote #6

Thank you all for your comments. @jds, This is a great idea. But, no need for more scrifices.. Done enough! The pictures are from last year and/or the year before ..hope you will be happy Soon this Profichis will get more mature, their colors will be more marked, the male flower 'bushes' will be more visible, all around the fruit just under the ostiole, .. the galls will gain size, m as this picture shows. By the time it's ripe, the fig will soften as any edible fig on the exterior and inside the pollen will detach from the main flowers and dust the entire cavity with the typical golden hue from the pollen as in this picture. Some wasps may have already abandoned the fig through the ostiole through a tunnel excavated by the male wasps barely seen on this picture.. Here, it is clearly visible the short tunnel that enabled the insects to exit the fig carrying their load of eggs for the next generation of wasps, with their bodies smeared with pollen. Francisco Portugal

Speedmaster

Registered:1404377112
Posts: 385

Posted 1428786941	Reply with quote #7

Very educational! I hope in years to come I will have my own baby wasps to care for! __________________ Weather: Winter: 10C+ Summer: 42C+ Growing: Syrian Unk., Atreano, Egyptian Unk., Lebanese Unk., Col de dame Gris, Beall, Negronne, Ronde de bordeaux, Brogiotto Bianco Wish List: Panache.

eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,101

Posted 1428883812	Reply with quote #8

Thanks so much for again sharing your photography and knowledge, Francisco __________________ 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.

elin

Registered:1360863025
Posts: 1,271

Posted 1428960346	Reply with quote #9

Francisco thanks for getting me jelous :) . Still no luck here setting up my colony. Probably need to bring a caprifig near my male. __________________ Eli ,Israel ,Zone 10? Too humid and hot, yada yada yada https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1298814119 Growing: Sbayi, Hmadi, Black Portugal, Black Brazil,Excell, Flanders, Hmari , RDB, Niagra Black,Natalina, CDDN,Maya, Preto Torres, Preto Arge

lampo

Registered:1329071797
Posts: 2,062

Posted 1428964443	Reply with quote #10

Ed, Eli.. Than you for looking and commenting my thread. Eli, how did it develop ? How big is it ? Any fruit ? We have just passed the 'occupation' of the new Profichi crop. Most of the crop is already established and growing very fast now. I assume that in your grounds the timing will be very similar to ours.. May I suggest you closely follow-up the next sprouting of caprifigs on that same tree (the Mammoni). This will occur around July (sometimes a bit later) . These figs appear right on some of the leaf axils, just like any smyrna or common, and need to be caprified. Keep this in mind and through the first half of June try and bring in mature Profichi and spread them on your figs....the insect will find the mammoni. Hopefully you will 'prime' the process. The garden may have what you need. I know it will not be easy Good luck Francisco Portugal

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