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Garlic_Mike

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
I was given some real nice Fico Bianco cuttings from a forum member and started to realize something.

I have found talking to people about unknown figs, that many are just referred to as Italian, or Italian Honey fig, and most were given from an old Italian guy who came from Italy. Then I thought any old Italian would refer to any white unknown fig as Fico Bianco, because it just means "white fig" in Italian.

When I checked the f4f variety chart the USDA two types described are white with an amber interior, and white with a red interior and marks on the skin.

This seems to describe most every white Italian fig that there is no name for.

I am wondering if this type should carry references to region, town, or originator (such as Raphed's/whoever's strain) to better relate to specific types and differences.

Or, am I missing something, Mike
Luzzu

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
just my 2 cents
I grew a fico Bianco and it is the same as lemon italian honey ,Ficazzana ,White Marseilles
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Brampton, ON  Zone 5b
Garlic_Mike

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Kind of what I was thinking.

And with the second description with a red pulp, they are different types.

Seems more of a category than a specific type where better ones should be further identified
Luzzu

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
the other is lattarulla with the light reddish interior also italian honey
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pino

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Garlic_Mike
I was given some real nice Fico Bianco cuttings from a forum member and started to realize something.

I have found talking to people about unknown figs, that many are just referred to as Italian, or Italian Honey fig, and most were given from an old Italian guy who came from Italy. Then I thought any old Italian would refer to any white unknown fig as Fico Bianco, because it just means "white fig" in Italian.

When I checked the f4f variety chart the USDA two types described are white with an amber interior, and white with a red interior and marks on the skin.

This seems to describe most every white Italian fig that there is no name for.

I am wondering if this type should carry references to region, town, or originator (such as Raphed's/whoever's strain) to better relate to specific types and differences.

Or, am I missing something, Mike
Hi Mike
Not sure I can answer your question but here is my story on Fico Bianco. 
I have grown it in ground for over 20 years and my father and his friends and others for more than 50 years.  In zone 6 it is one of the 10 figs I recommend for growing in cool climates and by far the biggest producer.  Because of its size it was easy to fill up baskets for my fruitstand and it is a good looking fig so people go for it more than the smaller mt. etna figs.

 http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/fico-bianco-fig-story-6713050?pid=1281151758

I haven't seen any other fico biancos in circulation. 
Bellclare had a fico bianco on their original list described as having red centre coming from Calabria.  That description could fit the Italian fig Lattarola, Dottato, Trojano ...
 
As per "Condit" The lattarula (Blanche) name originated from some S. Italian migrants that mistakenly named a fig  already in circulation here.  Southern Italians pronounce "fico lattarola" as lattarula.  They must have thought it looked like Lattarola a fig grown in N. Italy not in the south.  That original fig could actually have been Marseilles White already in wide circulation definitely not lattarola that has  red pulp . 

I don't know any more than that except that clearly many figs in circulation in N. America came from the old world as unknowns and were named in America by fig growers spreading the love of figs.

Here are a couple photos of my fico bianco.  It does look similar to lattarula but different in many ways it is yellow when fully ripe, thin skin, very sweet honey taste and juicy.   My Lattarula stays green when ripe, thicker ribbed skin, not as large and ripens a week later also not as many brebas.

Unless someone has an issue I will keep calling my fig Fico Bianco as it has been known in this area for the last 60 years.

fico bianco

fico bianco
 
fico bianco
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Pino, zone 6, Niagara,  JCJ Acres
Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.
Garlic_Mike

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
A wonderful explanation.

So it would seem the true Fico Bianco would be the amber pulp, and also noting different physical characteristics. I can see how it got confused. Thanks for the story.

  Great pictures and thanks for taking the time.

Mike
pino

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
y.w.
Pm me if you are interested in growing it.
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Pino, zone 6, Niagara,  JCJ Acres
Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.
tsparozi

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Very interesting, Pino!  I also followed your link to your 2014 background posting on the fig. Very informative... I like the fact that even in ground, it produces a strong Breba crop with, as you describe, modest winter protection...

As an aside, I also took note of a comment in your post as follows: "That led me to find out that Brogiotto Nero is also know as Ischia Black. " Is this the same Ischia Black which has been getting such robust attention on eBay? I was under the impression that UCD had a separate Ischia Black cultivar  and that there were also a number of "almost" Ischia Black figs around with the variety with reddish stems and petioles having been anointed as being the "real deal".... Are Brogiotto Nero and Ischia Black really the same?

Thanks,
Tony
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Tony S - Zone 6A Carmel, NY
WL-Ischia Black (UCD/USDA), Martinenca, Calderona, Victoria, Craven's Craving, Colonel Littman's Black Cross, Bon Jesusa, Sant Martina, Princesa, Paretjal Negra
pino

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Thanks Tony!  Fico Bianco is like that proverbial low hanging fruit.  Easy to grow and very rewarding..lol

To your question;  Given the many versions of Brogiotto Nero and Ischia Black that have been reported at this time I am not sure what relationship of Brogiotto Nero and Ischia Black have.

Condit has several pages discussing the Ischia figs and I found a synonym list that had; Nero, Barnisotte, Brogiotto Noire, Brogiotto Nero, Ischia Black, Scavello as the same fig.  That was a month after I discovered F4F 1/14 and it wasn't a pressing issue for me so I moved on to more available varieties.

Martin and Herman have commented on the Ischia figs;

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1281971926&postcount=20&forum=0
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Pino, zone 6, Niagara,  JCJ Acres
Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.
tsparozi

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Thank you, Pino! Appreciate the additional feedback!
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Tony S - Zone 6A Carmel, NY
WL-Ischia Black (UCD/USDA), Martinenca, Calderona, Victoria, Craven's Craving, Colonel Littman's Black Cross, Bon Jesusa, Sant Martina, Princesa, Paretjal Negra
johnnyq627

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Unfortunately, I must not have taken any late summer videos of my Fico Bianco this year.  It was on my chopping block after poor performance last year as well as due to the open eye it has causing mold issues.... however... the end of the summer this year, it ripened much better and the honey blocked the large eye.  It was a very good honey fig.  Here is a video of the breba, which shows some of the issues with the variety...
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Nick- Youtube: PA Figs | eBay: tdepoala
Zone 6B/7A - Douglassville, PA
Wish list - Galicia Negra, Paritjal Rimada, Black Ischia UCD
DevIsgro

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Johnny you mentioned it's a fico bianco "maybe" is it possible yours is just a white Italian unknown and therefore a different strain? The stuff on the inside looked a bit like a caprifig, it was so empty inside. It could also be an issue of age of the tree, or climate.
How did those socks work out, did you do d they caused problems?
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Currently growing 50-60 varieties, this season's cuttings dependant. Hopefully I'll get to taste a few more this year...
pino

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
@Nick, sorry about your fig. 
I had similar thing happen to a Vincenzo breba last year I posted it then to see what people thought.  I think I left fig on too long to push the ripening to the limit  This year the Vincenzo breba and main crop were excellent.

But this has never happened ever with my fico bianco. 
Maybe we have different strains or growing conditions tested your fig.  The eye on my FB is closed not open. 
The brebas and main crop of this fig are almost identical except breba are not as juicy as main crop.
Here are some breba photos. 
fico bianco

fico bianco
 

 fico bianco
 
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Pino, zone 6, Niagara,  JCJ Acres
Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.
johnnyq627

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
The main crop ripened properly. I listed it as maybe because I didnt have a proper fig ripen. That being said, I don't know that I have seen photos of figs and leafs of what is considered the true variety.
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Nick- Youtube: PA Figs | eBay: tdepoala
Zone 6B/7A - Douglassville, PA
Wish list - Galicia Negra, Paritjal Rimada, Black Ischia UCD
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