Best Brebas for the Northeast (and other cold climates)?

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Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1421856417 · Edited	Reply with quote #1

I'm looking to supplement my in-ground plantings with some good breba varieties to grow in pots here in my Pennsylvania 6b. In this scenario breba production is of greater interest than the main crop. I don't intend to rely on getting brebas from in ground plants since winter protection will be minimal once plants have reached 3 years old. We usually get a few nights of single digit temperatures, which should kill any exposed breba buds. So...what are your best/favorite brebas? I'm favoring San Pedro varieties over common figs as I'm under the impression they will have better flavor/production. San Pedro - Desert King/Ghosh - Filicciano Bianco - Grantham's Royal However, I have heard good things about the brebas on these common figs. Does any know if they produce enough fruit without impacting the main crop to merit growing in pots versus in ground? - Lattarula - Longue d'Aout (special note due to fruit size) - Adriatic JH - Atreano Edit: Additions based on discussion below - English Brown Turkey variants (LaRadeks, Sweet George, etc) - Brooklyn White

fitzski

Registered:1418923211
Posts: 79

Posted 1421856707	Reply with quote #2

thanks for starting this thread, as I am very interested in this topic as well. __________________ Kevin Zone 5b/6a(Eastern MA)

robertharper

Registered:1236730861
Posts: 369

Posted 1421864637 · Edited	Reply with quote #3

I like Brooklyn White. Took ours about five years before it stopped producing tuff skins. Has produced honey sweet brebas here, even when we could only register 565 cooling degree days. It also puts out a good main crop, even after being hit with frost. We got our start of Brooklyn White from Bass, at Trees of Joy. Bass found this one growing in Brooklyn, NY., winter uncovered. Made my self sick last fall for eating them all day for a week. Next would be LaRadek's English Brown Turkey. Big crop of brebas. It has produced big breba crops with out being covered, even with winter lows of 10 to 15 below Fahrenheit. Sweet but does not have as much flavor as Brooklyn White. But it makes up for that with volume. Although, I tried to get new customers to try Desert King, LaRadeks EBT is the one most asked for. Third, for me, would be Desert King. Not as cold hardy as the two above. But, it's being grown as far north as Michigan in a zone 5b, covered. It's also being grown out side in Canada. Simply can't be beat for those who like honey tasting figs. In a pot inside, It gives us big great tasting figs as early as July. Well worth the effort of covering for the winter. If you plant them at a 45 degree angle, you should be able to bend them to the ground come fall. We then cover with about 10 40 lb. bags of potting soil. Which can be had in the fall for pennies on the dollar, or free. Should only take 30 minutes to an hour to cover each year. We are testing the above here in Connecticut, zone 5b/6a, along with others. But, have not been testing them long enough to recommend. Valliery is starting to look very promising, for a heavy producing breba. But, have not been able to tell much how cold it's breba can take. Sodus Black, is producing breba without being covered in up state New York. Has been very hard to propagate. I can provide a list of both main crop and breba crop figs we have been testing here in Connecticut for the last ten years or so. Can send to any one who wants it. Send a direct email request to: <robertcharper@gmail.com> Bob

Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1421871407	Reply with quote #4

Thanks Bob, I didn't realize how hardy the breba was on LaRadek's EBT, that's impressive!

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1421883845	Reply with quote #5

Hi Kelby I know I probably said this to you before, but Negronne seems to be a reliable breba producer, and of course, it is a very good fig overall. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

Ampersand

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Posts: 728

Posted 1421885290	Reply with quote #6

That's right, almost forgot Rafael. Does it produce a lot of brebas?

MichaelTucson

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Posts: 1,216

Posted 1421886674	Reply with quote #7

I have an unknown called Frank's Fig Unknown, which is very probably a strain of English Brown Turkey. (How similar/dissimilar this may be to LaRadek's English Brown Turkey, I don't know, since I don't have one known to be LaRadek's). This one I can trace with certainty back to 1966 when my father acquired it, and I have anecdotal descriptions from the grandson of the man who gave it to my father, believing his grandfather or his great grandmother brought it from Sicily). It was ID'd here a few years ago as likely a strain of English Brown Turkey, by Herman. Anyway, Frank's Fig Unk produces lots of brebas, and they have (imo) great flavor. The breba crop on this one is far superior in taste to the main crop. And it's a rare year to get any of the main crop to ripen in my climate, but that's OK because it makes lots of breba and they taste great. I grow it in pots, and we still have a few in-ground at my dad's house. (Prefer contact through email rather than PM). Mike central NY state, zone 5a __________________ Pauca sed matura.

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1421889562	Reply with quote #8

Kelby, I am not sure I could say it produces a lot of breba but it produces more than any other in my collection and I suspect an in ground or mature container plant would produce plenty. But obviously it will produce many more main crop. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

jenia

Registered:1247188082
Posts: 206

Posted 1421905622	Reply with quote #9

I'll second Bob's recommendation for Brooklyn White. (Mine was part of last year's winter kill). Every year for 4 years it would start pushing out brebas before I could get it out of winter storage. Although it was pretty young, the fruit was large and tasty. If anyone has Brooklyn White cuttings for sale, please PM me. C.J.

TahomaGuy2

Registered:1365215474
Posts: 101

Posted 1421906409	Reply with quote #10

I've done research on Breba cultivars and concluded that the 6-reliable producers in the cool, coastal PNW from Vancouver to San Francisco are: DESERT KING WHITE NAPLES GRANTHAM'S ROYAL LONGUE d'AOUT LATTARULA OLYMPIAN __________________ -Charles Cool Pacific NW Zone 8b

zone5figger

Registered:1395082963
Posts: 250

Posted 1421918683	Reply with quote #11

This is good info, but Kelby, but these lists of yours are making me want 'just one more' variety. I didn't know about Brooklyn White's breba potential, and had ruled it out earlier as I heard it was prone to splitting. For us in short season areas, having a few varieties selected and cultivated for breba production makes good sense. __________________ Jesse- zone 5, 1000' elevation

Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1421925056	Reply with quote #12

Quote: Originally Posted by MichaelTucson I have an unknown called Frank's Fig Unknown, which is very probably a strain of English Brown Turkey. (How similar/dissimilar this may be to LaRadek's English Brown Turkey, I don't know, since I don't have one known to be LaRadek's). This one I can trace with certainty back to 1966 when my father acquired it, and I have anecdotal descriptions from the grandson of the man who gave it to my father, believing his grandfather or his great grandmother brought it from Sicily). It was ID'd here a few years ago as likely a strain of English Brown Turkey, by Herman. Anyway, Frank's Fig Unk produces lots of brebas, and they have (imo) great flavor. The breba crop on this one is far superior in taste to the main crop. And it's a rare year to get any of the main crop to ripen in my climate, but that's OK because it makes lots of breba and they taste great. I grow it in pots, and we still have a few in-ground at my dad's house. (Prefer contact through email rather than PM). Mike central NY state, zone 5a Michael, do you mind if I ask where your dad's house is? I am just wondering how hardy the breba buds are.

Rob

Registered:1320245426
Posts: 550

Posted 1421938109	Reply with quote #13

I am in Maryland and I keep my figs in my garage over the winter. I have White King, which is listed as a synonym for Desert King. I can say that I had a very large breba crop last year. I also have Lattarula. Both are 3 or 4 years old. So far I don't think I've had any brebas from the Lattarula. Even though my Lattarula was a heavy bearer of main crop figs this year. Could just be how it was pruned, but that was my experience. There is a specific way to prune a tree to encourage breba production. There is a youtube video of it and a link to it somewhere on this forum but I don't remember where. I would say that pruning it correctly is just as important as choosing the right variety. Basic principal is you always want to have a good amount of 2nd year wood. That's where brebas will form. __________________ Rob Maryland Zone 7 http://rbfigs.webs.com/

Ampersand

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Posts: 728

Posted 1422035509	Reply with quote #14

Good info Rob, thanks! I was reading through some old threads and see comments that MBvs has a good quality breba crop. Can anyone comment on how large it is?

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1422036462	Reply with quote #15

Rob I agree with you about pruning. This may be the pruning video you were thinking of: __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

robertharper

Registered:1236730861
Posts: 369

Posted 1422038559	Reply with quote #16

Kelby, I have been testing MB vs for at least 6 or 7 years, and I have never seen more then a couple breba on it. It may of course depend on where it is being grown. But, here I need more then a couple dozen breba, for it to be useful. Bob

Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1422038745	Reply with quote #17

Quote: Originally Posted by robertharper Kelby, I have been testing MB vs for at least 6 or 7 years, and I have never seen more then a couple breba on it. It may of course depend on where it is being grown. But, here I need more then a couple dozen breba, for it to be useful. Bob Thanks Bob, that's good to know. No sense babying it for a few breba.

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1422046242	Reply with quote #18

My MBvs had no breba last year, a few buds dropped off I believe. I did expect some, but no dice. I am testing a couple of unknowns, one of which produced a gigantic 110 gram breba last year (it was quite tasty too, but we do need more than one!) __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1422048716	Reply with quote #19

Sounds interesting Rafael, let us know if it becomes more productive for you! Is it an NYC find? If anyone is curious I found this old thread discussing brebas in brief: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Focus-on-Breba-Crop-Cultivars-2782474, the chart is neat. Sweet George is increasingly interesting: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=5146586 and http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/sweet-george-6692977. I have a small one that is going to get a lot more love next year!

Herman2

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Posts: 2,625

Posted 1422072968	Reply with quote #20

Here in NJ,Outside desert king,other figs with significant Breba in the Spring,were Tacoma Violet and Atreano. Desert King will only have Breba if ,grown in a pot and taken in,during Winter. The 2 mentioned had Breba while in ground,during Winter 2013,but not in 2014. Also the 2 mentioned had a substantial main crop,outside the about 30 Breba they managed to ripe ,at about July6.

zone5figger

Registered:1395082963
Posts: 250

Posted 1422089775	Reply with quote #21

I noticed quite a few breba trying to develop on my Atreano cuttings, I pinched them of course. __________________ Jesse- zone 5, 1000' elevation

Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1422096202	Reply with quote #22

I recall pinching a breba off my Atreano cutting as well now that you mention it Jesse. Herman2, was you Takoma Violet protected winter 2013 when you had the brebas? If I recall, you protect your Atreano?

Rewton

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Posts: 1,946

Posted 1422106615	Reply with quote #23

That's good news about Takoma Violet and Atreano! By the way, Herman2 have you had decent breba production from Kathleen's Black? __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

Herman2

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Posts: 2,625

Posted 1422108344	Reply with quote #24

Both Plants were Winter protected in 2013,Winter. Kathleen Black does not produces Breba crop,in my climate,however it had,like a couple of Breba in some years. I am sure the Breba figlets die from frost during Winter,because fig is in ground.

Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1422116936	Reply with quote #25

Thanks for the info, Herman2, much appreciated.

Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1422120379	Reply with quote #26

See also Paul's thread from a few months back...http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/my-awesome-2014-breba-fig-whats-yours-7187213

GregMartin

Registered:1370378358
Posts: 550

Posted 1446309462	Reply with quote #27

Was planning on training in ground figs for production of breba figs using a modified step over espalier. Just ran across this good thread when I did a search for good breba varieties. Thank you guys. Any reason this wouldn't work? Hopefully it will result in a good crop of figs as well as giving lots of 2nd year whips for air layering to share/expand good varieties. __________________ zone 5 Maine Seeking: Saint Martin, Naples White, Black Tuscan, Bécane, French Alps, Abruzzi, Tenica, Wild Mountain Figs from the coldest corners (Iranian, Turkish or other...would love seeds too)

Mario_1

Registered:1398299123
Posts: 407

Posted 1446338364	Reply with quote #28

Tanks Greag that was great!!!! I'm contemplating doing a step over in CT zone 6a next year, how tick is the mulch over the wood do you cover the mulch with anything? How high is your main branch off the ground and why?? I have multiple different figs from northern Abbruzzo I would be glad to ship you cuttings for shipping cost if you're interested __________________ Wallingford CT, USA zone 6a would be happy to meet and get together with other members near me Wish list; Any fig from any specific place anywhere in Italy

Luke

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Posts: 204

Posted 1446357774	Reply with quote #29

Quote: Originally Posted by Herman2 Both Plants were Winter protected in 2013,Winter. Kathleen Black does not produces Breba crop,in my climate,however it had,like a couple of Breba in some years. I am sure the Breba figlets die from frost during Winter,because fig is in ground. I have a in ground noire de caromb(I think they are the same or simular to KB) and it produces a lot of Breba's here in the UK, white marseilles also produces well, desert king is hands down my best variety it always seems to give me good tasting figs even with heavy rain. My potted Lougue d'Aout Was super nice this year and very early for my climate. __________________ Luke 8b, England. Wish list: Olympian, Malta black, Nero 600m/400m(Vallecald),Tacoma Violet,

GregMartin

Registered:1370378358
Posts: 550

Posted 1446378738	Reply with quote #30

Quote: Originally Posted by Mario_1 Tanks Greag that was great!!!! I'm contemplating doing a step over in CT zone 6a next year, how tick is the mulch over the wood do you cover the mulch with anything? How high is your main branch off the ground and why?? I have multiple different figs from northern Abbruzzo I would be glad to ship you cuttings for shipping cost if you're interested Hi Mario, this will be my first year trying this. I'm following the general advice given for step over espaliers with just the modification for bending down the one year whips. I'm trying to grow the horizontals as close to the ground as possible without touching. In practice I'm staying within about 6 inches to avoid breakage when I bend. Some people cover the mulch with plastic to help keep it dry. I may do that, but I haven't gotten to it yet. Previous figs that I've covered in just 4 inches of woodchips have been fine, but perhaps I've gotten lucky with avoiding rot and voles. Pete likes to use pine shavings. I make a lot of agricultural charcoal (biochar) and I'm starting to experiment with covering with that. It's as insulative as Styrofoam, drains really well and doesn't promote rot. Not sure if the voles will like digging through it or not. PM sent, thank you. __________________ zone 5 Maine Seeking: Saint Martin, Naples White, Black Tuscan, Bécane, French Alps, Abruzzi, Tenica, Wild Mountain Figs from the coldest corners (Iranian, Turkish or other...would love seeds too)

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1446414393	Reply with quote #31

Hi GregMartin, As you have a short season as I do, it is my belief that you should use 2 yo wood and cut 3 yo wood. If you've got 2 espaliers, try one with 1/2 yo and one with 2/3 yo. The reason is that some stems will emerge later and won't produce brebas the very next year. At least, it is my experience here. You would then probably want to shift the year of production for one arm of the espalier. It might be that I just don't have the right strains for brebas production. I bought "Noire de Caromb" this year... I'll see if I get brebas next year, but I'm not holding my breath. In my mind, I'll get them the year after. Next year, the tree will build and expand its root system and adapt to my locales. But I might be surprise ... Who knows ! __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

GregMartin

Registered:1370378358
Posts: 550

Posted 1446458891	Reply with quote #32

Thank you. I've added your thoughts on this to my notes. If I have issues with fruit set on any cultivars I'll give this a try. Much appreciated. __________________ zone 5 Maine Seeking: Saint Martin, Naples White, Black Tuscan, Bécane, French Alps, Abruzzi, Tenica, Wild Mountain Figs from the coldest corners (Iranian, Turkish or other...would love seeds too)

pino

Registered:1383190021
Posts: 2,118

Posted 1446469520	Reply with quote #33

Greg, sounds like you have done your homework. As with anything you need to experiment and see what suits your environment best. I tried a few trees this way this year by planting the trees sideways and bending over to 1" above ground level. The trees didn't like it. They went from robust growers to very little growth and no figs at all. To top it off the voles (or rabbits) started nibbling on the buds this past week. The Japanese method where the cordon arms are 2' above ground may be better this way the new growth is out of reach of rodents. But this makes winter protection more of a challenge. To get the proper growth it looks a tree needs to be trained in espalier form early on. __________________ Pino, zone 6, Niagara, JCJ Acres Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.

GregMartin

Registered:1370378358
Posts: 550

Posted 1446507889	Reply with quote #34

Hi Pino, although I'd like to be at the end point already, the experimenting is a very great part of the fun. The nibbling rodents definitely are not. I wonder if a bed of crushed rock permanently surrounding the horizontals might keep those chewers away while keeping the trunks dry enough not to send down additional roots. Lots of things to experiment with. __________________ zone 5 Maine Seeking: Saint Martin, Naples White, Black Tuscan, Bécane, French Alps, Abruzzi, Tenica, Wild Mountain Figs from the coldest corners (Iranian, Turkish or other...would love seeds too)

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