When to collect caprifigs for shipping?

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greenfig

Registered:1359790036
Posts: 3,182

Posted 1432233522	Reply with quote #1

I would like to ship a few caprifigs with the wasps to the East coast . As you can see from the photos, the figs on the tree at the different stages of ripeness. When should I collect them? When they are fully ripe and soft or still hard? Is it better to keep the figs only or with a part of the branch? How many days I have to do the picking? When shipping, how to pack them? Is a plastic jar is fine or a cloth bag is better? Thank you! Attached Images image.jpg (270.92 KB, 73 views) image.jpg (172.08 KB, 66 views) image.jpg (343.30 KB, 63 views) image.jpg (217.79 KB, 59 views) image.jpg (192.41 KB, 61 views) __________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal

andreas

Registered:1401724296
Posts: 372

Posted 1432236123 · Edited	Reply with quote #2

igor i am guessing that you need the capri to sync with the common they need to pollinate. so they would need to be in the same zone as you are or have the figs started in a greenhouse. __________________ andreas-patras Patra Peloponnisos Greece zone..9a

greenfig

Registered:1359790036
Posts: 3,182

Posted 1432236269	Reply with quote #3

Thanks, Andreas! Yes, they are approximately in sync and the commons/Smyrna figs are waiting for the pollen. I just do not know when it is best to pick up the caprifigs __________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal

lampo

Registered:1329071797
Posts: 2,061

Posted 1432237989 · Edited	Reply with quote #4

Igor, IMO figs on first and sec pictures seem OK for pick-up and dispatch Check the eye .. It should be showing a tiny slot or even a very small hole indicating that the male wasps are finalizing the 'tunnel' opening through the male flower bush..a few wasps may already have abandoned the fig. Pick up late afternoon and pack on a hard carton in between plastic bubbles gently tight to avoid 'jumping around'... Dispatch early morning. The pack must be sealed and dark inside.. it could eventually be UPS'd as a fragile pack ? Hope this helps Francisco Portugal

greenfig

Registered:1359790036
Posts: 3,182

Posted 1432238422	Reply with quote #5

Francisco, Thank you, very helpful! Should I ship overnight if packed like you suggested or 3 day delivery would work too? It is mainly a big price difference. For how long the wasps can be outside the figs (let’s say some escape through the tunnel)? I assume that sealing the eye is a bad idea, right? What is I seal the eye but punch a hole with a needle on the arrival? Or slice the figs in half, would that work? __________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal

andreas

Registered:1401724296
Posts: 372

Posted 1432239929 · Edited	Reply with quote #6

Igor you might want to tape the eye. the person that will receive them will just remove the tape... i dont think they should slice the figs... if you cut some with the wood cuttings on them they will have some energy to feed the capri for the trip. a damp towel might help... but just on the cutting not the fruit. __________________ andreas-patras Patra Peloponnisos Greece zone..9a

greenfig

Registered:1359790036
Posts: 3,182

Posted 1432242635	Reply with quote #7

My understanding is that the male wasps make the exit tunnel for the females . Will the eye taping interfere with making the hole and trap all the wasps inside? __________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal

donpaid

Registered:1388952715
Posts: 216

Posted 1432254580	Reply with quote #8

Those caprifigs look beautiful! Nice fruits and very nice leaf pattern. If you don't mind me asking, is it your tree or is it growing in the wild?

greenfig

Registered:1359790036
Posts: 3,182

Posted 1432255519	Reply with quote #9

Dan, Not at all. I have 2 caprifigs but they are still young as a 1 and 2 year old trees. This particular one was found growing around a store parking lot, I noticed many dark figs on the ground. Seeing the fig trees near the stores and gas stations is a very common occurance. Some are better and some are planted . It looks like it was planted as edging quite a long time ago. There is another one 15 ft away but that one is an edible fig with many cherry size figlets. __________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal

lampo

Registered:1329071797
Posts: 2,061

Posted 1432278925 · Edited	Reply with quote #10

Igor, I wouldn't close the eye -danger of suffocating emerging wasps- and shipping overnight should be better. One may retard the process bringing temp down. Have on some instances kept 'ready' figs in the fridge for over a week. Believe the insect if given the right conditions will survive several days. Have used Tupperware type box to package , wrapped in newspaper, for road transport. See what I mean by 'tiny slots' .. small holes ??? Francisco Portugal

So_Cal_Mike

Registered:1351472531
Posts: 43

Posted 1432319142	Reply with quote #11

Francisco, Once transported to an area that is conducive to the wasp, (and assuming that there is a caprifig tree present) will that caprifig tree now become a host for the wasp? __________________ Sunset Zone: 21 • USDA Zone: 10a __________ Wish List: Lattarula

lampo

Registered:1329071797
Posts: 2,061

Posted 1432324270	Reply with quote #12

Mike, The answer to your question is YES-but! . The Caprifig you intend to 'up-fit' with a new colony of wasps must be already sporting the next crop - The Mammoni - and this because the mammonis are built with a number of galls ready to accept the eggs from the incoming wasps, thus keeping the family moving on until the Mammes appear According to the variety and the ongoing climate you may have receptive mammonis overlapping the Profichis (probably the late Profichis) Last year I had such a set up with my potted Odel Caprifigs issuing wasps entering Smyrnas, Common and San Pedro ... as well as half a dozen of young already receptive mammonis. This season I do have several fat Profichis but so far no mammoni at sight. In the Nature in these Caprifig regions this process goes on automatically Caprifigs rooted in pots must be given Caprification and partially pruned/pinched to generate a few mammonis Francisco Portugal

So_Cal_Mike

Registered:1351472531
Posts: 43

Posted 1432349444	Reply with quote #13

I see, thank you for the info. Right now my tree has fat soft caprifigs all the way down to little buttons, and it did hold figs over winter. so I have high hopes I can make this work. Thanks again, -Mike __________________ Sunset Zone: 21 • USDA Zone: 10a __________ Wish List: Lattarula

lampo

Registered:1329071797
Posts: 2,061

Posted 1432365126	Reply with quote #14

Mike I see.. this is good news! Can you show us some pictures ? I love to see them apart from being very curious of these matters. On any Caprifig, at this time of the season, -Figs appearing on last year's growth are PROFICHI and should have wasps and pollen, otherwise they should have already collapsed. As a reference Profichis will ripen and issue wasps and pollen mid June. -Figlets on current season growth shooting from the leaf axils are MAMMONI which in theory, will be sufficiently developed and receptive when the insect leaves the Profichi Igor, Your black 'male' fig on the above pictures of your first post did ring some bells.. From old notes and info it looks that you are near a Caprifig of the controversial species 'Ficus Pseudocarica'. see this page: http://waynesword.palomar.edu/arbimg10.htm#pseudocarica Francisco Portugal

So_Cal_Mike

Registered:1351472531
Posts: 43

Posted 1432448362	Reply with quote #15

Francisco, I took some pictures of the fat caprifigs on the tree... and then I went out an hour later, and lo and behold, you were indeed correct, wasps! I couldn't get the iPad to focus on the figs wasps but if you look closely you can see them on the outside of the fig. So I don't need to introduce them they are already there. -Mike __________________ Sunset Zone: 21 • USDA Zone: 10a __________ Wish List: Lattarula

lampo

Registered:1329071797
Posts: 2,061

Posted 1432450205	Reply with quote #16

Mike, Great ! Congratulations! These seem to be good quality Caprifigs (Profichi) and will provide many wasps. I am confident that there must be other Caprifigs in your living area. How many Profichis you have on your tree ? Check your tree for small shoots on the new fig growth to try and locate the next crop (Mammoni) Are there any Smyrna figs on your yard ? If yes, those wasps will find them (just like all other) and you could evaluate the efficiency of the insects and pollen. Good luck Francisco Portugal

So_Cal_Mike

Registered:1351472531
Posts: 43

Posted 1432458155	Reply with quote #17

I have a small Purple Smyrna but no figs on it yet, and a small Dauphine (San Pedro type). So next year I expect they should be good to go! This carping was a seedling that sprouted on it's own in the yard, and is about five or so years old, growing in a 25 or 30 gallon planter. I also have another seedling that popped up last year that has red leaf stems that I potted up and am going to keep an eye on. -Mike __________________ Sunset Zone: 21 • USDA Zone: 10a __________ Wish List: Lattarula

levar

Registered:1392366658
Posts: 195

Posted 1453173632	Reply with quote #18

Bump. Greenfig, were you successful? Fransisco, as always, thanks for the info. __________________ Wishlist Figs: Fiaschetta lunga di Campagnola, Unk Pastiliere, Cajun Gold, Marangiana, Rigato del Salento, Black Ischia, St. Rita, Dottato d'Élia, Watt's Zingarella, Zidi, Macool, 187-25, Peter's Honey, Peloponnisiaka aspra sika, and Martinenca Rimada. Atemoya: Geffner

greenfig

Registered:1359790036
Posts: 3,182

Posted 1453176853	Reply with quote #19

I have not shipped the figs, we decided to wait for the tree in a pot to caprifigs and ship the whole thing. I still may try the figs only, in a few months. __________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal

figoffrandy

Registered:1461101026
Posts: 33

Posted 1476155115	Reply with quote #20

Will Caprifigs produce reliable crops in pots similar to common figs? How large do common figs need to be before caprification? __________________ Georgia - Zone 8a My Current Figs: O'Rourke, LSU Tiger, LSU Scott's Black, LSU Hollier, LSU Improved Celeste, LSU Scotts Yellow, LSU Champagne, LSU Gold, LSU Purple, Strawberry Verte, Col de Dame Noir, Figo Preto, Nero 600 M, Raspberry Latte, Chicago Hardy, Celeste, Brown Turkey, Violette de Bordeaux, Kadota Wish List: RdB, Colonel Littman's Black Cross

greenfig

Registered:1359790036
Posts: 3,182

Posted 1476156886	Reply with quote #21

1. They might but you have to take of 3 crops instead 1. 2. Between a half and 1 cherry sized depending on a variety. __________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal

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