Originally Posted by DomGardens
Hi Navid,

A few years ago I took cuttings from my Popou's fig tree and undertook the project of propagating them for my cousins.

I chronicled my efforts on a twitter page, https://twitter.com/PopouDomFigs/status/416269887515136001.

I was doing well, the cuttings rooted and were developing nicely but a virus of some kind spread through my plants and killed them all after 6 months of care.

I was pretty disheartened by the experience and went retreated into peppers and tomato gardening.

After two years I am looking to take a shot at this again and this forum community is undoubtably the greatest pool of knowledge anywhere.

I saw that you had a tree of Greek origin (just like my Popou!), do you think it would do well in south Jersey?

Anyway, happy to be part of this community!

Be well,

Dom

 

Originally Posted by nkesh099
Seems like some members have questions regarding this varinat. Questions regarding: if it's a Mt Etna variant, how does it taste compared to other Mt Etna figs such as Hardy Chicago, Gino's Black and etc, how cold hardy it is and some back ground info on this figs. This fig was originated from Greece and I came upon discovering it few years ago. Mother tree belonged to a father of my buddy who all, are Greeks. Father used to wrap the tree during winters. After the father passed away two years ago, his property was sold and the tree has been cut down by the new owners. As for being a Mt Etna varinat- I don't know. Anyone can answer that question, go ahead and please do so. But, compared to Hardy Chicago and Gino's Black (I grow both), it's number one in taste and being much earlier than HC and GB. I'm not too great with describing tastes, but it has an extra rich flavor to it. I have grown and been growing some of the rarest and most expensive dark colored figs in past or in present, non have performed (productivity-main crop, taste, early main crop and ability to resist splitting), like this varinat. Friends in few European countries and many all over the States, been growing this varinat and have been very pleased with it. This varinat only produces main crop figs (can and have produced two crops in Southern Italy) for me. Main crop ripens late July- early Aug. Will not split with excessive rain. Having grown many varinats in past and still growing many, for dark color figs, this is my number one choice. For light colored figs, a true O'Rourke will be my number one, along with LSU 5. Any of LSU figs are winners. Cold Hardy- not sure. I grow my mother plant in a 40 gallon drum. The original tree that I took cuttings from, was winterized every year. The father didn't want to risk losing the tree. I share the same sentiment and do lot culture. Some opinions of others: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/unkown-dark-greek-2015-7748779?highlight=udg&pid=1289633521 http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/navids-unknown-dark-greek-awesome-8246259?highlight=udg&pid=1293438024 I will be giving away a free rooted tree of UDG to a new member who has between 200-300 posts, and 3 sets of O'Rourke cuttings to 3 other members, who have 100 or more posts. First come first. Just write a short sentence on how you got involved with figs, and how many trees you are currently growing. Might send a free tree or two with the winners of the cuttings. I will be closing my PM by tomorrow evening at 8pm Eastern (Sep 30th). Navid.