And they keep on coming...
You're really in fig heaven. How do you find all those wonderful fig varieties, Francisco? 160 grams for a main crop in that Portuguese "Brown Turkey"? Wow! I'm with Eli, the wasps must have helped.
They probably wouldn't have reached or even approached that weight over here.

And Violeta looks wonderfully juicy as usual. I hope i can taste them next year.

Wow the Violetta is very impressive! 
Did it get help from the wasp or does it always look this amazing?

[QUOTE=Jsacadura]And they keep on coming...
You're really in fig heaven. How do you find all those wonderful fig varieties, Francisco? 160 grams for a main crop in that Portuguese "Brown Turkey"? Wow! I'm with Eli, the wasps must have helped.
They probably wouldn't have reached or even approached that weight over here.

And Violeta looks wonderfully juicy as usual. I hope i can taste them next year.


[/QUOTE]

Frankly I do not think that there were much influence (if any)  from the wasp on these figs
Although the insect can be found on many places this does not warrant widespread activity.
IMO, this is genetic....plus -  the fig given ideal climatic conditions, heat, many sun hours, dryness, soil types, correct fertigation... etc etc.. will develop and ripen to a fine end product
I should have shown this BT earlier but, given all the stories , (cobras e lagartos) spoken in a sort of depreciative manner about it.. well, thought it was not appropriate to talk or show this fruit.
If you are interested in testing it in your grounds I shall arrange a few scions by the time of dormancy.
If you have grafted Violeta on a good root stock, Iam confident that it will give you plenty!
good luck

Francisco

[QUOTE=pino]Wow the Violetta is very impressive! 
Did it get help from the wasp or does it always look this amazing?[/QUOTE]

Thank you on behalf of Violeta.
No,  I do not think it got any pollination at all.
Pollinated Violetas grow much bigger up to the 90/100 grams, crack the skin, etc..
The season for this cultivar (and for all others)  was great,  with steady high heat, clear skies for many weeks continuously,.. the right amount of nutrients in the soil, well aerated trees,  etc

Francisco
Portugal

Thanks, Francisco.

You are right. Based on the comments about the variety we read, i always thought it was one to ignore, mainly because of lack of flavor (hollow dry interiors or watery melon flavor at best).
One of the most uninteresting figs to own according to most users although it appears that are some strains that are worth while (http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/if-you-give-brown-turkey-a-bad-name-check-this-7802531?pid=1289941066)
Maybe the strain you have there it's also a bit different for the best (and quite prolific as we see) or it's the good growing conditions it has, as you say. It sure would be interesting to test it over here and compare.
And with such a huge fig the interiors should be drier as it happens sometimes with other varieties that have big figs but those are simply perfect.
I always thought that the wasps where mandatory to have such juicy interiors but those unpollinated Violeta prove that i had the wrong idea.

[QUOTE=Jsacadura]Thanks for your offer, Francisco. If you can send a couple of cuttings this winter i appreciate it, just to be on the safe side.



Meg,

Grafting figs is not so difficult, specially Chip budding. Is just a matter of protecting the grafts very well against dehydration (they are more sensitive that other species).
And learning to graft figs is important. It allowed me to save some varieties i received.
Sometimes, when i see a cutting is not rooting after a couple of months and it's the last one i have, i remove a chip from the upper part of the cutting that is still green and it allows me to save the variety, despite that most of these grafts stay dormant until next spring.
It has come to a point that if i receive only one cutting of a difficult to obtain variety i prefer to graft it instead of trying to root it and risk loosing the variety.



[/QUOTE]





Jamie: Its interesting to know that you prefer grafting. And, in particular, "chip" type. I have much to learn. But this is why i enjoy this group AND, why i love figs!

Zidi is a Smyrna fig,  (caducous type) . It needs to grow in the correct environment as well as the services of the fig wasp for mandatory pollination.
Like most of the Smyrna types it  is very much flavored, sweet and crunchy with a high content of full seeds. Dried, it makes an excellent fruit to be consumed during the winter months.

 

 

Those sort of darker stains over the skin are typical of this variety .



 

 
Francisco
Portugal

        Мой первый зрелый инжир из черенков, полученных из Португалии в 2013 г. Вес 35-40 граммов. Недоумение и разочарование.

Amazing how all those figs look perfectly ripened throughout. Fig heaven!

How do you get the birds and other hungry critters to leave all those gorgeous figs for you?

[QUOTE=cjccmc]Amazing how all those figs look perfectly ripened throughout. Fig heaven!

How do you get the birds and other hungry critters to leave all those gorgeous figs for you?[/QUOTE]

Yes, you may say 'fig heaven'. My zone would be '11' on your scales - parallel 37º 13' N
Extremely dry, sort of semi-desertic
soils are mostly calcareous
Last short rains on current year were in April... after that no more ...just SUN and clear skies
Benefiting from the ocean breezes ..
Birds are a problem, yes!  - but they also have so many other figs and berries around

( for birds, try and  make a simple cross with two ..1/4" plywood  rectangles -12" x 4" -(*) and glue broken pieces of glass mirrors on each surface- all sides)
Suspend this assembly over the plants and let the wind do the moving with multiple reflections on every direction.. the most astute birds.. do not even approach.

(*) joined at 90º--making 8 reflecting areas

Francisco
Portugal

Hey,Lampo. You do not notice my photos and a message for what reason? No comments are going to be?

Francisco: That Zidi is pretty! And, a great tasting fig also! Yup, fig Heaven for sure! Do you sell any of your harvest?

Vladis, Brebera Branca looks amazing!

Smyfigs,1. FIG weight is very small. 2. Painting Figure painting is very different from FIG Portugal.

Wow, these are photos of some real knockout figs you guys are posting here. Thanks

[QUOTE=Vladis]Hey,Lampo. You do not notice my photos and a message for what reason? No comments are going to be?[/QUOTE]

Yes, I did see the pictures and the comments. How old is this tree ??
The fig is great! IMO this is a very good start. As the tree grows and stabilizes, the fruit will reflect that. However one has always  to take into account all inherent differences - soil - fertigation- climate - pollination etc..

Francisco
Portugal

[QUOTE=Smyfigs]Francisco: That Zidi is pretty! And, a great tasting fig also! Yup, fig Heaven for sure! Do you sell any of your harvest? Vladis, Brebera Branca looks amazing! [/QUOTE]

Thank you Meg
Zidi is a fine fig like all Smyrnas.
All my figs are either for the house or to be given to neighbors and friends


Francisco
Portugal

[QUOTE = Lampo]

Да, я видел фотографии и комментарии. Сколько лет это дерево ??
Инжир здорово! ИМО это очень хорошее начало. По мере того как дерево растет и стабилизируется, плод будет отражать это. Однако надо всегда учитывать все характерные различия - почва - fertigation- климат - опыление и т.п ..

Франциско
Thank you Francisco for comment. Climate, weather in Russia in 2016 are excellent. Plants in this class I 2. Age 3 years. Since pollination is all right, the wasp - blastofaga works. I'll show you some pictures of FIG. Their weight is significantly higher Bebera Branca .        

Vladis,

I think you have to be patient and wait till the tree grows and stabilizes
but I doubt you shall get similar amount of heat and sun-hours

Francisco

Франциско Паначе класс требует много тепла и солнца. На фото вы видите спелые плоды с хорошим весом. Правильно?

[QUOTE=Vladis]Франциско Паначе класс требует много тепла и солнца. На фото вы видите спелые плоды с хорошим весом. Правильно?[/QUOTE]

Yes, you are absolutely correct !
Those are great figs!

Francisco

Vladis,

I also have Bebera Branca (i bought it from a nursery - Plântula - so it may be different from Francisco's tree). Nevertheless, the figs are similar to yours. I should said the fig, as it only gave me one last year and quite late (October)

My tree is in a very bad patch of soil (mainly clay) and it doesn't grow, it's barely surviving. I rooted a cutting and it's doing well. I include a picture of the leaves. I will plant this cutting in another spot with good soil and i hope the size of the fig improves when the tree matures.

     

Slightly ahead of time here comes the Côteo Verdeal.

 




 





 


 

 

 

 

 

Francisco
Portugal

Beautiful figs, Francisco.

Unfortunately, both cuttings of Côteo Verdeal failed. I placed one in coco coir and another directly in soil. After several months neither produced a single root. I should have grafted at least one of them.

Jaime,

You right. CV is not an easy rooter and we should always start by a few chip buds and/or clefts on selected robust stock.
Did root one for my brother starting from a 40 inch scion almost 2" thick and it's coming very vigorous.
Shall have to try again this coming season. I would suggest at least 45 day stratification.. think it will greatly help a quick response from the scion.

Francisco

Beautiful! The pictures say all as to the destination... the journey however.....

Thanks for sharing such beauties with us....

Tony

[QUOTE=tsparozi]Beautiful! The pictures say all as to the destination... the journey however.....

Thanks for sharing such beauties with us....

Tony[/QUOTE]

Thank you Tony
I seldom quote/comment on flavors of all these figs  but this one is so special that I must say that of all I have tasted,... it's the most berry flavored fig.
Sad to say that it needs long, hot summers.

Francisco
Portugal

I believe that was one of the problems, Francisco.

I used the cuttings you sent me almost immediately after receiving them - so no stratification. I forget that i can do that here after a cold winter, but for cuttings from Algarve a stratification period is probably a must to successful rooting.

Fortunately, with the others varieties i did at least one graft so i didn't loose them.

I had not considered a chill or stratification requirement as a prerequisite to successful rooting. I imagine that I should. I have had rooting success in practice attempts with cutting fresh off a tree but that might have been fortunate happenstance. Do you gentlemen have guideline that you might share regarding which varieties are better rooted after a stratification period versus otherwise? A general rule of thumb such as "you must always stratify cold hardy varieties" perhaps? Or is the converse applicable? For very desirable and hard to root varieties such as the Black Madeira/ Fico Preto / Violetta and I am sure many others indigenous to warm climes such a Portugal or the Mediterranean in general, what are your experiences / recommendations? If I ever am fortunate enough to get my hands on a BM / FP, I want to be prepared with the proper course of action / procedure rather than risk such difficult to procure germplasm to rooting happenstance....

Thanks,
Tony

[QUOTE=tsparozi]I had not considered a chill or stratification requirement as a prerequisite to successful rooting. I imagine that I should. I have had rooting success in practice attempts with cutting fresh off a tree but that might have been fortunate happenstance. Do you gentlemen have guideline that you might share regarding which varieties are better rooted after a stratification period versus otherwise? A general rule of thumb such as "you must always stratify cold hardy varieties" perhaps? Or is the converse applicable? For very desirable and hard to root varieties such as the Black Madeira/ Fico Preto / Violetta and I am sure many others indigenous to warm climes such a Portugal or the Mediterranean in general, what are your experiences / recommendations? If I ever am fortunate enough to get my hands on a BM / FP, I want to be prepared with the proper course of action / procedure rather than risk such difficult to procure germplasm to rooting happenstance....

Thanks,
Tony[/QUOTE]

Experienced gardeners do recommend this stratification procedure for both seed and scion when it comes to plant propagation. Here, ground established fruit trees of all sorts in years of mild/warm winters do not produce good crops and the quality is low.

I cannot tell based on experience, what varieties would be requiring this chill.. Just a feeling made me to try the process on the last couple of seasons particularly on Violeta known to be stubborn when asked to root, and it looks like to work. I am confident that there will be no reason not to follow these preparations with all other varieties.
I would also add that same goes for scion to be used to extract chips and/or process cleft, side or rind  grafting.
On hard to find or high dollar value scions, I would suggest a mixed approach  by chip budding a few buds on known robust root stocks as well as rooting following the standard system.

Francisco

Francisco, thank you for the response! Going forward I am going to use a strategy employing a mixed approach where chilling will be used for a portion of of cultivar cuttings and no or minimal chilling used for the remaining portion of that cultivars cuttings and keep records tracking success of rooting; perhaps some kind of obvious conclusions will emerge (at least within the very specific conditions that exist in my case. We will see.

Regards.
Tony

Time to show Figo Côteo, a Common fig, our traditional cultivar for the production of dry figs.
A large fruit, sweet and much flavored.

 

 

 

 

Francisco
Portugal

All the figs everyone is posting look amazing/perfect and the pictures are outstanding.

great.too many good figs in your island francisco, but not in here :(

Figo Coteo certainly looks like a delicious fig, Francisco! 

watagarasu,

Francisco lives in the southern part of Portugal (known as Algarve - in red in the following map) not in Madeira Island (this island belongs to Portugal and the capital is Funchal (a bit lower to the left in the map).
Algarve has several dozens of different fig varieties. Madeira Island has much less. The varieties that exist in the island were taken from the main land many centuries ago.

Thank you all for your kind comments as well as geographical corrections.

Francisco
Portugal

One more Summer fig.
Name - Cara Lisa  or Belmandil
This one requires assistance from the pollinator to ripen its fruit.
Like the great majority of  the Smyrna family, it's a much flavored, sweet and syrupy fig.


 
 
 
 

 
Francisco
Portugal

Got now the first Braçajote Branco figs .
A Common type sweet and with great berry flavors.  

 

 

 

Francisco
Portugal

Beautiful figs, Francisco.

Belmandil needs the wasp but there is also a Valamandil that doesn't, isn't it? This one was also a beautiful fig.

This is the usual date for Brajaçote Branco to ripen? I might have problems with mine ripening 3-4 weeks later over here because of the rain...

I might get lucky with Inchário Branco though.. I have a couple of pollinated one's that resisted. They are getting bigger and look quite nice. I hope i can taste them this year.

Great thread! I enjoy all the beautiful pictures.

[QUOTE=Jsacadura]Beautiful figs, Francisco.

Belmandil needs the wasp but there is also a Valamandil that doesn't, isn't it? This one was also a beautiful fig.

This is the usual date for Braçajote Branco to ripen? I might have problems with mine ripening 3-4 weeks later over here because of the rain...

I might get lucky with Inchário Branco though.. I have a couple of pollinated one's that resisted. They are getting bigger and look quite nice. I hope i can taste them this year.[/QUOTE]


Thank you Jaime
You are correct. Valamandil is a Common and ripens without pollination by the insect.

As for Braçajote Branco, a lot depends on climate -even here in the District- but,  as an average,  I may say that the first ripe figs show up 'late August' .

Given the rather difficult operation of forced caprification done in a remote location and  with a restricted number of caprifigs,  your Smyrnas may have been partially pollinated and this may have delayed the ripening process . It's a good sign that those fruit are getting bigger and not falling off.
IMO so far,  the main problem is to match the receptiveness of your fruit with the availability of the pollinators
Next season we shall have to send an extra couple of dozens of Profichis.
Good luck
Francisco

[QUOTE=Jerry_M]Great thread! I enjoy all the beautiful pictures.[/QUOTE]

Thank you Jerry for your nice comment

Francisco
Portugal

These pictures look inviting! How can I buy some cuttings? On eBay can only find "Branca bebera", the other can not find, if you have some cuttings to sell, then please tell me, thank you!

[QUOTE=Jsacadura]watagarasu,

Francisco lives in the southern part of Portugal (known as Algarve - in red in the following map) not in Madeira Island (this island belongs to Portugal and the capital is Funchal (a bit lower to the left in the map).
Algarve has several dozens of different fig varieties. Madeira Island has much less. The varieties that exist in the island were taken from the main land many centuries ago.


[/QUOTE]

Thanks for this detail! Beautiful, i am sure!

[QUOTE=dongbuniuzi]These pictures look inviting! How can I buy some cuttings? On eBay can only find "Branca bebera", the other can not find, if you have some cuttings to sell, then please tell me, thank you![/QUOTE]


This is a good question! :-D!

Beautiful figs, Francisco! I lost count now but these are all amazing! How many varieties do you have in your collection? I am cureous.

Thanks very much for your comments and appreciation.

@ dongbuniuzi

Where is your base ? your profile notes have no mention...
Sorry, I do not sell cuttings. Local laws expressly prohibit such business to private people.
Only established and licensed nurseries are allowed to do it. I may exchange within the EU
You may try a few on the Internet or explore the eBay channels.

@ Meg,

I have a few figs in my collection, may be not even 30.
When I joined this forum the main objective was to show some of the best  Portuguese fig varieties including a few excellent Smyrnas, as well as to introduce some of the fig pollination key aspects and the culture of caprifigs.... all these matters rarely spoken in the forum.
Meanwhile, as the law allows me free exchange of plant scions inside the EU I have acquired a few great foreign figs and these are enriching my small collection.
But I have to be cautious !! ..  Mrs is OK with a few figs but,  not too much!!

Francisco
Portugal

Francisco, you certainly have some absolutely great figs. And, i suppose it is s good thing that your wife keeps things in check, yes? This fig addiction can be seriously dangerous otherwise. :-)

Jaime hi, 

Regarding fmv in Violeta- my rooted violeta's planted in heavy soil in pots showed much fmv at start and the plant had to work its way out of it after few more leafs-then they become monsters and grow fast. the ones planted in light soil show also the fmv but fight it better.

This character more and more convinces it is close or identical to the USDA "black madeira" which in the forum is shown to have a very slow growth and fmv ridden.

Probably Violeta is an older strain and more fmv resistant!