Hello all,

My name is Kevin and I have a fig problem.

It all started back when my sister-in-laws father (came over from Portugal when he was 18) passed away and my brother and I removed his fig tree from the house before it was sold.

My brother took the "big tree" (8-10 feet high and wide) and gave me the "baby" that was growing at the base.

Since then, I have split my tree 3 times as it has grown. I now have two large trees from that one that I keep outside and one that goes in my greenhouse. I also have many 1-2 yr old trees from that original.

I'd like to try and figure out the variety since the only thing I know is what he told my brother that he brought a cutting back from his hometown in Portugal but he may have also just bought it here in MA. He was known to tell a tall tale now and then.

Next fall I'll post pictures and see if anyone can help identify it further.

This past year I received some cuttings from UCD that are doing great and also bought a few trees from Logees in CT and figtrees.net in MA.

How do I stop? :) 

It's nice to know that there are people out there like me.

We could have worse addictions, right?

Hope everyone has a great holiday.

Kevin

Welcome Kevin.  What is your location/zone (MA ?) as it sounds like you have a hardy tree for growing in the ground.  It's a good idea to put that information in your profile so folks don't keep asking where you are.  Great story and great results.

Welcome, Kevin.  For me, I started with well over 100 one-gallon trees from the '12/'13 winter rooting.  I now have less than 30 potted trees.  I was lucky to taste a bunch of new varieties this year which allowed me to weed out the similar tasting ones.  I have a few 'top-shelf' varieties I hope to taste next year.  I plan to duplicate the best-of-the-best and see where it goes from there.  If it wasn't for winter storage space, I'd have more trees, but then again, they will all need up-potting and/or root pruning which adds a LOT of work.

(In the tone of a support group) Hi Kevin.

Welcome to the forum where enabling is not only common practice but encouraged.

Welcome to the forum Kevin. Your question...."How do I stop? :) ".... has no simple answer. Even the best known "fig psychologists" are baffled. The most accepted answer is "there is no cure" to fig addiction only a minimal treatment. Good luck and good growing.

Welcome!  You can't really say it's a problem until you go over 10,000 varieties and all you're wearing is fig leaves...

Kevin, Welcome to the Forum! We can not help you with your "Fig Addiction" ...The worse addiction besides growing them, is Eating em!!

The "Pros" here will probably figure out what Fig Tree you have. This time next year you will be "Fig Poor"...  : )

Hi Kevin, welcome to the board.

Next year at this time you might have 50-100 varieties.

And many here would simply call that a good start :)

Hi Kevin, I am down in Southeast Ct.not far from you. Shopped at Logees, a very interesting place. From reading all these post, I feel we are all suffering from some sort of figdiction. I don't think there is a cure. Welcome.

Dave

Welcome Kevin. I'm one of the only members not addicted.... I can quit any time I want;-))

Welcome Kevin......one of us, one of us.....

Welcome to the forum, Kevin.

Welcome

Welcome to the forum Kevin...

Thanks for the nice welcome. Questions to follow as we get closer to spring.

Welcome to the forum, Kevin!

Welcome to the forum from the Garden State

Great story Kevin! Just warning you, it ain't gonna stop; it's only going to get worse, but since we're talking about figs, it's only going to get better :) And next August when you are stuffing your face with delicious figs, you're realize the addiction is IN FACT a blessing. Welcome!

Hi Kevin!  Welcome!!!

A fig problem would mean your fig tree is sick or struggling. Growing, caring for, and eating figs is not a problem, after all, this is called, Figs 4 Fun. Welcome Kevin

Welcome Kevin, nice intro.  Sounds like you are off and running with the figs, and you got a great start with that family heirloom- post pics of that one when you are able!

Welcome to the forum Kevin. Norhayati

You have found a home here.  Your habit will be feed as there are many dealers.  Good luck as there is no cure.

Hi Fitzski,
Welcome to the forum.
Do you know from which region in Portugal the tree is supposed to have been brought from ?
Do you know if the tree produced figs where she was ? One crop ? Two crops ?
Do you know the color ?
Did your tree produce figs for you this year ?

As for the number of trees, it is a matter of having to taste the fruits and test the trees at one own location that drives one to acquire more trees.
I honestly think that, once, one has found 4 or 5 good different productive strains, then it is just the normal care to the orchard. So don't be afraid to add 200 trees more just to be sure
not to miss the most exceptional strain :) . Imagine missing that strain ... What a drama !

Welcome to the forum Kevin.
It is nice to see people from colder climates growing figs since it is much more challenging for us.

Your fig addiction will pass but not before you acquire a nice collection and choose your own favourites.

That sounds like an interesting fig tree in your family!  8-10 feet tall in Zone 5b.  How was it protected from winter all those years?
I would think it would have to be a very cold hardy variety. 
 

The family heirloom fig that I have ( for now I call it a Batista Fig after my sister-in-laws father's surname), it produces one crop of figs a year.

The figs are black/brown with a raspberry center. Very nice taste to them.

It is cold hardy but will dieback if not properly covered for winter.

The main tree died back to to the roots last year even though it was wrapped for winter (leaves/plastic). It was my first year doing this and I failed miserably.

My sister-in-laws father used to tie the branches up, surround it with hay bales and stuff the center with leaves and then cover with plastic. I'm told he had minimal dieback every year.

That must have been a lot of work for an 8-10 foot high and wide tree.

I'll share pictures next summer of the leaves and fruit next summer.

[QUOTE=fitzski]
The family heirloom fig that I have ( for now I call it a Batista Fig after my sister-in-laws father's surname), it produces one crop of figs a year.

The figs are black/brown with a raspberry center. Very nice taste to them.

It is cold hardy but will dieback if not properly covered for winter.

The main tree died back to to the roots last year even though it was wrapped for winter (leaves/plastic). It was my first year doing this and I failed miserably.

My sister-in-laws father used to tie the branches up, surround it with hay bales and stuff the center with leaves and then cover with plastic. I'm told he had minimal dieback every year.

That must have been a lot of work for an 8-10 foot high and wide tree.

I'll share pictures next summer of the leaves and fruit next summer.

[/QUOTE] Old school... So many of our immigrant parents and grand parents went to great lengths for their fig trees.

Welcome to the forum Kevin. Get used to being called an addict.

Being called an "addict", when related to figs does not qualify as "name calling", so you will not get in trouble when you call someone an addict, it is widely accepted on this forum. Also no cure. :)

Kevin,
Welcome to THE forum, where it all happens :)