Brand new to this forum

I have recently taken cuttings from (and am air-layering) a very large (about 9') fig tree in the area, owned by the son of a deceased Italian man named Fernando who brought this tree in its infancy from his native country. I am trying to ascertain the town or region he was from, to better help identify the variety. Tree has MANY breba and new fruit on it -- can't wait to see and taste ripe fruit

Meanwhile, his daughter-in-law says the ripe fruit is white inside, and when I mentioned White Sicilian, she adamantly denied that the old guy would have ANYTHING at all to do with Sicily, that he was a proud ITALIAN!

I will be posting photos of the cuttings, and am going to send FREE cuttings (for postage cost of $6.45 Priority Mail) to the first 4 people who email me at jim.knoop@yahoo.com. I will give you my PayPal ID at the time I notify you that you are one of the four "winners" or, if you don't have PayPal, then you will have to take the chance that a money order will arrive in time for me to get these out to you while still relatively freshly cut. 

Disclaimer: You should have no problem rooting these, as the tree is very healthy, hardy and vigorous. If you do have a problem, however, no refund of postage will be made.

Welcome Jim from Eastpointe! Thank you for your generous offer!

Hello Jim!  Your cuttings offer sounds very generous, I look forward to seeing pictures and maybe growing a few for myself!  Always love a new fig,
-Devin

Warm welcome to you, and a very generous offer that is in the true sharing spirit . Fernando would no doubt be pleased his legacy is being spread around. Where is the mother tree located?

Thanks very much. I am leaving a note with the realtor, that if the new owners do not want the tree we will "take it off their hands." I would like to do it to honor Fernando, who passed away before I could really get to know him well, or even ask questions about the tree's history.

Mother tree is in southern Michigan.

Welcome to the forum Jim. That tree must be quite hardy to be 9' tall in Michigan. Is it up against the house? Nice offer, hope you get a chance to adopt the tree or at least have full access to cuttings. If you can, a picture of the plant with a close up of the leaves could help others here help you with an I.D.. Hopefully you can also post a picture of the ripe main crop with a taste review. Mike in Hanover, VA

Late to the party, but am interested in growing out your tree.

Thanks

Free cuttings have all been claimed. I would ask each of the 4 "winners" to keep me posted on condition of cuttings upon arrival, as well as progress with rooting / growing. I am fairly new to this, but I have a VERY experienced mentor, and am hoping a bit of his expertise rubs off on me.

If you were not able to procure any of these free cuttings, you may want to watch for them on eBay. Use "saved search" Fernando's (Unknown) White Italian. I may be listing them this weekend, or sometime next week.

Warmest regards, TONS of thanks, and God bless you all! 

DARN! I could have been a MILLIONAIRE!!! Could have marketed all those fig leaves we trimmed off to Halloween folks who wanted to go trick-or-treating as Adam and Eve!!! What? Was I thinking???

I'll do my best to make them grow Jim, and I will be posting updates on Fernando Figs here :)

MUCH appreciated, my new friend!

Got mine yesterday and have started rooting them.  Will keep you updated on their growth.  Many thanks!

Cuttings arrived yesterday, found them on the table when I came home from work last night.  Lovely cuttings!  Getting them taken care of this morning and i'll keep you updated.  Thanks Jim

Your mentor is a great guy.  I'm sure he has already rubbed off on you.  Everything you do with figs will succeed, in time.

He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18 RSV

Welcome to the Forum Jim!

Welcome to the forum. I once lived in Sterling Heights, Michigan for about 14 years. Moved to Charlotte about 5 years back. Miss the Great Lakes.

Thanks to all who have responded with welcoming messages. I feel very honored.

I have 3 listings on eBay now, and was able to add the town, region and province in Italy that this tree came from. In Fernando's luggage, no doubt...

Just potted up my Fernando figs five minutes ago. Three of four were pushing roots at the bottom, nice 1/4-1/2" ones. I'll keep the fourth a few weeks more to see what it dies. The three should push leaves in the next 2-4 weeks. Thanks again Jim!

Thanks very much for the feedback. And I think you meant "does" -- not "dies" -- no talking of "dies" when it comes to growing things LOL.
Mean to go down the block today and check the mother tree for fruit., Found one ripe one a week ago. It had split and a small fly and some ants were enjoying themselves. Nice white center. Would love to have tasted it, but didn't want to "share."

Just about every white fig I've seen ended up being Marseilles White. Very sweet very delicate.

Well, Fernando was VERY Italian, so it isn't a White Sicilian, and I can't imagine it being some variety with a French name. He brought the cuttings or whatever with him from Italy, a town about 60 miles south of Rome. I think I posted the town and region in one of my posts. If not, I'll go back and find the info and post it.

There are many of the same figs around the world with different names. I hope the one you found isn't one of them. Good luck.

Cheers,

Hi:
I've got a root coming out of the bottom of one of mine with no leaves yet, but the others are still sleep.  Hope to have good news soon.

Please take photos Jim! I want to see the inside, outside of the figs and even next to a leaf if you can manage! I'd love to know what I'm growing before the next 3-4 years ;) and yes I meant does

[QUOTE=Jim1742_Eastpointe]Well, Fernando was VERY Italian, so it isn't a White Sicilian, and I can't imagine it being some variety with a French name. He brought the cuttings or whatever with him from Italy, a town about 60 miles south of Rome. I think I posted the town and region in one of my posts. If not, I'll go back and find the info and post it.[/QUOTE]

Three are potted with roots, one is branching out nicely. Have you gotten back to eat more and snap some photos?

Thanks again for spreading around the cuttings of This precious tree with such a great history. All of my cuttings have rooted successfully. Seems to be quite a vigorous variety. Also enjoyed eating the fruit you brought me from the mother tree. Tasted like catelopes and walnuts mixed. Very delicate skin. A winner in my opinion.

That is a hard taste to imagine ficoparadiso, did you happen to snap a pic?

Has there been any fruit pics yet by chance?

Hi, Jim.  I wanted to give you an update.  Sorry to say mine didn't make it.  I got one that was doing fine, until I killed with kindness trying to up-pot it.
When I get a little time I'll edit and show a picture of it before it died.
Good luck to everybody else who's growing this one!

[QUOTE=DevIsgro]That is a hard taste to imagine ficoparadiso, did you happen to snap a pic?[/QUOTE]

Sorry for the late reply. I don't have any pictures of the fruit. Perhaps Jim may. Medium to large size. A few of the Breba's were double mule (mutated). It did not appear that any of the main crop were unless we missed them. Great discovery, Jim.

Well I hope to see pictures some day, or at least taste mine in a year or so. I had a few root, one that's very strong and well rooted. In a 2 gallon now. I think it will do very well next year.