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Subject: Seattle Purple (unknown) First Main Crop fig! Replies: 25
Posted By: m5allen Views: 748
 
Grasa, can you post some pictures of the dominant leaf pattern on your tree?

Subject: Seattle Purple (unknown) First Main Crop fig! Replies: 25
Posted By: m5allen Views: 748
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grasa
Francisco has amazing pictures of his Dauphine, (hopefully he posts them for others to also drool looking at them) mine is not a Dauphine... As I said, I have it for 24 years and it is a great tree, despite of its early childhood abuse suffered at hands of misinformed fig owners. (Fig tree abusers! that is!!) 

 Maybe one day we will know what it is, but from now, it is all I have. It would be good to know how this fig does in hotter areas. Does the pulp change color? Stay amber with purple ribs on the outside? Small eye?


I just recently posted a picture of this fig :  http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/grasas-unk-seattle-purple-7065717?pid=1284185614#post1284185614

I am growing in Tampa Bay, FL - so we have plenty of heat.  My fig from Grasa's parent tree didn't have the purple ribs, it was overall amber color on the outside.  But mine is a year old tree, so this is not exactly indicative of what this fig will look like when it is mature.

I still think this is a Neveralla/Archipel/Osbourn Prolific.  Especially considering these varieties are common in the Pacific Northwest.

Subject: Seattle Purple (unknown) First Main Crop fig! Replies: 25
Posted By: m5allen Views: 748
 
Looks good Grasa.  Is your main crop more or less productive than the breba?

I could be wrong, but I think this fig is somewhere in the realm of Neveralla/Archipel/Osbourn Prolific.  From what I have read, there is some confusion about the distinction between these varieties.  The links below are what lead me to my guess.  The fruit and leaves in the second link look exactly like my tree that came from your mother tree. 


http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=3017567

http://kiwifruitsalsa.wordpress.com/fig-varieties/

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fig/msg0716591132249.html

Subject: OT-Ever wonder what our members look like? Replies: 313
Posted By: m5allen Views: 22,855
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RIMike
Seeing that we are talking fishing... Here I am.
[image][surfcasting2]From Drop Boxclass="bbc_img">

Heavy into surfcasting for Striped bass in New England and casting to Bluefin tuna with spinning gear. Fished just about everywhere, Cuttyhunk, Block Island, Montauk, Cape Cod Beaches, etc. Had a wooden saltwater lure business selling thousands of lures on the east coast, some to the west coast, and some internationally. Sold the business a while back.


That is a bad arse fishing picture.  You can catch Tuna from shore up there?  

Love seeing all the fisherman here!  I guess figs and fishing go hand in hand.

Here I am (on the left with the Mahi).  And also doing one of my favorite things....scalloping (gotta wear camo to sneak up on the scallops :) !

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Subject: LSU Purple Replies: 22
Posted By: m5allen Views: 911
 
Sounds like you have made your decision and I think it is a wise one.  If you don't have much space, if you have a shorter growing season, and if there are varieties that will produce better quality figs faster, then I see no need to waste time with this one.

Subject: A bit sickened..... Replies: 6
Posted By: m5allen Views: 497
 
Dang, sorry to hear that.  You guys in north Florida have been getting hammered by that stalled front.

Subject: Should I avoid planting in this soil? Replies: 18
Posted By: m5allen Views: 574
 
Lots of good advice, good to see how other folks down south do it.  Thanks everyone.  I just found a good website to check elevation and where I want to plant the figs is 9.5 feet.  So I guess that is pretty low.  

I may be a little crazy, I went around the yard and dug a few holes in various places, some high spots and some low spots to see if it made any difference.  After about 2 feet, I got water everywhere, the higher areas near the house were a little better.  

My ground is saturated now, but it has been raining hard pretty much every day.  After a few days with no rain, it starts to dry up.  This won't be an issue in a few weeks, we are on our way out of the wet season.  We really only have 3 consistently wet months - June, July and August.  I will wait a few weeks and then fill the holes with a little pine bark compost I found and then mound up.  

Subject: Should I avoid planting in this soil? Replies: 18
Posted By: m5allen Views: 574
 
Thanks everyone and thanks Andreas.

I thought about a raised bed, but don't mature fig tree roots run deep?  I am worried that even if I plant on a mound, that the roots will ultimately end up in the saturated zone.  I hate to say it, but maybe my only option is to get some of those 55 gal barrels cut in half and bury them in the ground.  I won't be as great as growing straight in the ground, but it will be a heck of a lot better than growing in a 7 gal black plastic nursery pot getting baked in the sun.  

At first, I wondered if it could be saltwater - I am close to the bay, but not that close.  There is a small spring-fed creek that runs though my neighborhood, but I am not on the creek.  I never had this problem in my previous house, but my new neighborhood is kind of country, there is no sewer drainage, everyone is on a septic tank.  So maybe that is why the water doesn't get channeled away very well.  I am in a flood zone X, which means I don't have to have flood insurance.  I am not sure what the elevation is at my house, but the house itself sits up noticeably higher than the surrounding land.  Some houses in my neighborhood are in a flood zone, but I think it is because they are on the creek.  

Subject: Should I avoid planting in this soil? Replies: 18
Posted By: m5allen Views: 574
 
I am pretty bummed.  I was digging a few holes last night in my yard at my new house, getting ready to finally plant a few figs in the ground.  I dug each hole about 3 feet wide and about 18" deep.  After I dug the second hole, I went to go look at the first and it was starting to fill up with water.  

It has been really rainy here and my whole yard is saturated and soggy.  I am worried about the roots sitting in soggy soil if I plant in these holes.  This isn't exactly a low spot in my yard or anything like that.  I even tried digging in some higher areas in my yard near my house foundation and they were pooling water as well, although not quite as bad.  

Below is a pic of the hole today, it is kind of hard to see, but there is still a little bit of water in the bottom and it is pretty mushy.  

I really don't want to have to stick with container gardening for figs, the hot FL sun really makes it so difficult to grow in containers.  I just bought a house with an acre lot and was really looking forward to finally getting my figs in the ground.

IMG_1396.JPG 

Subject: My first VDB Replies: 15
Posted By: m5allen Views: 750
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quackmaster

I live in south east La and I had this problem with my negronne and aubique petite. Even when there wasn't rain,  just from humidity and they are both in ground.


Interesting Ryan.  So did you get rid of those varieties? 

Subject: Grasa's unk Seattle purple Replies: 3
Posted By: m5allen Views: 431
 
Here is the Florida version of Grasa's unknown purple. This tree was started from cuttings this past winter. I currently have it growing in a 7 gal black plastic nursery pot.

It could have been a little more ripe, but i accidently knocked it off when i was adjusting the organza bag.

I didnt have a quarter to compare the size, but this fig was not a monster like Grasa's. It was avg size, not huge but not small.

I wasnt expecting too much considering the age of the tree, ton of rain we have been getting and the lack of perfect ripeness, but it really surprised me. It was sweet and tasted exactly like a honeydew. The skin was thin and the eye tighter than a frogs behind. This fig is definitely a winner. Thanks Grasa.

The pics are not the best, i took them from my phone at work.

Attached Images
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jpeg CAM00359.jpg (716201, 57 views)

Subject: Bunch of figs and ratings Replies: 45
Posted By: m5allen Views: 1,192
 
Thanks for the info.  I like your rating scale, I can really tell which varieties stuck out as winners. 

Subject: My first VDB Replies: 15
Posted By: m5allen Views: 750
 
Anyone else growing this variety in the southeast have issues with splitting? 

Subject: My first VDB Replies: 15
Posted By: m5allen Views: 750
 
Here are some pics of my first VDB.  I was really looking forward to tasting this fig, but I gave it a 5, it was pretty bland.  Granted, this is a young tree that I just started from cuttings this spring.  It is growing in a 3 gal black nursery container.  

I think it would have been better if it could have stayed on the tree for another day or 2, but you can see the eye started to blow open, so I had to pick it.  As typical with FL summers, it has been pretty rainy. 

Hopefully this fig will get better with age.  Plus, I am planning on moving some of my potted figs to the ground, so this should help with the rain impact.


IMG_1394.JPG  IMG_1393.JPG  IMG_1395.JPG 

Subject: Lyndhurst White Replies: 26
Posted By: m5allen Views: 1,347
 
Thanks for the pics, this is a good looking fig.

Can you please describe the taste in a little more detail - is it more of a berry, melon or honey taste (or none of the above)? 

I have a few of these growing and I am anxious to see how they taste. 

Subject: Is this Magnolia? Replies: 13
Posted By: m5allen Views: 690
 
Just judging from your pictures, it looks to me like the fig could have spent a few more days on the tree.  I wonder if that would improve the taste at all.  I have bought a few figs in the central FL region from Lowes (grown by Dewar Nursery) and it always seems to be a roll of the dice what you will actually end up with.  I don't think my Green Ischia from Lowes is really a Green Ischia.

Subject: Zidi Fig and Friends Replies: 24
Posted By: m5allen Views: 795
 
Nice pics, thanks for sharing.  The Celeste looks amazing. 

Subject: Celeste from GRamaley Replies: 12
Posted By: m5allen Views: 642
 
Here is one of the Celestes that I have been picking over the past few weeks.  This came from a cutting that GRamaley gave me not even a year ago.  

This one was ripe, but I have let a few others stay on the tree until they are little more wrinkly.  The ones that were more ripe had a stronger fig flavor.  This one had a bit milder flavor, but the taste of nectarine really came through.  It was kind of strange, if I closed my eyes, I would have sworn that I was eating a nectarine.  It was soft with relatively no seed crunch.  I can only imagine that this will get better with time.  

I grow this tree in a 7 gal nursery container and it has been a heck of a producer so far.  I will be putting it in the ground soon, can't wait until next year.  Thanks Gloria.  

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Subject: My First Alma Fig Pics Replies: 11
Posted By: m5allen Views: 810
 
Nice, congrats.  Beautiful fig and pics.

Subject: Eating figs - room temp or refrigerated? Replies: 26
Posted By: m5allen Views: 668
 

There obviously needs to be a distinction between room temp and just picked from the tree temp.  It is hot as heck in Florida, so I don't like to eat what little figs I have picked - straight off the tree. 

I am with Wills, I like them slightly chilled.  I like to pick my blueberries and leave them in the fridge for a few days as well.  But I have only had picked from the tree and refrigerated figs, so I guess I need to try them at room temp.  Or maybe cellar temp? :)

Subject: Eating figs - room temp or refrigerated? Replies: 26
Posted By: m5allen Views: 668
 
This may be a stupid newbie question - but when you eat figs, are they generally room temp or refrigerated?  Is it anything like wine where the temp makes a difference in taste?

My trees are young, so I have only picked a few right off the tree and eaten them.  Most of the figs I have eaten have been store bought and refrigerated. 



Subject: LAST CHANCE ----Needs to be said - the need for civil communication Replies: 85
Posted By: m5allen Views: 3,394
 
Maybe we should create a sub-forum related to politics............ok, maybe not. 

Subject: greek dark fig (skoura vavatsika) UPDATED Replies: 33
Posted By: m5allen Views: 2,111
 
Beautiful figs and pictures.  Funny, I was actually thinking about going up to Tarpon this winter and bringing some cuttings and/or 1 gal plants and trying to find some Greeks who want to trade. 

Subject: Publix BOGO Replies: 8
Posted By: m5allen Views: 393
 
Just made my day.  I am going tonight to get some.  I figured their BOGO on figs was coming soon.  Thanks.

Subject: Seattle purple unknown beauty! +2 new pic Replies: 24
Posted By: m5allen Views: 1,003
 
Nice.  I have a healthy tree growing from the cuttings you gave me this past winter and now it has 3 figs getting ready to swell soon.  I hope they all ripen; I can't wait to try this one. 

Can you describe its flavor - berry, honey, figgy, melon? 

Subject: best greek fig (peloponnisiaka aspra sika) Replies: 34
Posted By: m5allen Views: 3,219
 
Fishing here -inshore and offshore is my passion. 

Next time you are in town, bring some of those cuttings and I will take you fishing :)

Subject: best greek fig (peloponnisiaka aspra sika) Replies: 34
Posted By: m5allen Views: 3,219
 
We stayed in Oia a few years back - no place in the world like Santorini.

We were in Mykonos as well, but our experience wasn't quite like that second video.  Not my style, I like taking it easy and doing some snorkeling/diving.

Subject: best greek fig (peloponnisiaka aspra sika) Replies: 34
Posted By: m5allen Views: 3,219
 
Looks amazing, thanks for sharing.  Sure wish I was in Greece - Santorini to be specific. 

Subject: Malta Black 8-3-14 Replies: 21
Posted By: m5allen Views: 978
 

Nice, thanks for sharing.  I have a young Malta that has some baby figs that I hope to taste this year.  Can't wait. 

 

How old is your tree?  In ground or in container?  Thanks.

Subject: Kadota at SuperKing Market for $3.99/16oz box Replies: 11
Posted By: m5allen Views: 539
 
They sell that same brand at my local grocery store in Florida.  The figs are quite good for store bought figs.  Some of the more ripe ones have a thick, honey interior that is very sweet.  I agree that the skin is a little rubbery/chewy. 

Hey, to make you feel better, they are $5.99 at my store.  And I still buy them so i can get my fig fix.  My plants are all young, so nothing has produced for me yet. 

They do from time to time, sell these figs as 2 for 1. 

Subject: An Overabundance Replies: 18
Posted By: m5allen Views: 616
 
Fig smoothie?

Subject: Urban homesteading on small city block Replies: 23
Posted By: m5allen Views: 825
 
Nichole,

Here is my boy Rocco - 4 years old.  

You know the drill....most people say to me, "cute little pit bull".   Then I have to explain what a Staffy is.  

1697 copy.jpg 

Subject: Urban homesteading on small city block Replies: 23
Posted By: m5allen Views: 825
 

Nichole,

Are your dogs Staffordshire Bull Terriers?  I have a Staffy, not a very common breed.  I'll have to find a pic and post. 

Subject: New Fig fruitition Replies: 10
Posted By: m5allen Views: 511
 
Welcome.  There are a few Florida growers on this forum.

Subject: First Fig of the season from my plants! Replies: 17
Posted By: m5allen Views: 614
 
Nice, congrats.  Please post pics of the ripe fig after you pick it. 

I have a baby Malta from uncle Wills that I planted in Feb.  It has some figlets that will hopefully ripen in a few months.  I can't wait to try it. 

Subject: Photos of Early Season Fig Cultivars-A lot of Pictures Replies: 51
Posted By: m5allen Views: 3,426
 
Thanks so much for putting this together.  I grow in Florida, so this information is helpful. 

Subject: Petite Negri 2014 Replies: 17
Posted By: m5allen Views: 954
 
Nice pics. 

I'll ask Steve's question a little differently....if you are limited on space and could only have one, which would you pick, VDB or PN? 

I have both and am looking to size down my collection.  I am considering that since these figs are similar, I will keep only one. 

Subject: --- Raspberry El Molino Unk. fig (PIX) == Patlican Replies: 60
Posted By: m5allen Views: 2,691
 
Wow, beautiful fig.  If you could snag some extra cuttings I think you might just have a few people interested.

Subject: Today's haul Replies: 44
Posted By: m5allen Views: 1,608
 
Beautiful pics and good info on each variety.  Do you have a favorite out of the whole bunch, is it the Georgia White Hybrid?  Thanks.

Subject: Half ripe Celeste? Replies: 11
Posted By: m5allen Views: 597
 
This definitely looks like a Celeste to me. 

Subject: Nero 600M question Replies: 39
Posted By: m5allen Views: 1,500
 
These leaves look exactly like my Petite Negra - same tree, two completely different leaf patterns.  Look it up in Jon's varieties database.

Subject: What the heck is this? Replies: 4
Posted By: m5allen Views: 289
 
Is this normal?  

Subject: What the heck is this? Replies: 4
Posted By: m5allen Views: 289
 
Saw this on a small plant that I rooted over the winter.  Looks like the eye end of this little figlet blew open.  

What is this?  Guess this little fig is confused that he is supposed to be an inverted flower. 

IMG_1294.JPG 

Subject: Store Bought Figs Replies: 15
Posted By: m5allen Views: 751
 

Figs are a good thing for me – they are so sweet and satisfying that they quell my sweet tooth.  After a nice dinner, if I eat a few figs, my dessert cravings go away.  And figs are a lot healthier than ice cream, cookies, etc…  at least that is how I justify it. 


Subject: Store Bought Figs Replies: 15
Posted By: m5allen Views: 751
 
Thanks Andreas.  I was over in the Tarpon Springs area last year (around the Sponge Docks).  There were a few houses with figs, but I had the family with me and I didn't feel right knocking on random doors.  But that isn't a bad idea.  

The figs I bought from the store were from Madera, CA.  

Subject: Any really good first year figs? Replies: 13
Posted By: m5allen Views: 561
 
I am 100% sure about the Malta Black and most likely, I am going to keep the VDB, Petite Negra and Celeste.  The others are the ones I am not so sure about.  

I bought the Green Ischia from Lowes and it produced my first home grown fig, but it was a bit of a let down, see my post below.  But I did buy it from Lowes, so it may not be a real Green Ischia.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/my-first-home-grown-fig-6859726?pid=1282455566#post1282455566

Subject: Any really good first year figs? Replies: 13
Posted By: m5allen Views: 561
 
What I have is in my signature - Malta Black, VDB, Black Mission, Petite Negra, LSU Purple, Black Jack, Celeste, Green Ischia, Lyndhurst White, Desert King and Alma

Subject: Any really good first year figs? Replies: 13
Posted By: m5allen Views: 561
 
I am new to figs, so all my fig plants are young.  I was fortunate enough to have been given a few plants, I have also rooted a few varieties over the winter and have bought a few from local nurseries.  All my plants are less than a couple years old at the most. 

My collection has grown a little too big and I want to "thin the herd" and keep only the top performers - in terms of taste, hardiness and productivity. 

My plan is to wait until the end of this season and see which figs I like best.  But I have read a lot on this forum about how first year figs don't usually taste that great.  So I don't want to give up on a fig that might develop better taste as it gets older. 

Are they any varieties that are really good right from the start? And conversly, are there varieties that are usually not very good when the plant is young, but improve over time?

Subject: Store Bought Figs Replies: 15
Posted By: m5allen Views: 751
 
My local grocery store (Publix) now has black mission figs.  They were pricey, but I couldn't resist.  These were the best figs I have ever had.  These were very ripe and it is hard to tell from the pics, but some of them had "honey" in the cavity like I see in Black Madiera pics.  

I am new to figs and my plants are young, so I have yet to taste a good home grown, ripe fig.  If a home grown fig tastes better than a store bought fig, I am really looking forward to that.  And if these black missions were that good, I can't imagine how tasty one of the premium varieties is.

I have a black mission that has about 10 figlets on it, if they grow up to be anything like this, I will be very happy.  

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Subject: Unk. Glenoaks Fig Tree in Burbank. What Is this a fig type? Replies: 16
Posted By: m5allen Views: 1,393
 
I enjoy reading your SoCal fig adventures.  Keep them coming!