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Chris Holcombe wrote:I grow quite a few figs. A few varieties are in the ground and the rest are in pots being trialed. Desert king, ronde de bordeaux, takoma violet and black spanish are in the ground. I’m trialing malta black, kadota, lsu purple, alma and violet de bordeaux. All of them are common type figs except for desert king. That’s a san pedro type that overwinters a breba crop on last years wood. The downside of this is every pruning cut reduces your next crop. The main crop on desert king needs the fig wasp to pollinate it or they fall off. The breba crop on it is really good though.
Characteristics I’m looking for are early fruit, common type so I can prune them any way I want and excellent taste. The bordeaux varieties supposedly have an interesting complex taste that I’m looking forward to trying. I generally go for the berry type figs but I haven’t had a fig I don’t like.
I’ll know more in a few weeks when the trial ones fruit and more next year when they’re a little stronger. I’m struggling to keep them watered though the heat wave and they’re dropping their fruit sometimes.
Varieties that might do well for you Steve are malta black and ronde/violet de bordeaux. They’re early and I think they have a closed eye. I don’t know for sure yet because I haven’t had any ripen so far. I just rooted them last year so they’re young. If you want more varieties to try I’d check out Ross in Philadelphia. He has a YouTube channel and a google spreadsheet where he details the characteristics of many varieties.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1i3l2K21bbaAkHjmSnqPX4yvoWEYJ7-YjHOtMPFoe1ME/edit
There’s a lot of varieties available. You can root them pretty easily by cuttings. I’m sure you’ll be able to find a variety that does well in your climate.
alex Keenan wrote:I do something similar however I use silica beads with indicator to dry the seeds.
http://www.southernexposure.com/orangetogreen-color-indicating-loose-silica-gel-beads-28-g-p-1295.html
I than store my seeds in mason jars as you do however, I tape a humidity strip that changes color at 5% and 10% relative humidity to the inside of the jar facing out.
I add seed to jar and add silica beads with indicator to a Drawstring Muslin Bag placed into with the seeds to keep the humidity within the proper range.
http://www.southernexposure.com/drawstring-muslin-bags-supply-p-1139.html
Legumes should be above 5% and less than 10%
Other seeds that can be dry should be below 5%
I store seeds in a cool place. Many dried seeds can be frozen.
Lower moisture and temperature will allow the seeds to remain viable longer.
