Ontario Fruit Explorers

["John Barbowski" <jbarbowski@hotmail.com>]

Howdy folks,

I was there at Adriano's a couple of weeks ago and picked up a Capelas and an Excell. Adriano is a 71 year old from Portugal. He has some international acclaim and corresponds with U of Calif regarding his figs. I have seen his name responding to enquiries on a fig exchange web site. UofC is supposed to be doing some DNA analysis on his figs to help determine origins.

His annual labour to overwinter the figs is mind boggling. He has a couple of trees (Capelas and Desert King) that are about 10 feet tall. He erects a plywood, teepee shaped enclosure to protect them over winter. He places many of his small potted ones in a rectangular excavation just over a foot deep, covers it with plywood and styrofoam, and later with snow. He has kiwis, plums, blackberries, a couple of apples (Mitsu and Strawberry Pippen), peaches and... He used to have pomegranates but stopped keeping them to concentrate on his figs. He has a Mac apple in a root ball (asked me if I wanted to buy it) with one apple on it that is growing like a Lombardy poplar - extremely upright in its form; the new upright stems were as thicker than my thumb!

A very pleasant, personable person. Had a good hour and a half with him.

Figs must be hardier than we believe to survive our Canadian winters. I'm sure the lake effect ameliorates Adriano's area, but it is still impressive to see them growing in Canadian soil.

Angelo's nursery (Dufferin and Hwy 7 in Concord) also has a fig in the ground. It is 10-15 feet tall and has over a hundred figs on it. The figs are the size of my fist! and very sweet (had 3). It does have protection from the elements in the winter, however, the fig room is not heated. 

jmb

---

From:  "Thomas Olenio" <tolenio@sentex.net>
Reply-To:  Ontario Fruit Explorers <labruscagrape@lists.ibiblio.org>
To:  "labruscagrape@lists.ibiblio.org" <labruscagrape@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject:  [OFEX] figs
Date:  Sat, 16 Sep 2006 09:10:56 -0400
>
>Hello All,
>
>Found a great collection of figs in Oakville.
>
>http://www.adrianosfigtrees.com/varieties.html
>
>I sent an invitation to Adiano to join OFEX.
>
>Later,
>Tom
>
>
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