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nafex - [NAFEX] Exploring figs in NC

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  • From: Hilborn.E@epamail.epa.gov
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [NAFEX] Exploring figs in NC
  • Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:28:49 -0400

I wanted to share my experience with figs this year, as I am experiencing an unusual fruit year.
 

I have the following varieties (nursery or source): Brown Turkey, Celeste (Stark Bros); Lattarula (Wayside Gardens); Chicago Hardy, Petite Negronne (Edible Landscaping); LSU Gold (Hidden Springs Nursery); Celeste-type (gift from eastern NC).

 

This has been a disappointing fig year overall, the fruit quality was terrible. Although the season started a week early, it was shortened by over 2.5 weeks. We have had a VERY warm year; the heat started early and it has been consistently hot just about every day. Rainfall has been about normal.

 

My tried and true main cropper, the Brown Turkey, suffered greatly from the average amounts of rainfall we received this year. Apparently any rain in August is not good for figs. Most fruit rotted on the tree or was devoured by insects despite daily picking.  My Lattarula was even worse- the fruit soured even with an apparently closed eye and before the fruit really ripened (using softness and color change as a guide). My Brown Turkey and Lattarula have stopped bearing, while normally I can pick some fruit into the second week of September.

 

I was rewarded by a small breba crop from my LSU Gold and my Petite Negronne, both are very young trees, and are producing fruit for the first time. Both of these trees have a small, immature main crop developing.

 

My Chicago Hardy has been the star performer this year, it has suffered little from the rain and is giving a decent crop over a long period. The flavor is sub par due to the August rains, somewhat watery.  My Celeste is not fruiting very much, and the small amount of fruit suffers from rot.  It has lots of vegetative growth, is not over fertilized, but may need to be opened up by pruning. The Celeste has never produced much, it does not get good late day sun, so the site may be contributing to poor performance.

 

The Celeste-type is too young to bear, but growing well.

 

Betsy Hilborn

7a NC




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