What a treat, plus the respect shown to those who are trying to preserve and expand the fig experience. Alas for me, the quite a few random seedlings that I've come across locally, some growing quite spectacular tree specimens..most are just not that great which was disheartening. So that does say how much work it is to keep up the discipline to never give up. I did end up with a lovely experience at a local nursery. A fig aficionado working at a nursery had grown a nice specimen of one of the Fig Hunters more unique varieties. This person was waiting for someone, anyone to ask about the specific variety before selling the tree. I was that person who engaged in conversation and asked about the variety, lol. While up north it has a tangy almost sour taste which sounded like a great different experience, down here in the south of California it is actually much sweeter apparently. I'm excited for the future of the plant. It's a genuine privilege that we have people like The Fig Hunter doing what he and his family does. All this is such a dynamic field and it's great to have so many enthusiasts like Ross.
My black mission has about 15 little baby trees popping up around it this year. I'm going to transplant them elsewhere and I'll know in a couple of year if they are identical to the black mission or not. The tree is over 20 years old and has never had a 'pup' before. Last year was very, very wet, so that might be the difference. I'm in Ca. in zone 9b. Good fig area.
Thanks for the content Ross. As an FYI, I live in NorCal and we had a very wet winter last year and a very late spring. Also, regarding pollination, I, have been very surprised at how the blastophaga seem to be attracted to very small figs. Most folks I observe hand pollinating are doing so on larger figs than what I observe in nature.
I'm in Melbourne Australia and my nephew did an air layering from my dad's fig tree. One minute it was fine then the next the leaves went yellow then completely brown and eventually died. The fruit stayed small but was shrivelled. I really though fig trees were hardy.
