Benny, I'm sorry your spray wasn't good. Hope your apples are OK.
I didn't get email of your post here, otherwise I woulda posted sooner...just found out.
I hope you will get to eat some figs.
I cleaned off (ate) all figs on the BIG BT & the pettite Nigri, but still am eating figs on the small BT, I.G Honey, & Osborne Prolific.. oooh yum! Nothing ripe yet on the White Genoa. They are ther but I never tasted one....YET. Still waiting on them.
Figs are funny...they will do a splurge of growing & then stop for no reason. Then, all of a sudden, they will blow up & start to color to ripeness!
I picked a fig other day that weighed over 2 ounces. It was almost 2 1/2"!!!
I think I'm getting sick of figs --I'm figged out... oh my!
I'm starting to think of Turkey now -- the real ones, as Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I think I saw a recipe for Turkey stuffed w/ fig dressing once. Maybe some year I'll try it?

you can try to make a batch of preserves?

Ive got 2 tiny lil figlets on my Golden Celeste. my negri is a very small plant, its gotten a branch, but thats about it....

Patty :
The figs recovered I'd say 95 %. The leaves turned green again and it appears that there are no damage to the fruit.
My fuji's are recovering also but perhaps only about 45% but they are all doing OK now.
Thanks for your concern.

Benny

Not enough figs to make preserves..I eat them as they ripen LOL.
I read they are very good for you & have more antioxidants than green tea.

I just remembered I gotta make room for 16 fig cuttings coming in January, & was going to remind you in case y'all forgot. Then...I just found this on another forum. Someone asked "what is Davis?".
quote:
"They're the germplasm repository for certain fruits, including figs.
Keep in mind all their trees are seriously infected with FMV (fig mosaic virus).
If you're looking for one or two nice figs, I'd recommend buying from Paradise Nursery (last chance!) -- if addicted to collecting figs, like many of us, then go ahead and order from UC-Davis."

So, we are getting figs infected w/ a virus!!!! I read a little about mosaic virus, but will have to do more. I don't want my other trees infected as they did so well last summer. Anyone know about this & if it will affect our other trees?

Properly attributed, so I hope it is OK to cut and paste this response from another forum:

Quote:

Our collection is infected with Fig Mosaic Virus . To my knowledge only the country of Yemen claims to have virus free figs . However , they also will not allow their fig's to be tested for (FMV) . The virus is spread by fig aphids . There is a process called tissue culture that can produce a virus free fig tree . Unfortunately the Fig's must be grown under greenhouse conditions . As soon as the trees are planted in outdoor orchards the trees are vulnerable to the spread of the virus . The virus is most obvious in the Spring during cooler temperatures , as soon as the Summer heat arrives the symptoms subside . A small number of figs are severely stunted by the virus . To my knowledge the commercial crop yields are not severely effected . It is something we just have to live with at this stage . We are working on a solution for this virus , but I'm not aware of a sure workable solution at this time . Your climate my be your biggest limiting factor . The cooler the climate the more effect the virus may have . I hope this will help your decision . Respectfully Howard Garrison

National Clonal Germplasm project, ficus cultivars

This is the response to an email inquiry on the topic. Really, it leaves us with more questions than answers.

From the CRFG site:

"Mosaic virus, formerly considered benign, probably causes crop reduction. Symptoms resemble potassium deficiency--leaves are marbled with yellow spots, and the veins are light colored. Symptoms are often not apparent until the tree is older or when it becomes heat or water-stressed. Do not purchase infected trees and isolate those which show symptoms."

This ain't so good...

More quotes:
"If you order from USDA/UC Davis, you will get FMV with your order. Period. If that is an issue for you, do not order. Most people choose to live with it, it is a fact of life in fig collecting."
.............and, when asked what symptoms are:.....
"Most often in leaf discoloration and or mis-shapen leaves. Sometime in stunted growth or deformed fruit. And, most importantly, some times there are NO VISIBLE symptoms, but when you put it next to a non-infected tree, the infection is transferred."
.....................another quote:
""Actually in the lab fig tissue can be treated with heat and propagated via meristem tissue culture to get rid of the virus (as has been done with many other fruit trees), but it requires money and effort to keep a new orchard clean."
..................In response to that, this link:.
http://www.actahort.org/books/480/480_30.htm


I will keep them separated. Maybe this far north, whatever insect it is that carries it from tree to tree doesn't exist. I think UC Davis shoulda warned us!!!

This stinks!!! To put it lightly. I recently bought a heat mat in preperation for my cuttings! If it is spread by aphids, then they are pretty much everywhere (I think). I know that I have seen aphids on my roses. I am wondering if it is now worth it? My current figs are so nice and healthly. I guess we can only do so much. What's to stop the spread if someone on your block has a fig tree with FMV. What is everyone else going to do. Patty, are you really going to just try to keep them in a different area?

Vinny

Hi Vinny, yes, I think I will just keep them separated. I'll root the cuttings inside here ... the other trees are in basement sleeping. Summer, I will keep them on opposite sides of yard. I don't remember seeing any aphids on them last year, but now I am remembering that some trees DID have some deformed leaves for awhile & then it went away. It was also my best year for figs. I wonder if it's true that all figs have it but not all show it!!??????
In letter I got saying they would arrive late (Jan/Feb), there is a # to call if questions or concerns.
Signed by Ed Stover - Curator/Research Leader
Ph (530)752-6504, Fax (530) 752-5974

I think that I will do the same in keeping them away from my original guys. I hope that works. With all this fig talk, I'm craving figs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This past summer it was so nice to be able to pick/eat a fig when I left for work each morning.
Vinny

I happened to walk past my fig trees this past week end (January 6th) and they are sprouting out new leaves. These things are maniacs and one full grown in ground tree will produce more fruit than the whole neighborhood will eat. Even this far south it’s a little early for them to wake up. I hope they don’t get zapped by a cold front , but as I said they are overachievers.
Karl

Ok, I am 59 years old and are you ready, never in my life have I had a fresh fig. You folks are making me hungry! I can't imagine what a fresh one tastes like. I guess Fig Newtons are my experience with this fruit and I love those. I guess I shall have to try one from the store, when are they in season? Curious minds want to know!

Joan, I said same thing 4 yrs ago. Someone sent me 2 fresh ones to taste in 03 & I was hooked! I will send you some when they ripen.
Only ones I've ever seen in stores are dried figs -- just not the same.

I sure hope UC let's us know when they'll ship, as it is back to freezing temps now. Oh, C'MON SPRING!!!!!

Joan, there is nothing like the taste of a fresh fig from the tree IMHO. A fig newton doesn't come close. I love dried figs and they have a very different flavor and texture than the same fig fresh.

Patty, as far as I can tell FMV is very widespread and practically unavoidable. Meaning, once your plants are outside there's really nothing you can do to prevent it from spreading. Seperating the Davis cuttings may help but I'm not counting on that. I 'think' I have FMV on my biggest producer. It shows up in the fall after most of the figs have ripened. Other than that it hasn't effected the tree that I can tell. It's probably not something to be too concerned about.

After this 'heat wave' hit I thought my trees would wake up, but so far they are still asleep- thank goodness. My crocuses are up though. I saw a few shoots peeping out the other day.