WELCOME to the FIG (name) confusion...

Oh gracious...you mean nobody has been able to at least SOMEWHAT sort this mess out?? LOL! Well, any help would still be better than nothing! :)

~ Erin

DNA analaysis (I wish) will someday be the real solution...

Hmmmm....well, that sounds like a great solution all right. Is UC Davis creating a DNA bank by any chance?

At any rate, I'm still looking for the elusive Ventura if anyone knows where I can find one!! :)

~ Erin

Here's a nursery that offers Ventura:

Here is a link that might be useful: Just Fruits and Exotics

Does U.C. Davis charge for shipping for their cuttings and will they send you only one cutting per variety or several if you request more? Going further, just how many cuttings will they send you, if requested. Thanks in advance. FF

I've got a Ventura fig tree. It's in a large pot. I bought it from a nursery in San Diego. It's 3 feet tall and spreads about 4 feet. The fruit tastes good and ripens well even when the weather is cooler. The tree produces well, I'd guess I got 70-80 fruit this year. I think the variety is an Adriatic hybrid. It's bad quality is an open eye. I'll be pruning the roots this winter and removing one of it's three main branches. If you want a few cuttings, drop me an email in December. It takes patience with cuttings though, you'll probably have to wait until the second season to get any fruit. If I have the opportunity to buy a particular fruit tree vs. rooting a cutting, I'd buy the tree. I just don't have the patience that I use to have. However, fig cuttings sure are easy to propagate.

UCDavis will ship (usually) three of each variety. Last year, they sent me two of one variety. There is no charge for the cuttings and no charge for the shipping (well no direct charge, its paid for by tax dollars). If you wish to provide a FedEx account number for them to bill against, they can do more with the research dollars they do get.

Thanks for reply, bjs. FF

I have a question for those acquiring UC Davis fig cuttings. When you get your cuttings, do you have to just propagate or propose a study? I am involved in a couple USDA studies, & I had to propose a study.

Just ask for them! Any explanation/reasoning
is welcome and benefeciary.

Thanks gorgi. I have had good experience with the folks at UC Davis, but I have not dealt with their fig people yet. The feedback sounds positive on this forum.

Thanks longbeachin1!! I'd sure love a cutting if you could spare one! I'd be happy to trade if there's anything I have that you'd want, but I'm just getting started on my collection, so I don't know if I'd actually have something you'd want. I asked for two figs from the Belleclare Nursery in NY for Christmas....we have family that lives near there. If "santa" hears my wish, then I'll have the Sal's fig and one called Italian Purple Beefera - it's a large purple fig with deep red flesh....juicy and sweet from what I read. We'll see! :) I also have a friend that will be sending me a cutting of his golden fig. He says NOBODY has one like it, and it's delicious. Who knows?

Regarding the UC Davis lists...I must have spent several hours over a period of a week or so, sifting through websites and various online information regarding synonyms. I printed out the UC Davis list, and as I ran across names that were on the list with other info on the web, I'd write in all the available synonyms. What I discovered is that it's very frustrating. Many are cross-referenced so many times, that quite a few of the named varieties on the UC Davis list would appear to be the same exact fig. I doubt this is true. So, I'm somewhat back to square one.

I like the idea of a DNA bank...that way we could all just send in samples to be tested, and viola! We'd have a number or a name and confirmed parentage! SOMEONE needs to straighten this mess out! LOL! I propose that if someone actually sends in what they believe to be a named variety, but it turns out that it is not, then they get to name that one, so that it doesn't get stuck with a number. But alas, I'm left to my dreaming....

~ Erin

See GRIN search list below for the UC Davis collection, with links to much more info than what you will find on their website catalog.

Here is a link that might be useful: DAV Ficus carica list

Thanks! Checked it out and found a bit more information. It's helpful!

~ Erin

With all this talk about UC Davis "cuttings"- How does one get cuttings from UC Davis? I can't hide my ignorance under a 5-gallon bucket! :O)
Thanks and take care,
Christy

List at http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=12146\

Order form at http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/53062000/repositorycatalogs/orderFRM[1].pdf

THANK YOU!!!
Christy

Ok Erin. I'll look for your reminder email in December. The tree should be dormant by that time. Here's a little more info on my experience with the Ventura. Of the few varieties that I have, the Ventura breaks its dormancy the earliest. That's about mid to late March in southern California. As for more varieties that I'm interested in trading for....the only ones at this point would be a couple of the LSU strains because of their resistance to nemotodes. I've already lined up a trade with someone from LA (the state) to get some cuttings. So I'm not looking for any more at this point, but I'd be happy to help you out. Caio.

All of my Spring cuttings in containers are healthy 1 to 2 ft tall. Some have one to 3 figs that will not ripen out doors. I've moved them inside at sunny windows to protect the tender new growth from the first frost. Will they drop their leaves and go dorment on their own? If so, I can then put them in the garage for a rest. I'm not sure of the next step as they all seem to be growing, some slower then others but all looking good. Any and all suggestions appreciated.
Peg