Most cold hardy figs? Ronde de Bordeaux?

[Appleseed]

Bob Crane, what is the small dark-skinned one against the west side of your rental house? If it grows that way there, it should preform here too. Gonna have to live a while longer to find out, haha.

[alanmercieca]

RDB also = ‘Ronde De Bordeaux’, and it’s more commonly used as an abbreviation for that cultivator.

[alanmercieca]

Yes RDB is usually for ‘Ronde De Bordeaux’, yet I have seen it used for both.

[alanmercieca]

RDB has been used for both, that is one reason why there is confusion

[bopcrane]

@Richard

BTW, this business about identifying fig cultivars by leaf shape is false. It can work for species though if you also have observations of the fruit sprouting and other morphology.

I agree - I try not to make any sort of definitive statements about fig cultivars until I have seen quite a few of their characteristics over time. People often get hung up on leaf shape or fruit color alone as an identifier. VdB is an excellent example of why one should probably not do that (esp. with the leaves)

[bopcrane]

RLBV - it is excellent and I highly recommend it. I could probably get you some cuttings this coming season of it and Improved Celeste if you’d be ok covering postage

[jrd51]

Maybe so, just because the initials are RdB for both. But Rouge de Bordeaux is a name that we almost never hear, at least not in the U.S. The variety is known here by its synonym, Pastiliere.

[Richard]

@bopcrane

I try not to make any sort of definitive statements about fig cultivars until I have seen quite a few of their characteristics over time.

For the past 20-30 years scientists have taken genetic fingerprints (AFLP, RAPD, SSR) of F. carica cultivars in clonal germplasm repositories in Spain, Italy, Israel, USA, Turkey, and India for the purpose of genetic ID. The overwhelming conclusion has been that Condit’s methods of identification and claims of synonyms by morphology are folly.

But this does not make his 1955 monograph useless. It is a marvelous compendium of fig names, their history, and appearance. I have found it very useful for determining what a fig is not.

[bopcrane]

@Richard

I have found it very useful for determining what a fig is not

I couldn’t have said it better.

[Ahmad]

@jrd51

Now the key question: Have you got a cold-hardy, short-season mango??

As far as I know, cold hardy mangoes don’t exist, unfortunately… But I encourage you to visit Egypt in the summer to enjoy some top quality mangoes, as well as the Red Sea !

[alanmercieca]

One of the definitions of synonyms = resembles. The question then becomes how close a resemblance, as you know there is such a thing as vague resemblances.

[jrd51]

Booo!!! I want my cold hardy mangoes!!!

Good idea re Egypt. I’ve always wanted to see Sharm El-Sheikh.

[Richard]

@alanmercieca

One of the definitions of synonyms = resembles.

It’s definitely not what Condit meant. I’ve not only read his monograph, but broken down the data and placed it in a relational database.

[BobVance]

@Appleseed

Bob Crane, what is the small dark-skinned one against the west side of your rental house? If it grows that way there, it should preform here too. Gonna have to live a while longer to find out, haha.

I don’t see anything from bopcrane about a rental, so I think this question was meant for me.

@BobVance

The original bush finished up in mid-October, but a cutting of it that I planted at another rental (on West side of building) started ripening the main crop (no brebas that I noticed) much later, in October.

The fig I was referring to above was “Reservoir”. I took a cutting from it in fall 2018, planted it in-ground at a different rental in July 2019, and this picture was 2 years later in August 2021. It has grown pretty quick- by fall (2.5 years), it was up to 10-12’.

I think it has a decent chance of coming through OK for a few reasons. The town it is in could be a few degrees warmer than it is for me (maybe 3F for a low instead of 0F). And in addition to being up against the house, I located it outside a window and 2 air conditioners (which I assume always leak a bit of heat), one above and one near the base.

I also have a MVB and a Bryant Dark along the same side of the building. The MVB hasn’t produced anywhere near as well and the Bryant Dark is a year younger and hasn’t done much yet (but was very good in a pot).

[hambone]

@BobVance What is MVB fig?

[Appleseed]

Reservoir, looks good and should grow here, wow 2yrs growth! Up against a structure is the only way I remember anyone growing them around here. I want in the ground for sure.

Thanks Bob.

[BobVance]

@hambone

What is MVB fig?

I think it came to me as “MVB”, but I can’t even find that record. But, I think MVB stands for “Marseilles vs Black”

@Appleseed

Reservoir, looks good and should grow here

If you’d like more info on Reservoir, there is a lot (almost 150 posts) in the below thread. The original plant is massive and I’ve been sending out cutting each fall.

Fig prunings- Reservoir

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Now, for one more thing to be thankful for- does anyone want some fig prunings? I’ve been cutting back some figs to fit inside winter protection, so I can send out the following. Unknown- black/purple fig brought from Italy 30-35 years ago by the former owner of a property I just purchased. Grandson of the guy who planted it says that it is his favorite fig. described here: Alma- it is reputed to be pretty hardy, and it certainly grows well. But t…

[Appleseed]

I’ve been slogging through that thread, haha! Yes, please put me on your cutting list sir! I haven’t tried rooting, but will give it a try.

[jrd51]

Funny labeling. MBvs (Marseilles Black vs) would make more sense. “vs” represent the initials of the grower who introduced the variety, who also introduced Florea (i.e., Florea vs) and Vasilika Sika vs.

[alanmercieca]

First VS called it “Marseilles” than he renamed it to ‘Marseilles Black’, he changed the name because ‘Marseilles’ is a common name for ‘Marseilles White’. It was the people redistributing the ‘Marseilles Black’ that put the VS in the name, some people wrote it ‘Marseilles Black VS’, and some wrote it ‘Marseilles VS Black’. Most people write the name as ‘Marseilles Black VS’, especially these days.