Winter is around the corner and I'll be bored or playing with rocks. I guess it doesn't have to be that way. So I bought a light to keep summer with me through the winter. Well it'll be summer atleast in a 4ftx2ftx5.8ft space.
After speaking Ram and a reading a few posts on Ourfigs about grow lights as well as my success at ripening hydroponic figs by a south window I decided to sink some money into a grow light, tent, and couple accessories associated with it.
Mars Hydro Indoor Grow Tent Hydroponic 100% Reflective Mylar Non Toxic Room Box
48x24x70 inches
Update: 11/19/18
After dropping all of their fall leaves, all of the plants in the grow tent have been pushed out their new leaves. The light maybe a tad to strong in some spots because the leaves of my martinenca rimada are getting a bit burnt.
The ground cherries are loving it and have pushed out a ton of new pods.
A big thanks to Ram for ripening 3 more varieties that I've never tasted before. It's the day after thanks giving and Ram's come to my house to review a few figs (Ponte Tresa, JFE Black Madeira, Grosse Monstrueuse) and one Saijo Persimmon.
I've been so inspired after watching this video by Jamie on youtube about grafting that I think I will create my own Franken Fig tree next yr. He's made some amazing videos on fig growing, grafting and propagating. Definitely subscribe to him if you can.
I'll start the tree off with all of the northwest favorites.
1. Desert King
2. Violet De Bordeaux
3. Olympian
4. Peter's Honey
5. Ronde De Bordeaux
6. MVSB
Then maybe add
7. Kathleens black
8. Fiorone Di Ruvo
9. Green Goliath
10. Natalina
11. Vincenzo
and more if I can fit it.
Root stock is still up for debate most likely a Desert King. They are built for the Seattle area.
After watching this video. I want this fruit! It's called. Cecropia peltata.
{reference wiki}
Description
Cecropia peltata is a fast-growing tree, normally reaching 15 metres (49 ft), but occasionally growing up to 25 metres (82 ft) tall. The leaves are large – 10–60 centimetres (4–24 in) in length and width, but more commonly about 20 × 20 centimetres (8 in) and palmately divided into 7–11 (but generally 8–10) lobed. The upper surfaces of the leaves are scaled, while the lower surfaces are covered with minute hair, interspersed with longer ones. The petioles are generally 20–50 centimetres (8–20 in) long, while the branches are green and covered with short, stiff hairs.[2]
Like other members of the genus, C. peltata is dioecious – there are separate male and female plants. Male flowers, which are 1–1.5 millimetres (0.039–0.059 in) long, are borne in spikes 10–60 centimetres (4–24 in) long. The male inflorescence is enclosed in a spathe which splits open and drops off once the anthers mature. The female flowers are borne in paired spikes 3–5 centimetres (1.2–2.0 in) long. The fruit, which is about 2 millimetres (0.079 in) long, is an achene which is enclosed in a fleshy jacket which forms from the perianth.[2]
Taxonomy
The species was described by Carl Linnaeus in the 1759 edition of Systema Naturae. It was the first species to be described in the genus and was originally applied to many species of Cecropia. As additional species were described, the usage narrowed. The genus was placed in the family Urticaceae by Adolf Engler in 1889. E. J. H. Corner suggested moving the genus to the Urticaceae in 1962, while Cornelis Berg placed Cecropia in its own family, the Cecropiaceae.[2] Based on molecular data, the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group merged the family back into the Urticaceae.[3] Distribution
Cecropia peltata ranges from southern Mexico through Central America to northern South America, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica, and has been introduced in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.[2] The species has been listed as one of the hundred worst invasive alien species by the Invasive Species Specialist Group.[4] Replacement of its very close ecological analogue, the native African Musanga cecropioides, by C. peltata has been reported along major roads of Cameroon.[5]
Top Tropicals has a few packets of seeds to sell if your're looking for some.
https://toptropicals.com
Sometimes we have to a break the bank to get a certain variety. So it may be a good idea to try and maximize your chances of success!
If you get a long enough cutting use the combination of grafting and the fig pop method to improve your chances of success!
Below I have some extra 1 gallon figs that have been neglected for the most part. However they have well developed root systems and have survived the Seattle winters outdoors so I know they will hole up well here.
Basically. I cut off one node from the bottom of the cutting for grafting. I prefer the cleft graft because it provides the most support for the weight of a new branch.
You can also try chip cud grafts which may also work pretty well.
And with the reaming piece I use the fig pop to root it.
I have to admit that this is the 1st time I've been shipped ripped figs. Thanks to Brian Melton for sending these to me.
I definitely cannot match this up with any other figs that I have or seen or read of. It seems to be a new fig to me. Brian is naming this one "Cali Candy". A fitting name but be careful when you google it there's a lot of strippers going by the same name.
It's a relatively small fig probably weighing under 15 grams. However small it packs quite the favor punch.
Let's talk about the flavors on this guy. At first glance it did not appear to be nothing too out of the ordinary. However the first bite was extraordinary.
My taste buds were hit with flavors not usually found in a fig. I couldn't exact put my finger on it at first but then realized that it had hints of all the following:
1. Golden Raisins
2. Honey
3. Dried dates
4. Pickled Plums - the kind you find in asian grocery stores
I have to admit I'm excited for this fig if I can get a cutting from Brian. I'd like to see whether not it's common or Cali only fig.
Noire De Barbentane Fig Tasting 2018
Picked on Halloween 10/31/18
It's been a long time waiting for this fig to give me ripe edible figs. Unfortunately It looks like I'll have to continue to wait.
By all means this is certainly a beautiful fig. Great skin color, with its bluish black hues and an interior that is very reminiscent of a black madeira.
Such a beautiful fig. The only negative is how late it is. Most of October has been cold and rainy. So it hasn't had the necessary sun and heat to help this fig get super sweet.
I will have to wake this one up early next year. It just has so much potential to be a great fig. However my score for this fig is a little skewed because of the late season, cold weather ripeness.
It has an MVSB type of flavor to it. But the sweetness was quite low.
Noire de Barbentane (10/31/18) Not properly ripened.
