Creating new species of figs

[FigTreeJunkie]

Evdurtschi 's post regarding generating new fig trees has me thinking about similar experiments for those of us in Northern climates. Does anyone have any information on how to cross-breed without wasps?

[AscPete]

To create new Cultivars of Ficus carica L. you would need to Pollinate the Figs (Female flowers) and then grow out the fertilized seeds. Its been done at UC Riverside (Condit) and LSU (O'Rourke) over several years / decades. Good Luck.

[jrdewhirst]

There are also detailed past posts by a long-time forum member named "fignut" who has successfully grown trees after artificial pollination.

[FigTreeJunkie]

Common figs?

[jrdewhirst]

Yes. Common fig mother and caprifig father, as required. You know, the basic birds and bees stuff.

[RandyK]

TheMillennialGardener is doing this right now. Check out his posts and videos on his project. Great stuff.

[FigTreeJunkie]

My understanding is that the breeding TheMillennialGardener is doing will not produce common figs.

[key88sf]

Why is that? He's using the Saleeb caprifig which I thought was supposed to produce common fig seedlings.

[AscPete]

Its a bit more complicated...
The fertile seeds will produce some percentage of edible "Female" figs which may be Smyrna, Common and or San Pedro Type in addition to Male Capri Type... https://www2.palomar.edu/users/warmstrong/pljun99b.htm

[TheMillennialGardener]

I am crossing female figs with a persistent caprifig. About 1 in 4 female seedlings will be persistent. Yes, it will produce common figs, but you'll have to grow them out because the majority will not be. There is no way known to breed exclusively common figs.

[FigTreeJunkie]

I take that back.... I was listening to the video while working (i.e. not listening) and missed Persistent = Common

[Tongalahi]

I wonder if anyone has tried to purposely cross Ficus johannis sbsp. afghanistanica with Ficus carica? Ficus afghanistanica is supposed to be on the hardier side so it could be interesting. Some common fig varieties seem to show some parentage of other Ficus species like cherry cordial with Ficus palmata and Black donov with possible Ficus johannis

[JCT]

This sounds like an interesting tree and an interesting experiment for someone.

[TheMillennialGardener]

I should add the pollination method in my video was entirely viable. I have 2 smryna's ripening now, so I know pollination was a success. I'm probably 30 days out from my common female figs swelling, because I chose less mature, later season varieties in-ground, which are naturally later.