Black Mission 2015!

[Chrisk]

This Black Mission tree was purchased on spring 2011 at The Home Depot and planted in ground that first day. Proved to be both a very productive and cold Hardy tree. It survived the 2013-14 winter with no die back and unprotected . The only problem with this very very nice tree was that it attracted bugs and birds like no other tree I own so I had to pick the fruit way too early every single year . This time around I started using green organza bags very early on in the season . As soon as I see the little figs get lighter in color but still green ,I bag them. No lost fig to any flying preds so far. The ripe figs taste great and I'm a happy man. Nice Crimson center kind of berry tasting and distinctly different from Chicago Hardy,although the fruit looks similar . Juicy ,jammy and sweet with a moderate seed crunch. Much smaller than the store bought mission figs due to not getting pollinated I guess but as good or better tasting.

[Yeehova]

Do you think it it's a real Black Mission? I was thinking it maybe looked closer to a Hardy Chicago. My Black Mission died to the ground last winter but it is starting to ripen the first one now. I thought they were supposed to be almost jet black.

[Chrisk]

Hey Brian. Could you please post a photo of your Mission fig, leaf and fruit to compare? Thanks again for posting.

[mountainfigs]

Chris, have to agree with Brian. Nothing about that tree - leaves, fruit - looks like Mission, and everything about it looks like a Mt Etna. Its hardiness is also an indicator.

[Chrisk]

Well I was kinda hoping to hear from someone else since I've also had my doubts! I am growing a few cuttings of BMission from Cali and the look totally different! Also the taste difference from the Hardy Chicago is most likely due to the fact that one is growing in a pot and the other unground. Looks are pretty close and also growing habit! I'll keep an eye on it! Thanks for commenting guys!

[Brian M]

Not a black mission.

[Chrisk]

Here are a couple of pics I found from previous years. The leaf patern has changed since then. They now look much smoother ,three lobed with thumbs or five lobed with a much longer middle finger .

[AscPete]

Chris,
Thanks for sharing the photos and info.
I would also have to agree that it looks like Hardy Chicago not Mission.
Attached is a photo of my "Big Box" Mission, all the Missions cultivars that I've grown have had the typical tinted figs from the earliest stage of development and often tinted petioles (leaf stems).

[BronxFigs]

Besides figs and leaves are there any other visual, unvariable, identifying characteristic that will make identifying a "Black Mission" possible?

Leaf shape can be slightly different due to culture and climate, and fig size can also differ.

Just asking.


Frank

[AscPete]

Yes, leaf shapes can vary, sometime by a surprising amount, but they will often vary within a range of specific shapes for that specific cultivar. Another possible characteristic is a DNA test.

[hoosierbanana]

Here is a list of morphological leaf traits that can be used to classify different fig varieties. From a study of the diversity of figs in NW Tunisia. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2012/326461/

 Leaf shape (1: calcarate; 14: cordate) LS
 Shape of lobes (1: lyrate; 4: spatulate) SL
 Leaf color (1: light green; 12: dark green) LC
 Leaf margin dentation (1: undulate; 5: crenate) LMD
 Apex shape (1: truncate; 3: acute) AS
 Density of hairs (1: none; 7: pubescent/dense) DH
 Petiole color (1: light green; 6: pinkish) PC
 Leaf length (cm) LL
 Leaf width (cm) LW
 Petiole length (mm) PL
 Petiole diameter (mm) PD
 Depth of basal sinus (mm) DBS
 Depth of lateral sinus 1 (mm) DLS1
 Depth of lateral sinus 2 (mm) DLS2
 Depth of lateral sinus 3 (mm) DLS3
 Depth of lateral sinus 4 (mm) DLS4

;Among the 45 variables analyzed, those of high discriminating level were leaf dimensions, shoot dimensions, petiole color and dimensions, depth of sinus, fruit shape and color, fruit weight and dimensions, ostiole diameter, and juice acidity

[hoosierbanana]

And a table of discriminating traits that were found to be useful during a Spanish study. http://journal.ashspublications.org/...0/T3.large.jpg
From the same study:

Sixteen variables with high Cs, related with the terminal bud (shape and color), seasonal growth color, and ostiole (aperture, cracks, and scales), showed significant differences among trees and years, probably as a result of variation in environmental conditions during the 3 years of evaluation and/or subjective evaluation. Consequently, those 16 variables were finally discarded.

[Chrisk]

Thanks all that commented and shedding some light to this fig mystery! Lol. For four years now I thought I was eating mission figs but that's the part of the charm in the experience of growing figs. You just never know what will be, especially from the store bought trees and not the verified ones that are shared by friends through the forums.
Maybe it's appropriate to change the title of this topic to avoid any farther confusion ? I need some help from a moderator (to change)and/ or any members to come up with a new title and name. Thanks again for reading.

[Ortegojeffrey]

Could someone please post leaf pics and fig pics at different stages of ripening for Hardy Chicago next to Black Mission and show the differences?