Little Ruby

[GregMartin]

Got my Logee's catalog and this description caught my attention:

Fig ‘Little Ruby’ (Ficus carica)
Suitable for containers or even bonsai, Fig ‘Little Ruby’ has a natural dwarf habit with small, tasty, bite-sized, maroon-colored fruit. It produces an early, strong breba crop on the previous year’s shoot growth. This new fig is cold hardy to zone 6 and great for patio plantings.

Anyone know anything about it? Does it go by another name that we all know? Looks like Wellspring might be the ultimate source. I ordered one because of the "strong breba crop" & "cold hardy to zone 6" description....actually, everything in the description kind of hooked me and it was only $5 through Wellspring.

[COGardener]

I got one from Wellspring last year out of curiosity, but nothing to report as of yet.

[GregMartin]

The bonsai pic of this fig on Hirt's site is fantastic!

[COGardener]

That is way cool!

[ross]

Wow, that bonsai is awesome. And yeah, I've been wondering the same thing. Started a thread on F4F here: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox....pid=1290164005

[GregMartin]

Thanks for the link Ross. Looks like we'll have to wait and see on this one. Did you happen to ask Wellspring about it's origin? If not I'll contact them and let everyone know what they said.

[ross]

I did not! Haha, that thought somehow did not cross my mind. I wonder what Logee's has to say as well, Greg.

[GregMartin]

Ok, heard back from Logee's (good suggestion Ross...haven't heard back from Wellspring yet). Here's what they told me:

"It was hybridized by a man named Denny McCathy in Oregon.
He has produced ( and is still producing) figs that work well in colder zones and that produce a strong breba crop, like Ficus Little Ruby does. It has the potential to fruit in zones as low as 6 if properly protected. As far as being used for bonsai, I am told that it is likely since it has a natural dwarf habit. "

Makes me excited to find out more about Denny and his work. Does anyone know him?

[fitzski]

I'm going to have to pick one of these up when I go to Logee's in April.

[COGardener]

That is some good info, thank you Greg.

[ross]

Yup! Good man, Greg. Glad someone found something out. And I would also like to know about this Denny character, haha.

[GregMartin]

I tried Googling him and came up with nothing. But at least I'm glad to know this much. Really would like to see what else he's bred and is breeding.

[GregMartin]

Denny...come forward and introduce yourself!!! We are excited about your work!

[figgysid1]

The only thing that came up when I searched the name Denny & fig was, Denny mcGaughy who discovered the Olympian fig. Same 1st name and similar last name, maybe a mix up somewhere?

http://www.thenewstribune.com/living/article25888723.html

[GregMartin]

Logee's got back to me saying that it might be a misspelling from their merchandizer and it might be McGaughy. It looks like McGaughy lives in WA, so OR would be a mistake too.

[GregMartin]

Thank you Sid! I bet you're right. I'll try and confirm.

[fitzski]

More about Denny. Looks like he "found" Olympian too!

http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/nafex/2010-May/040591.html

https://wsumgtc.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/go-figure/

https://www.agristarts.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_ID/459/index.htm

Information about Denny speaking at the WCFS Forum and his talk about "Dan's Pride" fig.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=288739304548717&story_fbid=444038859018760

WCFS might be this? (Western Cascade Fruit Society) Maybe someone there can point him our way?

http://wcfs.org

[Jamie0507]

An all out man-hunt must commence for Denny! Lol! I'm super curious as well.. That Bonsai pic was awesome!

[GregMartin]

I would be kind of surprised if he isn't on any of the forums, but stranger things happen. I hope he'll introduce himself here.

[drew51]

Bonsai is cool, you can use any fig. The dwarf ones are nice but you don't have to have one. Any fig variety can be used. It takes a long time to get it to look perfect. I have bonsai peppers I grow. Well eventually they will have the form I want. They have spent 2 winters in the house, and I have them in smaller pots, but not bonsai pots. I'm going to try it now with a fig.

[drew51]

I'm not sure how long they will live? They look rough a little, I'm trying to shape them and such. Some nice looking pepper bonsai photos on the web.
Here is one photo from a couple months ago. This plant was grown from seed in March of 2014. It is a Nu Mex Twilight pepper.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...hoto/004_5.jpg

[GregMartin]

That should end up being pretty neat Andrew!

[drew51]

Yeah I need more time to shape. And I need the spring for better growing conditions. I plan to put in a bonsai pot this spring. I have two others one is the fish pepper. Planted same time as the one pictured.It's in worse shape but has potential to be nice. First time I'm doing this, and I have yet to start reading the Bonsai book I have, That should help me understand more what I'm doing. I have read some of it and it has some great ideas.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...hoto/002_9.jpg