FALSE TX BA1

[Darkman]

As we all know we can receive figs that are mislabeled. They were mislabeled when the person received them and they believed it was true and passed it on. I have one that was labeled as TX BA1. FMD gave it to me and I believe he received it from Jimmie. I’m not sure where Jimmie acquired it from. Neither Jimmie nor Frank knew at the time that it was not as labeled but they figured it out later and told everyone so as to stop the spread of the false TX BA1 fig. I now refer to mine as a FALSE TX BA1. Unfortunately it roots very well and I have about twelve or so potted in five gallon buckets. They grow very well in an upright manor. I have only tasted a couple (Squirrels and birds) and they seemed good.

What I would like to know, maybe from Jimmie or Frank, is are they still growing it and what their experiences were and if they have identified it? Maybe someone else has it and knows. If not I’ll try to post pictures this year and get it identified!

[Rafaelissimmo]

I am rooting a (allegedly) real Texas BA-1, to compare with Smith, which is supposed to be identical. Have you tried Smith?

[Rafaelissimmo]

This was over 5 years ago. I got rid of the Texas BA-1. It was good but too similar to Smith to justify a spot in my limited space

[roland]

Why ceep Smith and remove Texas BA-1? And not ceep Texas BA-1 and remove Smith?

[Rafaelissimmo]

A fair question. Smith is one of my top ten (at least in zone 7 when I lived there). It is such a great fig, I would not part with it, it was the only fig I kept two of in my collection. So I would not keep Texas BA-1 when I already have prime rib. Perhaps the Texas BA-1 was similar or comparable but I don’t need something similar. I am good with my choice. That’s all.

[Darkman]

I had some Smith cuttings that I lost after I had my heart attack and could not tend to them. I'll be looking to try some more soon.

What was the source of your TX BA1 and can you post some pictures for comparison. in addition to being a upright grower mine (FALSE TX BA1) is very vigorous with each shoot sending our 4 - 5 feet of growth during a season.

[Rafaelissimmo]

Charles

My source is Robert Baldwin, a fig grower in Maryland, he has a website that lists his fig selection.

[FMD]

Charles, my False TX BA1 is still growing well but being in the hedge has not produced well for me. The few figs it has produced ended up much as yours did. Perhaps this year it will be different.

[Darkman]

Thanks Rafael I'll look up his sight. He might be more Northernly oriented but the TX BA1 was definitely a Southern bloodline coming from Texas A&M. I'll take a look.

Yes let's hope so. Mine is planted in a primo location and it must pick it up this year or I have others eagerly waiting to take its place. If I remove it, it is no loss as I said I have quite a few in five gallon buckets.

[JD]

Hey Charles,

I trust that all is well with you. The story behind TX BA-1 NOT is addressed in this thread from 2011. Prior to sharing cuttings with anyone, I was 100% sure that it was not TX BA-1. At that time, I reached out to the member who gave me the cuttings. He apologized for the mix up but was unable to identify what it was and I never pursued it. Frank was starting his hedge at the time and it needed a better home so I gave the tree to Frank. Frank, if I misrepresented that to you, please accept my apologies because I knew for sure as witnessed by the aforementioned thread that is was not TX BA-1.

Here are a few photos of the mother tree and its fruit that I gave to Frank.

[Darkman]

Hi Jimmy,

I did miss that you had given the TREE to Frank. I'm not sure if Frank had rooted a cutting he gave me (probably) or if it was a separate source. If it is a good as yours was I'll be happy. Hopefully it can be identified one day. It is as ugly as some Holliers I ate at Burden Field LSU Campus. No neck so it isn't Hollier. Frank may have told me correctly but I was in Fig overload while at his house and may have forgotten only remembering that it came from you. Sorry for the confusion.

[JD]

No worries Charles. It is ugly and good.

[drphil69]

Smith is supposed to be ugly and good. Any chance its a Smith?

Edit: Nevermind, Smith has a reddish interior.

[FMD]

Ah Jimmy, half the orchard and hedges came from your generous donations anyway, so for me to even hint at being ungrateful for a mislabeled tree would be nuts. Anyway, ugly figs are usually the best tasting.

[JD]

Frank, Right is right. Friends have to be able to laugh at the funny and wrinkled up a forehead at the bad. Never a question of gratefulness but it was bad labeling on this side to not update the tag. Youknowhatimsaying?

[NativeSun]

I dont care what it is...my mouth is watering...

[Hershell]

I'm with James. That looks like it would taste good!

[Darkman]

I'm not sure if I'll get fruit this year and if it will be before Snaglpus get together BUT if I do make it (I am hoping and trying to) I will bring all of my FALSE TX BA1's to the event to give away. I think this is one unknown that most would enjoy.

[Darkman]

Thanks Rafael I'll look up his sight. He might be more Northernly oriented but the TX BA1 was definitely a Southern bloodline coming from Texas A&M. I'll take a look.

Yes let's hope so. Mine is planted in a primo location and it must pick it up this year or I have others eagerly waiting to take its place. If I remove it, it is no loss as I said I have quite a few in five gallon buckets.

[King Fig]

I was the guy who first reported that TX BA-1 and Smith are the exact same fig cultivar. That fact comes directly from my own personal research activities. It is not just some hearsay that I heard from other people. No one in the fig world saw this until I reported it. I have both varieties growing in my test orchard. You can view my report regarding this matter on my Cajun fig Blog. It is good to see that some of you guys are taking the necessary efforts to avoid passing around the wrong named fig.

FYI......TX BA-1 was "found" growing in plot number BA-1 at Texas AM University. To my knowledge no one asserts that it was "bred" in Texas. LSU's Dr. O'Rourke is known to have given his special varieties of figs to other fig growers and breeders in the US. And Smith is one of those special figs to have in any collection.

IMO, the fig "found" in plot number BA-1 may have been a Smith fig tree that Dr. O'Rourke himself donated to his fig friends at Texas A&M University. I have no proof that that donation took place.......I'm just trying to explain how those two figs could both be the variety we know as Smith. The Smith cultivar came to South Louisiana directly from Croatia and was not grown anywhere in the US other than in Louisiana. All Smith fig trees in the US originated from that first Louisiana heirloom strain.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

[Darkman]

Hi Dan,

Based on the photos can you even hazard a guess as to what my FALSE TX-BA1 is?

[Darkman]

Hi Dan,

Based on the photos can you even hazard a guess as to what my FALSE TX-BA1 is?

[greenfig]

Dan,
Any idea what is the Croatian name?

[COGardener]

This thread had been a very interesting read. Thank you all for brining all of this info into the light.

[King Fig]

Go visit my fig Cajun Fig Blog if you want to read some more really interesting TRUTHFUL stuff.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

[greenfig]

The yellow fig on the photo above is most likely a Marylane seedless.

[Darkman]

I checked my plant and there are many five lobed or three with thumbs leaves. Would that not eliminate it from being a Marylane?

[greenfig]

Mine had both, 3 and 5 lobed leaves. The leaf shapes very often do not mean much, unless it is a very distinctive variety, not for a MaryLane at least.

[Darkman]

I would be happy with that if it can produce a good quantity of figs. This should be a good test year. The plant is growing well and is several years old. It already has breba figs on it!

Maybe FMD will comment on if he thinks it could be Marylane seeing as he has one too.

[FMD]

Better late than never...

This a very tasty fig. I don’t think it is a MaryLane.

[Darkman]

Hi Frank,

Been awhile. Mine has the same tremendous breba production that stays hard and green for a long time and then swells rapidly turning yellow with the reddish interior. Unfortunately it has a large open eye and nearly all are spoiled here in Pensacola. No one has identified it yet either. My taste of the few non spoiled were ok but nothing to get excited about. I may cut it way back and graft onto it this next spring.

My tree is setting a main crop now but it is the breba crop that is something to see. Many branches with twelve figs all lined up. I'll not post pics as they look identical to Frank's which is where I received my tree many years ago. It's now at least fifteen feet tall and twenty feet wide.

[FMD]

Charles, it has been a while. I hope your retirement is treating you well.
I am surprised yours split badly since we should have similar climate. On the other hand, the Alma tree 50 feet from those by the pool produce completely different figs, so go figure!
If I had to compare this tree to something, I guess it would be something like Paradiso.

[Darkman]

Mine didnt really split so much as the large open eye attracted fruit flies, beetles and everything else. Many that looked perfect were sour. We have had a good bit of rain. I noticed that these when ripe still can point skyward and not surprisingly those were sour but even those that hung straight down also were sour.

Thanks for the Paradiso thought.

Retirement! I didnt know that meant substituting work for doctors appointments. I've had ups and downs. Tore up my right shoulder last November, had surgery on it in February and still completing rehab. Doesn't look like it will ever be what it used to be and he said we may have to go back in. His words. Your shoulder was really tore up! Turned an 1 1/2 hour surgery into 3 1/4 hours. So while I'm in shoulder therapy (June 22) I have a small heart attack that I didn't recognize and then the next week I had numerous heart events which culminated in me recieving two stents on June 30th. I feel much better now. I knew I was super fatigued over the last year but didnt know why. Turns out I wasnt getting much oxygen to my body. That will make you tired. So its 50/50 on retirement now but I'm optimistic it's going to get better.

[FMD]

Sorry to hear about your medical issues, Charles but glad to see that things are improving. I may delay my own retirement if this is what I have to !ook forward to.

[Wisner]

I started a Texas BA-1 this year from a Texas fig grower. Looking at the leaves it does not match a Smith at all.