Tacoma/Takoma Violet/Violette

[strudeldog]

Tacoma/Takoma Violet/Violette Whatever you call her. As far as I know these spellings all denote the same fig. Has anyone seen Hosey's initial spelling I would like to update my records to that.

I do know however it continues to be one of my favorite's in overall performance. For me it is productive, Hardy and great tasting. These ran around 35 Gram is size

[jkuo]

It should be Takoma Violet. It was discovered in Takoma Park, MD, but some people spell it like Tacoma, WA.

https://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/5705-takoma-violet

https://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/60647-gene-hosey-s-figs?p=60650#post60650

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1283919794&postcount=12&forum=0

My TV was pretty tasty last year, but it was just a first year tree so I didn't get many. I'm really looking forward to the fruit this season.

[strudeldog]

Yes I was pretty sure of the Takoma even though it came to me with the C, I am seeing some spelling as Violette now and I had as Violet so just wondering it it came incorrect to me on that as well

[Rewton]

Thank you. I agree that it should be spelled Takoma Violet for the reasons mentioned by Johnny.

[newnandawg]

Phil, that looks really nice. Isn't it interesting that just 100 miles from you mine doesnt do very well. It has
a decent crop but small compared to yours. The taste was not that good either. It is in a prime location
and great soil. The trees all around it does very well.

[strudeldog]

Yes Mike I saw your note on disappointing this year for you. There is a cure and I have a well started one in a pot for you

[newnandawg]

I suppose it could be that cultivar and provider which was Raintree Nursery in Wasington State.

[strudeldog]

It could Be I don't have T.V. as we have discussed prior. I think last year I posted if it looked like T.V. and got response it was, so If folks think I doesn't look right let me know, but it's a keeper for me

[Rewton]

Phil, the fig you show in your photos looks fantastic. I don't think I've ever grown a TV or any other Mt. Etna fig that looked that good.

[zone5figger]

Is this the best Mt Etna? Looks like it to me.

[strudeldog]

Hum, I am beginning to wonder now if I have Takoma Violet. I know Mike (NewnanDawg) and I have noted ours don’t seem the same with close location, and Steve is kind of indicating it looks maybe different . It is not always this dark on inside but if left to fully ripen to my taste it does seem to take a step above my Mt ETNAs figs. I was never really on board with it being called a Mt. Etna though I recognized the similarities, but maybe I am not looking at the same fig. I have noted a couple times on Kesariani that it reminds me of T.V. to give folks an idea of what Kesariani is like. My doubt grows a little as I know that both were sent at the same time by same source and rooted together. The source is very respected by me, I don’t see them very active on forums anymore. I could have made a mistake, but looking at results of that rooting session I would have had to be successful with both and not a fail on one cultivar just based on cuttings that suceeded. I have promoted T.V. a lot with positive comments and shared it around so hopefully it turns out to be true to name. What do folks think, does this look like your Takoma Violet? I am posting a couple more pics the 3 of plant in ground today, another with not quite as dark interior and some from prior years, two as a prior to ripe pic. If you not letting this fig ripen fully you are missing something, but if the SDW were here already it would have been a total mess.
Again would like honest feedback if this looks like your Takoma Violet, I am thrilled with this fig either way, but I don’t want to keep the label if it’s not, and would like to try and follow up with folks I have shared it with if it is not.

[mountainfigs]

I see variation like this with Mt Etna type trees. Slow growing leaves can take that shape...

[Rewton]

Phil, the predominant leaf shape (3-lobed) doesn't look very Mt. Etna-like to me although there appear to be a few leaves here and there that could pass for Mt. Etna leaves. Here was my Takoma Violet last summer. The link below shows what the fruit looked like last year. Most of the figs have an elongated neck and petiole.

https://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/40108-mt-etna-taste-comparison

[Rewton]

The three Mt. Etnas I grow (TV, MBvs, Sal'sEL) have very similar, if not indistinguishable leaves (and fruit, for that matter) and that gives me confidence that they are true to type. Of course with figs it is hard to be 100% sure of anything. Maybe Toni (Mountainfigs) will chime in as well.

[kubota1]

It kind of looks like my Black Greek (Marius) by the leaf shape. What do you think Mike?

[jmaler]

I have to agree Takoma Violet is a very good fig. I had 4 or 5 figs from my tree this year and they all were quite tasty.

[strudeldog]

Thanks for input folks , Does anyone else have the broader 3 lobe leaf on their Takoma Violet, or more pics of it? I think mine actually had more the typical Mt. Etna leaf last year as predominant type, both leaf as well as the fruit had me thinking T.V. was not Mt. Etna but similar.

Steve, Thanks for the Pics and that old thread, which I actually replied stating 1 would keep T.V. Do you still have yours or did it lose that vote? I bet you kept all 3

Art, Good to see you here. I have one called Black Greek, but not sure if it is the Marius version It’s young and set a couple fruit late last year I think, but at least the one I have don’t believe the same. This Fig is from Marius as is the Kesariani I find it very similar to. I have seen pics of that Black Greek I think do you have pics of yours Thanks

Jerry, Do you have pics of your T.V. mostly the foliage. Thanks

Still not sure if I should call this T. V. or not. If I am recalling it had more typical leafs last year, and still has many mostly lower on tree it seems. These figs are Chameleons. Sometimes I swear they are morphing before my eyes. Whether T. V. is a Mt. Etna is a different question, that I can’t really even weigh in on unless I think I have T.V.

[Rewton]

LOL - you are right, I kept all three! The deciding factor was that I moved to a new place with more space. These are relatively low maintenance and reliable varieties and I couldn't pass up having three going. Because they were in-ground figs at the old place I ended up reconstituting them at the new place via rooted cuttings this Spring. I'll plant them in the ground next Spring. I did transplant 6 mature trees from the old place (with the help of my fig-friend Von and her husband) but that was a lot of work and I couldn't justify it for all the in-ground trees.

[drivewayfarmer]

Phil , here are some pics of typical leaves from my 5 year old TV.

[Rewton]

These look like the ones I show in post #8.

[drivewayfarmer]

That's what I thought as well.

[strudeldog]

Thanks for input Tony and Kerry,

Kerry that doesn't look my predominate leaf that's for sure. As I observe my 2 Takoma Violet and my 2 Kesariani I can't help but find them identical besides that both T.V. each year seem to ripen a few days prior, I and not going to label them the same, but I will keep comparing them

I think I will notify those I have shared my T.V. with this thread and make them aware of my uncertainty. I can think of a few folks, but I really don't keep records of who I send things to like I record the source of material I receive. Nobody paid anything except maybe a trade so I really don't feel bad about that, but it bothers me I might have contributed to cultivar confusion, I shared it as it came labeled to me and not something I guessed an ID on. I still feel it's a good chance it's T.V. Tony's mention of slow growing Mt. Etna leafs developing as such had me walking the rows observing all figs that at times get classified as Mt. Etna, and many do seem to have wider and less that traditional look. My trees got almost no rain in spring growth Extremely Dry April thru last week of July maybe total of 4 inches during that period and struggled with little growth. The last week I have gotten several inches, maybe a flush of growth would be interesting to observe. It's a great fig so I don't think anyone will be that upset but at least want them aware.

[ross]

Phil, The fruit looks just like your Kesariani. I think you're right about the mislabeling.

[mountainfigs]

Photos of some slow growing Mt Etna leaves this year. The first is Malta Black. The others are from multiple unknown Mt Etna trees (what I've called Mt Etna Unknown).

[newnandawg]

Hey Phil, in ref to our phone conversation and this thread here are pics of my TV and K. Tell me what you
think in comparison to the leaves on your TV vs the leaves on my K. As you can see the fruit on my TV
is much smaller than on my K and the leaves do no match up. Neither does the look of the fruit but the
taste is similar.

Takoma Violet




Kesariani




Sorry I cant get the last pic to turn right up side for me. You get the picture though. (pun intended) The bottom three are TV and top five are K.

[newnandawg]

bump for Phil

[strudeldog]

Yes Mike your T.V. Looks more like what others have shown particularly that last one, Mine were both good today I am just going to just have to try and put a a note when referring to it as “Takoma Violet in ?”. Mine's fruit is the same size as Kesariani I already sent a few emails about “Takoma Violet in ?” last evening to some folks I shared with Thanks for another look at both

[don_sanders]

My first year TV if it helps.

[jmaler]

Jerry, Do you have pics of your T.V. mostly the foliage. Thanks

Sorry for being late with response to question. This plant was purchased in 2015 from mgwillis55 off ebay out of Louisianna. I believe this person is named Charles and is a forum member.

[strudeldog]

Thanks Jerry