Texas BA-1 | The Hardy Smith Fig
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I am so excited to have finally ripened fruit on my Texas BA-1 fig. The variety requires a lot of light to set the fruit buds like another difficult but worth it tree, Colonel Littman's Black Cross. These trees in my 7-8 hours of standard direct light is just not enough, but this year I finally got some to try.
The history of this fig is a bit unclear. It's said on Figs4Fun that Texas BA-1 is "a variety said to have been found on an unknown Texas A&M graduate student's abandoned test plot during the trials of Alma. Large and of good quality in the Gulf Coast states. May be less hardy than other varieties"
On Ediblelandscaping's website, this is their description: "sweetest of our collection. Hardy in 7 if protected from the wind. Space 10' circle. Ripens 2 weeks later than Hardy Chicago. Zone 7-8."
If you read other reports on this variety, Smith always comes up. Why? Because they're very similar figs. Some say that they're exactly the same, but those who I trust and who have grown these two varieties side by side for years say that they are not. I wanted to find out for myself and more importantly I wanted to find out if Michael McConkey from Ediblelandscaping.com is right. Will it survive in my zone 7A location? Because if a fig very similar to Smith can be considered hardy, we've got something. Smith is notorious as being one of the least hardy trees. And as many of you know, I've raved about Smith for years. It's truly one of the best fig varieties period.
It turns out, my in ground tree has survived unprotected, but in a sheltered location and for 2 consecutive winters. To be safe, I think a 7B zone is more appropriate if you're not going to protect your tree.
As for the fruit itself, I saw this fig swelling on the branch and I couldn't help but think that it was Smith. If I had never heard of Texas BA-1 before, I never would have thought that it was different. I've picked hundreds of Smith figs and I can tell you that after observing it a bit more, I do see some slight differences. Those differences I'm sure with become a bit more clear in time. Regardless, the eating experience is every bit as good as Smith and this tree comes in a hardy, but higher sunlight requirement package. That's a real win in my book.
Zone 7A - Greater Philadelphia
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Пікірлер: 22
I'm growing Texas BA-1 in zone 9b in Florida and I can say that it is definitely a vigorous grower in full sunlight. Started it from a cutting in January and it is ripening its first figs now (10 total) in October. Tried the first one today and it looks the exact same as yours but I think it was even uglier on the outside. Definitely recommend this variety if you're in an area where you can grow it.
Yeah im pretty impressed by how much more hardy trees are under plastic in a green house my white sapote didn’t die at 16 degrees our coldest night here in north CA and it was totally healthy and fine “white sapote is like hardly down to 28 or so normally”
Thanks for the recommendation. I just ordered one from Edible Landscaping.
I’m in zone 9 central Texas have a brown turkey fig in ground for about 8 years already and is one of the trees that survived that 2020 freeze for a week where I had no electricity for 5 days my 5 yr pear and plum, blueberries also survived none had protection the 5 yr old ruby grapefruit, 3 avocados,3 Meyers lemon all died. I created this year a microclimate around my 25 yr old oak trees that have a large canopy and heavy mulching to see if it helps protect my bananas,lemons,guavas,star fruit this year it’s all a trial and error. I also planted new fig trees from my brown turkey clippings 15 in that are very healthy on my northern side without protection from sun,wind,cold of my yard to see the cold hardiness this winter
@RossRaddi
Жыл бұрын
I hope it works out!
Thank you for posting!
I would be willing to trial a Texas Ba-1 in-ground in 6B CT. If what you're saying is correct, that's promising to have such a high quality in-ground fig up here. I guess I need to get my hands on one...
I agree….great fig
Hi I watch your videos and am new to figs this year. Quick question. If fig fruit quality is so dependent on rain or lack of why not grow them in a hoop house? If you had the space would that be a good idea? Thanks Brad
@RossRaddi
Жыл бұрын
Absolutely.
The cold hardiness of figs is……a big mystery that won’t be solved anytime soon and maybe ever. I have a sneaking suspicion that most varieties have the same hardiness. It’s just a matter of circumstances and luck. For example say a farmer has 3 Mt. Etna varieties. He keeps all 3 outside unprotected to determine the most cold hardy. Only 1 makes it through the winter and he proclaims it the most cold hardy. Well maybe that tree had a slightly bigger root system that allowed it to make it through the winter. Maybe it was at the perfect angle to avoid most of the cold wind. Maybe the snow and ice settled on this tree just right to enable it to insulate from the cold. Maybe the other two had an unknown disease or rot that prohibited it from making it. Do you see what I am saying? Too many unknown factors to make an informed decision. I have yet to see a detailed study outlining why potential varieties are more cold hardy. I need facts not speculation.
@Traptorwinnerguy
Жыл бұрын
That’d be one hell of a study!
@jamesfrederick.
Жыл бұрын
I’ve wondered something similar in the back of my mind as well. I bet there still is a little genetic variability to how cold hardy a fig tree is but I’m gonna agree it’s probably 80% the random factors you listed
@StuffandThings_
Жыл бұрын
Well, I've had 4 fig trees all right next to each other and only the Chicago Hardy pulled through the winter without dieback above the snow line this last year. They were all of identical health under identical conditions. They had all pulled through other winters of 10 degree F lows just fine, until this freak 5 degree freeze got 'em. Chicago Hardy clearly demonstrated extra cold hardiness there, so variety definitely does matter to some degree. Of course conditions do affect things too, but under identical conditions hardier varieties are superior. I've noticed this for other plants with vast differences in cold hardiness between cultivars as well, such as pomegranates. Only varieties rated for 8a or preferably the ones for 7b can really pull through the winters consistently.
@RossRaddi
Жыл бұрын
The facts are as follows: TX Ba-1 has survived in my yard for two consecutive years with a 10F low. Another very experienced grower has had similar if not better results. Hardy Chicago in my yard and in literally 1000s of other yards has survived zone 7A winters. I don't need a study when I have all of this anecdotal evidence to make an informed decision. You're now informed. There will always be unknown factors. That's what growing fig trees is all about.
what camera you use and what mic setup?
@RossRaddi
Жыл бұрын
Canon t6i
Is it as early as smith? Smith is an early fig right?
@RossRaddi
Жыл бұрын
They're both mid season.
Can you please help me identify what is wrong with my indoor fig tree? It's a brown Turkey fig and I have photos I can send you.
@audiemueller7500
Жыл бұрын
Probably has something to do with keeping it indoors
@jamesfrederick.
Жыл бұрын
If it’s indoors make sure it’s getting enough light with a lamp, also make sure you’re not over or under watering “theses are the common mistakes” the harder questions are nutritional most likely