Mark Albert: Pineapple Guava Tour, New Seedling Varieties From a Feijoa Collector and Breeder.

The main crop is the second, and often larger, crop produced by certain fig varieties, typically on the current year's growth. It ripens later in the season, after the breba crop (if the variety produces one).

Main crops are usually the most significant for consumption, offering a sweeter and more developed flavor compared to the breba. Figs like Smyrna and San Pedro rely on pollination for their main crop, making this stage crucial for successful fruiting. Collectors appreciate the main crop for its size, flavor, and the extended harvest season it offers.

Also known as the over winter crop. Or the carry over crop. Simply put. This is where the wasp stays during the winter. When temperatures rise. The wasp leave this crop and enter the developing profichi crop.

The Mamme fig is a rare type of Ficus carica that produces fruit known as the mamme crop, which develops in the winter and matures in spring. These figs are typically found in caprifig trees and play a crucial role in the life cycle of fig wasps, as they provide a habitat for the wasps during colder months.

Mamme figs are small, less palatable, and not usually grown for consumption. Instead, they are essential for pollinating certain fig varieties that depend on fig wasps. Collectors and growers often find the mamme fig fascinating for its ecological importance in fig reproduction.

The mammoni also known as the summer crop (Think main crop on your female figs). Is where the wasp that did not go pollinate your female figs went. They will lay there eggs in these figs. They will also pollinate these figs. As these figs also have female flowers. It is very rare in the wild for the seeds to develop and later sprout. As the wasp larvae consume them. You can hand pollinate these figs and get viable seed.

Marcotting, also known as air layering, is a propagation technique used for fig trees and other plants. It involves making a small cut or removing bark on a branch, applying a rooting medium like moist sphagnum moss, and wrapping it to encourage root development. Once roots form, the branch is cut and planted as a new tree.

Marcotting is popular among collectors and growers because it produces genetically identical plants while maintaining the parent tree's traits. It is especially useful for preserving rare or desirable fig varieties.

Microscopic pests that feed on fig leaves and fruit, causing discoloration and deformities. Early detection and treatment with horticultural oils can help manage infestations.

Montserrat Pons i Boscana is a renowned fig expert and conservationist based in Mallorca, Spain. He has dedicated his life to the study, preservation, and promotion of fig varieties, particularly those native to the Balearic Islands.

Professional Background and Contributions

• Fig Collection and Conservation: Pons manages a significant fig collection at his estate, Son Mut Nou, located in Mallorca. This collection includes over 1,700 fig trees representing approximately 800 different varieties from around the world, with a strong emphasis on those from the Balearic Islands.

  Porta Holiday

• Authorship: He authored the book "Les Figueres a les Illes de Balears" ("Fig Trees of the Balearic Islands"), a comprehensive work detailing the 251 indigenous fig varieties of Mallorca and the Balearic Islands. The book serves as a valuable resource for fig enthusiasts and researchers.

  Trees of Joy

• Public Engagement: Pons actively shares his knowledge through various platforms, including interviews, articles, and videos. He has been featured in publications discussing the significance of figs in Mallorca and has contributed to discussions on fig varieties and cultivation techniques.

  The Mallorca Photo Blog

Impact on Fig Cultivation and Collecting

Through his extensive research and conservation efforts, Montserrat Pons has significantly influenced the understanding and appreciation of fig varieties, especially those native to the Balearic Islands. His work has provided valuable insights into the history, cultivation, and characteristics of various fig types, benefiting both amateur and professional fig collectors and cultivators.

Watch this video: Monserrat Pons ,Son Mut Nou the largest fig trees experimentation field in the world.

Applying organic material like straw, wood chips, or compost around the base of fig trees. Mulching conserves soil moisture, suppresses weeds, and improves soil structure.

Symbiotic associations between fungi and plant roots, including those of fig trees. These relationships enhance nutrient and water uptake, improve soil structure, and can increase the fig tree's resistance to certain diseases.