今年の４月に買ったゴールドフィグは、このように節の間が詰まった樹姿でした。
This is the golden fig plant that I bought in April this year. It had a compact growth habit with short distances between nodes.
それが今もこのように寸詰まりのままです。スペース難のうちでは、できればコンパクトに維持できる果樹が理想なので、これは嬉しいことです。実生りも良くて、初年度から収穫できています。８月上旬に一部が熟したあと一旦休止していたのが、最近の乾燥した暖かい気候が合っているのか、また動きが見えてきました。苗の３か所に幼果が集中しています。
This is how it looks today, still with short distances between branches. Since I am desperately short of space in my garden, a fruit tree with such a compact growth habit is most welcome. Moreover, this tree is prolific, producing young fruits in its initial year of growth. Some of the young fruits matured in early August, before the long rainy period that followed. We have enjoyed a dry and sunny spell recently, and some of the young fruits have started to mature. There are 3 branches with young fruits, as below.
これは
Ａの枝。実の口は開いていないけど、触るとポタポタです。この苗の実は赤実でないからか、野鳥の被害にあったことはありません。
This is branch A. The 'mouth' of the fruit is closed, but when I touch the fruit, it is soft like a water balloon. Since the fruits do not turn red, it seems that wild birds have not discovered this tree yet.
これは
Ｂの枝。実はボケボケに写っていますが、柔らかいです。
This is branch B. Although not a clear picture, it feels soft enough when I touch it.
これは
Ｃの枝。まだまだ硬いです。
This is branch C - a long way to go yet.
糖度計のサイズとの比較で想像つくと思いますが、実が小粒の品種です。
Ａの実は糖度22.0度。とっても美味しいジャム状態でした。ここまで熟しても口が開かないのは虫の侵入を防げて嬉しいです。
Comparing the relative sizes against that of the Brix meter, you can see how tiny the fruits are. The one on the left is from branch A. Its sugar content, according to the gadget, was 22.0%, and it tasted like a very sweet jam. Since the mouth of the fruit stayed closed, I found no insects inside.
Ｂの実は糖度19.1度。Ａを食べた後ではさすがにマイルドな味に思えてしまいました。でも、スモモで18度を宣伝している品種があることを思うと、19.1度でも悪くないのでは。
The fruit B's sugar content was 19.1%. After tasting fruit A, fruit B tasted somewhat mild. However, considering that some plum varieties are proudly advertised for their sugar content of 18%, this fruit B's sweetness is nothing to be ashamed of.
