Is Black Madeira still the Best Fig Ever? Post your Pics! Poll!

[American Infigdel]

So is Black Madeira still the Best Fig Ever? Is it still the "King of Figs?" Or has it been knocked off its throne? To keep this poll simple, assume Violeta, Figo Preto, Cravens Craving, Madeira Island Black, Black Tuscan, etc. are all in the same family as Black Madeira and virtually identical.

Post your Black Madeira family pics so we can see the best, or whatever other fig you think is the best!

[DrDraconian]

The primary reason Black Madeira gets knocked of the pedestal of GoaT fig for me is the tendency to randomly split wide open randomly with any sudden moisture change. Craven's Craving seems to be better in this regard, but I've got to see how my tree progresses now that it is in ground.

Unk Pastilliere would be the undisputed champ for me so far if I had the wasp locally. Alas, the search continues...

[greenfig]

Yes for UP!!!
It also takes foreeweer for the BM to ripen

[sc4001992]

Richard, if you have capri figs, I had some fruits with the fig wasp this year. I didn't look for the wasp until I read about them this year. Right now I cut off most of the branches from my capri fig and grafted named varieties. The fruits I let grow did have the wasps.

https://i.postimg.cc/mgTPgHmb/Capri-wasp-7-18-21-1.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/JzKGDzFj/Capri-wasp-7-18-21-2.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/fbryCgDL/Capri-wasp-7-18-21-3.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/hjQj5bt0/Capri-...Trky-Seeds.jpg

[MJFIGS]

Yup #1 is Black Madeira, not CC or MIB or Black Tuscan etc.

[ZingsFigs]

Those look great

[Wildcat97]

Ok so I have a CLBC AND an I258. What’s makes it so much better and why better than an MIB which I was thinking of getting?
thanks

[mwhight34]

I do agree with DrDraconian, my Violeta figs are sensitive to moisture changes even though it’s growing in a SIP.

[Realtorbyday]

Another weird fig challenge to oercome. It never ends.

[fruitnut]

Finicky and hard to grow just right but certainly among the best. I've grown far better looking BM but not many pictures of several of the family.

[American Infigdel]

You need to sort that out faster Steve, because I don't have 10 years left!

[Noah Mercy]

fruitnut Thanks as always for your valuable advice. Do you think growing behind glass or plastic makes a difference in vigor/taste/brix due to lower UV?

[fruitnut]

Growing in my greenhouse works great for the most part. But water use in the greenhouse is 50-70% of outside. That's because of less light and heat not just less UV. So water applied needs to be reduced a like amount if not more in order to get high quality fruit. Fruit in a greenhouse that's really over watered if really bad. Vigor inside is high but it's high everywhere if there is plenty of water.

[American Infigdel]

Here is a BMjon I just picked about an hour ago. My fig collection is tiny. Just 7 trees. All in ground and only 2 years old. BMjon is the best tasting so far. I did lose a few nice MIB's to a rare Phoenix rain storm - splitting like DrDraconian says. But I also had some I-258's split.

[cvarcher]

HOLY SMOKES!! Thats about the most beautiful colors ever!! Maybe I better get one of these !! Whats a BMJON version? Encanto maybe??

[Wildcat97]

American Infigdel What’s a BIMjon I am not aware? I know of kk varieties etc.

[RosyPosy]

I could be wrong, but I thought it was a BM version that Jon of Encanto Farms distributed. I forget where he got his from originally though. There was a post sometime recently about it...

[swethakyadav]

It is the one from Jon at Encanto. With all the fuss about BM UCD having fmv and not growing fast etc ,my BM Jon is amazing. Zero sign of FMV , grows well and is full of fruit. I am not sure why BM kk is more sought after when BM Jon meets all the criteria they mention about BM KK

[American Infigdel]

swethakyadav - My BMjon is the cleanest plant I have and filled with fruit.

[Rewton]

I'm going to be difficult here but I have to ask what you mean by "best" fig. Is it flavor only? Or does it include other factors such as productivity, cold hardiness, season length, etc. If you are trying to grow figs in a short season area BM probably won't be the best fig unless you can give it a greenhouse start.

[American Infigdel]

You pose a great question! "Best" is purely subjective. Each person has what they consider "best." I called BM the "best" because it is highly regarded worldwide across many climates and regions by many people. And its been around for a while vs "flash in the pan" figs. And its not dependent on the wasp. And right now, its best in my small fig sample. Of course, people can disagree with all that, which is why I put a "N0, there are better figs" option in the poll.

[Wildcat97]

fruitnut isn’t socorro black possibly same as bg? What are your thoughts on differences?

[bullet08]

black madeira is a very good fig. but has to have right weather for optimal taste. when i had it, it was very complex fig with good taste, but southeast isn't exactly right weather for this fig.

[Anaba1030]

Here's my BMKK and Figo Preto from this past week. I picked the Preto a day or to early for my nephew but it was still amazing.

[American Infigdel]

Beautiful!!!

[Netstars]

Figo Preto for me is still #1 so far.

[cvarcher]

You guys are killing me!!! I have to wait at least another month and a half.

[Bry]

SeattleFigs I'm assuming those are likely from last year's harvest probably late September and I suspect grown in a pot outdoors without a greenhouse. Am I correct Mr. @Netstars??

[Netstars]

Bry spot on - tree is loaded this year!

[TorontoJoe]

BM is awesome. Much respect to it... but it's late. If one were to judge it solely on taste then it's definitely up there but with other factors such as ripening time, productivity and vigour... it has some rivals for sure. Don't get me wrong... I grow it... but it's a PITA for very little fruit here.


Let me put it this way... I LOVE BM... But if I was forced to choose only 5 figs and get rid of the rest.... I'm not sure it would make the cut... for me... here.

[TorontoJoe]

It was very sad that so many unripe things were left on the tree. This year I may take a tip from BackwoodsSouthernLawyer and try ripening some under lights indoors at the end of the season

[BackwoodsSouthernLawyer]

TorontoJoe I just ate a few that started inside!

[TorontoJoe]

I want to start mine in January next year

[Realtorbyday]

Thank you for offering the "not sure" button. I haven't tried enough varieties over enough time to form a good opinion but it was fun to be able to participate anyway.

[American Infigdel]

You are welcome. I know you are always up for another "weird fig challenge!" lol. Great quote!

[American Infigdel]

Can someone post a pic of a caprified BM and one not? I don't think many here have seen that comparison, including me. Is there a huge difference like in most figs?

[Ktrain]

Think mine need another couple days.

[Ktrain]

LOL.....I'll save you one Sir

[moonlight]

🙂 mine too !

[Ktrain]

At the rate they're growing I might see some in late September, if the weather holds up. sheesh...lol

[ZingsFigs]

There are some great pics and great comments thank you for this post

[cjccmc]

Black Madeira is still king and #1 for me, delicious figs with a rich complex flavor. And just as important there are no "off" unpleasant flavors in it.

[tjayliffe]

Hi all,

Last season here in Australia I found both Black Tuscan and Bourjasotte Grise B to have a superior combination of flavour and texture to Black Madeira.

The Black Tuscan had the same flavour profile as BM, but for some reason had a really dense and meaty texture similar to the CDD's which I prefer.

My Bourjasotte Grise B had a superior flavour with a more complex, sharper flavour profile and sensational jammy texture. BG-B also has a really variable fruit morphology which I love, as you're often picking really different looking fruit off the same plant.

Just my experience here, and no doubt next year will be different...such is the variable nature of figs!

Cheers,

Tim

[TorontoJoe]

Tim. Absolutely lovely looking figs. Thanks for sharing. The skin on that first pic looks so think and delicate....

[Ktrain]

Beauties for sure, Thank you for that information.

[cvarcher]

Wow, so beautiful down under . Do any of the wildlife find them delicious too??

[TorontoJoe]

Looking at these pics I can't help but think that BM is definitely one of the better looking figs. It's just beautiful... I-258 also has that quality. Personally, for me it's right there with BM.... but earlier and more productive. Perhaps I'm biased

[TorontoJoe]

I-258 is nothing short of a rock star... Just saying....

[Ktrain]

Mine is very young, has 3 on it about the size of golf balls, very hopeful!

[Mario]

Italian 258 is capable to produce plenty and really good brebas if pruned accordingly, I will grow a couple extras just for brebas

[American Infigdel]

TorontoJoe - You are right. I-258 should be in everyone's collection. Mine is done for the year, but here were a couple of the best. Can't wait for year 3 figs off this young tree!

[American Infigdel]

Ktrain - about a month ago it rained about 3 inches in 24 hours here. I had a couple I-258's swell and split, but none blew up. The tree was loaded with figs and most of them were fine.

[Ktrain]

Ok cool, as much rain as we get here I was kind of worried about that.
Thanks

[cvarcher]

OH MY!!! so Beautiful!! My Genovese Nero af is loaded .Cant wait to taste mine!!

[drew51]

Everybody has different taste preferences. I like CdD Gris the best. CC is 2nd for me and since it’s so close to BM I have no plans to add it. So many other good figs out there. As I gain experience with other figs I’m sure ranking will change. I have to add Smith is right there as it works so well here. I based my picks on flavor. If you consider my location Smith is first.

[American Infigdel]

I'm almost positive I'll be adding a CdD Gris this fall.

[sbrookswest]

CdD Gris is also my and my family's favorite so far. BM is still ripening, so can't compare these two yet.

[moonlight]

Col de Dame Blanc and Black Madeira (Violette) for me here are the best tastings figs.
I have tested most figs that I am growing, grown and ripen in greenhouse, they don't taste same at all, so Isolation matters a lot when it comes to taste and texture.
My Black Madeira and rest of the figs suffered in heatwave, they stalled but started to come back about 3 weeks ago, it's not looking good, might not have to many ripe BM's but here is an older picture.

This season picture ⤵️

[moonlight]

Thank you Niagarafigs 🙂

[richardk]

How big is that pot?

[moonlight]

richandk, its SIP, container size, 20 inches width, 18 inches height.
Rootball is approximately 20x1 inches.

[Niagarafigs]

@moonlight.... this is a well cared for garden!