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Been a little while since I posted a "Fig of the Day", life has kept me busy! As before, please share any comments and experience you may have with Marseilles Black VS. Also feel free to load info you have on the Variety Info page.
Marseilles Black vs is popular Mt Etna type, known for its productivity and vigor. I have seen multiple variations on the name, usually shortened, including: MBvs, MvsB, BMvs, and so forth. I personally like MBvs. If I have any of the history wrong, please correct me, I've tried to piece it together from years of posts on f4f and GW into one cohesive story.
This tree has been grown since 1943 in Columbia, MD, where it was brought back from France during WW2 by a soldier. In 2002 Warren Turner acquired cuttings from 3 trees being grown by the daughter of the WW2 veteran, some of which were shared with herman2 (aka VS). They were initially labeled MD1943Brunswick, MD1943Celeste, and MD1943BT. Time has revealed that the MD1943Celeste is what we now refer to as Marseilles Black VS, further trial has shown the MD1943BT (initially circulated as Maryland Brown Turkey) is also Marseilles Black VS. The confusion arose from the curious habit of MBvs having figs with long or short stems/necks depending on the microclimate. After 5 years of trialing side by side herman2 has concluded they are indeed the same. The ultimate ID was made using notes by University of Maryland researchers Monroe and Starned and by Robert Hog in England. According to herman2 this plant matches their notes to the latter. There doesn't seem to be anyone growing a known Marseilles Black side by side with MBvs, so the suffix "vs" is valuable to keep.
It is my understanding that Marseilles Black was trialed in the early 1900's by University of Maryland and LSU for potential commercial production. Despite being the most productive variety in the trial, the fruits were deemed too small for commercial production. I do not know believe there is any relation between these trials and the plants currently circulating, however there has been speculation that some Brown Turkey plants in the South are actually Marseilles Black from the old LSU trials. There is also Maryland Berry from Encanto that I think is the same as MBvs before herman2 made ID, but I'm not positive, please chime in if you know.
It is an exceptionally hardy variety, having survived (dieback extent unknown) temperatures of -8F unprotected in Columbia, MD and possibly lower. It has gone unscathed through 0F weather in NJ for herman2. It may be hardy to Zone 5 in ground. Like other Mt Etna types, it will still fruit even if killed to the ground. Flavor is very good, ranked a 10/10 in hot, dry weather but still pulling an 8/10 if cool. Some brebas may set if protected or container grown, but not many. Early ripening (75 days), fruits generally ripen early to mid-August (mid-Atlantic) thru mid-September. Produces prodigious amounts of small figs, hundreds to thousands. This productivity has led Robert Harper to call it a 'Feed A Nation' variety that everyone should grow.
Personally, I found this variety difficult to root because nearly every cutting vigorously leafed out before even considering roots. I had been waiting to write this variety up until I finally rooted one, which I think I can safely say I have. It will be in my in ground trial either this year or next to compare with other Mt Etna types (Sal's, HC, Takoma Violet, etc) to find the best of the best for my area.
On a semi related note, does anyone talk with herman2 who can invite him here? His experience would be a great addition to this forum.
Marseilles Black vs is popular Mt Etna type, known for its productivity and vigor. I have seen multiple variations on the name, usually shortened, including: MBvs, MvsB, BMvs, and so forth. I personally like MBvs. If I have any of the history wrong, please correct me, I've tried to piece it together from years of posts on f4f and GW into one cohesive story.
This tree has been grown since 1943 in Columbia, MD, where it was brought back from France during WW2 by a soldier. In 2002 Warren Turner acquired cuttings from 3 trees being grown by the daughter of the WW2 veteran, some of which were shared with herman2 (aka VS). They were initially labeled MD1943Brunswick, MD1943Celeste, and MD1943BT. Time has revealed that the MD1943Celeste is what we now refer to as Marseilles Black VS, further trial has shown the MD1943BT (initially circulated as Maryland Brown Turkey) is also Marseilles Black VS. The confusion arose from the curious habit of MBvs having figs with long or short stems/necks depending on the microclimate. After 5 years of trialing side by side herman2 has concluded they are indeed the same. The ultimate ID was made using notes by University of Maryland researchers Monroe and Starned and by Robert Hog in England. According to herman2 this plant matches their notes to the latter. There doesn't seem to be anyone growing a known Marseilles Black side by side with MBvs, so the suffix "vs" is valuable to keep.
It is my understanding that Marseilles Black was trialed in the early 1900's by University of Maryland and LSU for potential commercial production. Despite being the most productive variety in the trial, the fruits were deemed too small for commercial production. I do not know believe there is any relation between these trials and the plants currently circulating, however there has been speculation that some Brown Turkey plants in the South are actually Marseilles Black from the old LSU trials. There is also Maryland Berry from Encanto that I think is the same as MBvs before herman2 made ID, but I'm not positive, please chime in if you know.
It is an exceptionally hardy variety, having survived (dieback extent unknown) temperatures of -8F unprotected in Columbia, MD and possibly lower. It has gone unscathed through 0F weather in NJ for herman2. It may be hardy to Zone 5 in ground. Like other Mt Etna types, it will still fruit even if killed to the ground. Flavor is very good, ranked a 10/10 in hot, dry weather but still pulling an 8/10 if cool. Some brebas may set if protected or container grown, but not many. Early ripening (75 days), fruits generally ripen early to mid-August (mid-Atlantic) thru mid-September. Produces prodigious amounts of small figs, hundreds to thousands. This productivity has led Robert Harper to call it a 'Feed A Nation' variety that everyone should grow.
Personally, I found this variety difficult to root because nearly every cutting vigorously leafed out before even considering roots. I had been waiting to write this variety up until I finally rooted one, which I think I can safely say I have. It will be in my in ground trial either this year or next to compare with other Mt Etna types (Sal's, HC, Takoma Violet, etc) to find the best of the best for my area.
On a semi related note, does anyone talk with herman2 who can invite him here? His experience would be a great addition to this forum.
I hope to be able to let some fruit set this year!
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