Fig raid!

[Kelby]

Today I donned my ninja suit and raided someone's orchard as they are away. It was delicious and fortunately they label well. Had my first Preto. Just...wow. I'm ready to burn everything else and grow 20 of those! Everything is good (except Conadria), but Preto is an 11/10. It went Spinal Tap on flavor.

Oh, I had permission. The ninja suit is being broken in for Halloween.

[F. Bennett]

They are quite an experience, Kelby. No other fig that I've tasted has the complexity that Preto has.

[Kelby]

I agree, Frank. My wife said it was like wine. Glad I have 2 more I picked!

[PA Figs]

Glad you enjoyed! I still don't understand Conadria. It was one of my best last year. I think I need to put it back in full sun next season, as this year the tree in front of it is shading it a bit.

[mountainfigs]

Great picking, quite a bounty.

My Preto has gotten shaded out this year. Fig hedge too tight in the end. Will look to give it a special place next year.

As for Conadria, was surprised by a really good one today, but had half a dozen barely passable ones or worse before it. (Not unlike Latarolla / Lyndhurst White.) Can be productive but most of my other productive figs have far more consistently good flavor. Some trees require considerably more TLC than others, it seems, which may or may not be worth it.

[Kelby]

The Conadria there is huge! The other day I picked a bunch and they were flavorless. I just ignored them this time.

[zone5figger]

Don't burn them, just graft over all your plants to Preto next spring!

[Harborseal]

Conadria gets waterlogged in the rain but if it ripens in dry weather it can be very good. Here's some Preto for your enjoyment

[Kelby]

Man, you're a tease Bob! Just ate the last one picked.

[PA Figs]

Bob I find I like my Preto and Black Madeira less ripe, interested in your thoughts...

[mgginva]

I've been growing Conadria since '07 and they are usually very productive and good. Rarely wonderful but if you want figs for jam they are great and they are usually attractive. They are affected by the rain or by watering very seriously in my experience. I have been "weeding out" varieties this year and did not consider getting rid of my last Conadria (I sold the others) as it has always given me a lot of figs and they never split. I charge $10 a pound for them frozen and have not heard any complaints.
Just thought I'd throw in a good word for these as I find them useful to have and if I had more space I'd replace those I've sold. So far this year I've tasted 97 of my varieties and the Conadrias have been solidly in the middle as they have been a bit watery.
I do agree with Preto being an amazing fig and will add a few more next year.
I have a deal this year where the best restaurant in a 3 state area has pre-purchased my figs. They come by whenever I have picked enough as I don't deliver. Part of our deal is the chefs sample the figs and rate the varieties. It will be interesting to see what varieties come out on top. I'm very interested in what the chefs there like. It is a pain to label each fig (I use egg cartons - except for the occasional really big Lemon or Texas Blue) but if I learn anything valuable about how the chefs perceive the different varieties it should be worth it. They have used some of the more "watered down" varieties in interesting ways and there is constant pressure to produce "pretty figs" they can put in the fruit baskets that go to the rooms (they are also an Inn) == Inn at Little Washington. Incredible place to eat but at over $200 per not including wine it's a bit pricey and I have not eaten there in a while. Geez this post was kind of all over the place. Oh well. cya mgg

[mountainfigs]

there is constant pressure to produce "pretty figs" they can put in the fruit baskets that go to the rooms

That's why you appreciate Ronde de Bordeaux so much, I suppose. Violette de Bordeaux (and other Late Bordeauxs) must be high up on your list too. Appealing, flavorful, productive figs that really hold their shape. I wonder if Champagne could be productive enough to replace Conadria in this regard.

[Chrisk]

Champagne was one of our most favorite figs at the lsu field day trip . Although nowhere near as large as Conadria,they are delicious and very resistant to rain-split and very hot weather conditions. If not a replacement,definitely a wise addition to any fig collection. It's also a very good rooter so if you get a chance on those cuttings, grab em!!!

[Harborseal]

Conadria gets waterlogged in the rain but if it ripens in dry weather it can be very good. Here's some Preto for your enjoyment

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n37899[/ATTACH]

Bob I find I like my Preto and Black Madeira less ripe, interested in your thoughts...

If you look at the photo above you'll see the most ripe fig in the center and lower left, the less ripe fig on the middle and upper left and the least ripe fig at the top center partially covered. I test my assumptions periodically. I always find that the most ripe fig has much more flavor than the least ripe. That's why I continue to pick them very ripe. Different people taste totally different things when they taste foods. I love this young coconut juice and so I brought some for the office and they all hated it. I brought cotton candy grapes for the office. Not one of them had heard of them yet they all said the grapes tasted like cotton candy. I can't taste anything resembling cotton candy. There's a reason I like the fully ripe figs and you don't. Neither of us will be able to make the other understand because I don't know what you are or aren't tasting and vice versa. I totally give you permission to like your figs your way.

[Kelby]

The correct answer was that Nick is wrong!

[PA Figs]

Haha kelby could be right, something about the texture that I like on a not fully ripe BM

[Harborseal]

mgginva, how does the chef use the watery figs? I just got 3 days of rain. When that happens I leave the figs on as long as possible to dry out but I have to pick them before they mold. Conadria, Triano Calabrese, Stella and to some extent Longue d'Aout are all affected by the previous rains even 5 days after they ended.

Kelby, just for you:

[Kelby]

Mmmmmm, yum...

[cis4elk]

Nice tree, nice castle wall!

[mgginva]

The only attempt around here at a true working fig grove is the 400 tree grove on Ticonderoga Farm's property. According to them ⅓ of that grove is Champagne (⅓ is Mission and ⅓ is a variety I never heard of and don't remember.) Anyway the last 2 winters have been so destructive they have had no figs to sell.
I do not know much about these guys as they won't let me see their orchard and they were not honest about the picking date of the figs I bought from them 3 years ago - some of which were champagne.
Whether Champagne would be suitable if someone else were managing their grove is something I can't answer (obviously), but at this point I do not see much of a role for this variety in my own future grove.

The Inn is supposed to give me a few photos of the dishes they have used my figs in. I am not able to supply enough figs for them to put them on the menu so they are used for "special" purposes like having chefs try the different flavors, sending to VIP suites, supply to those who request fresh figs, etc. AND -- see my new post -- serving them to the Queen of Spain (on Monday).
They are also apparently very popular with the pastry chefs.

[Kelby]

Fig raid part 2: the delicious continues. Harborseal The top 2 rows are Black Madeira, Preto, and Brogiotto Nero. This is after eating a dozen or so of various types. It was too hot for my ninja suit today, luckily for the peeping tom I didn't wear my speedo .

[PA Figs]

I'm getting homesick! That top row is making me drool!

[cis4elk]

Eesh! Bad time to be away.

[PA Figs]

Bad for me, good for Kelby!

[mountainfigs]

It's good to be a fig raider. Spectacular display. Any new taste preferences?

What would you estimate to be the size and age (and number) of the trees giving up the fruit?

[Kelby]

My guess is 30 or so big trees (10 gal to 50 gal)?

[Kelby]

Preto closeup

[PA Figs]

Did you get any green ischias? They are usually delicious!

[Kelby]

Oh yeah, love them too! I humbly beg you for one.

[PA Figs]

Here are some of the larger trees, complete with fig raider

[Kelby]

I'll bet I'm picking RdB there!

[PA Figs]

How do you like RdB? Not my fav and both trees drop their leaves when it gets hot.

[Kelby]

It's good. Mine hasn't had trouble, I was surprised to see yours naked. The big one is budding out again, fyi.

[Harborseal]

Beautiful property. I wish I could have a small, in ground grove like that.

[Kelby]

Those are all potted, Bob. Most are partially buried.

[sppsp]

looks like a tasty day