what is the best tasting fig?

[austin]

As a newbie, I want to create a fig collection (small) of taste. What is the best tasting fig out there?

Second question: I live in Austin Tx. Close to the famed Fannick's nursery in San Antonio.
They have:
ALMA, BLACK ITALIAN, BLACK JACK, BLACK MISSION, BLUE GIANT, BROWN TURKEY, CELESTE, GREEN ITSHCIA, KODATA, L.S.U. GOLD, L.S.U. PURPLE, OSBORNE PROLIFIC, PANACHE TIGER FIG, TEXAS EVERBEARING.

From the list which one would you recommend for taste?

I have not been to JRN in houston but I need to stop by. I don't know what they have nor their price. Fannick's price is awesome.

[WillsC]

Oh man....that is like asking what is the best football team or what actress is best looking.........

[DBJohnson]

Manchester United....and Emilia Clarke.

[LouNeo]

Im with Figster on this but Jolie is a pretty close second. Go Pats!

[Sarahkt]

No clue on football team but I'd make an argument for Gene Tierney, Charlize Theron, or Monica Bellucci in her Malena days.

[COGardener]

That is a question that only you can answer. Everyone's tastes are so different and every fig is so unique there's no way for anyone to be able to tell you what you were going to like.

You will have to determine your own best which can change from year to year as well.

[COGardener]

And welcome by the way.

[austin]

Well, I can't afford alot of variety. Then what are your favorite? Or what do you not recommend?

[Sarahkt]

Welcome to the forum!

You can look up some information on those varieties using the search function at the top, and also there's a varieties subforum here: http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/variety-test.

Taste is pretty subjective, so we're only able to tell you what we've enjoyed or what we've heard many others enjoy. Of the ones available on your list, Panache is my favorite -- have two of them and it's tasted great from the beginning, with yellow and green pretty striped fruits with juicy red centers that tastes like sweet, tangy berry jam -- good acid/sugar balance. The striped fruit and the variegated wood makes it a conversation piece. Sometimes a branch will revert to its non-chimeric form (lose the striping on the wood and fruit) and the fruit will taste just as good, but without the stripes.

Green Ischia is also very good, and Black Mission is a classic. I've only had one homegrown Osborn Prolific so far so it's too early to say, but it was "okay but not as good as Fig #1 from other varieties." Of course, most will improve with age as the tree gets bigger! Heard good things about LSU Purple as well, though it's also noted for being "meh" while young and improving to become really good after a few years. Can't comment on the others, though Kadota is usually picked not fully ripe for the store so they taste terrible at the store but may be much better if grown and picked when actually ripe.

Best fig I've ever tasted (keeping in mind it's subjective and I haven't tasted I-258 or Genovese Nero yet) was Galicia Negra. Expensive, but delicious given the right growing conditions. Just bought a small tree of it!

[COGardener]

What part of the country do you live in? Are planning to plant in ground if possible or are you planning on pot culture?

[austin]

Sarah,
Thanks... that is the type of response I was hoping for. I was thinking of a panche. But hesitant because others say the taste is ok. But now I got a different opinion!

COG: Austin, TX. Planning to ground 3 or 4 favorite and pot the rest. Zone 8B. How do people put that bottom tag line on their message?

[WillsC]

Yes welcome A lot depends on budget. Some of the very best are pricey but there are a lot of figs that are awesome but not expensive.........such as JH Adriatic, Ronde De Bordeaux (RDB), Sao Miguel Royo is one of my favorites. Malta Black......I could go on awhile

If money does not matter Black Madeira, I-258, Figo Preto, Galacia Negra......but they are expensive $50+ for a one gallon. First list less than half that.

[austin]

wills, That is exactly the list I am looking for! As an admin: how do I put the tagline below my conversation. like what you have "Looking for De Tres..."

[WillsC]

http://www.ourfigs.com/help#account_..._signature_new

[COGardener]

Start here, it has all of the info you looking for to set up you signature line.

http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/15835-welcome-new-start-here

[COGardener]

Being in Austin you have advantages over those of us who grow in the North. You have plenty of heat and a nice long growing season. That alone can drastically improve the taste figs given that they have time to fully ripen and hot environment in which to ripen in.

[Sarahkt]

Yes welcome Some of the very best are pricey but there are a lot of figs that are awesome but not expensive.........such as JH Adriatic, Ronde De Bordeaux (RDB) ...
If money does not matter Black Madeira, I-258, Figo Preto, Galacia Negra......but they are expensive $50+ for a one gallon. First list less than half that.

I second the Ronde de Bordeaux (RdB) and Adriatic JH being fantastic and not too $$$ to buy cuttings/trees. Black Madeira and Figo Preto are thought to be very similar if not the same (different opinions on that), but some strains are more infected with FMV (fig mosaic virus) so it's good to get your tree from a source that is known to grow well and not stay a 1" stub for years. FMV is widespread and can slow the growth and productivity of a tree if it's very susceptible. It seems to affect my trees most when being rooted or young, but they grow out of it with lighter signs of infection as the tree gets bigger (at least in my admittedly less than lengthy experience). Strawberry Verte and Violette de Bordeaux are other ones that I'd add to the list of being very tasty and not too hard to find.

[austin]

Cog: still can't figure it out. Link does not say how. . but now I got at least my status up. Yeah, liking it down here except for for the mud, clay, and limestone. There are boulders of rocks in my backyard and I was recommended to use a jackhammer.

[mountainfigs]

Boulders in backyard sounds like west Austin but could be anywhere in central Texas, not to mention west Texas. Your rooting VDB and RDB could be great in flavor and shape and productivity. Also your Strawberry Ischia if it's a good strain; otherwise you might try Calverte or other great green/reds like the recommended JH Adriatic. I would not be without Alma in Texas (where it was created), for honey flavor, shape, size, productivity, leaves. Panache for appearance, and have heard few complaints about its taste. Those are some honey and berry and molasses figs, the rest might be gravy. I would think you could do worse than go next to LSU figs for their taste and productivity and other qualities: LSU Purple, LSU Champagne, LSU Black, etc. And any of the many named Mt Etnas if you want a rustic productive easy grower. Hard to imagine not going with Black Madeira / Figo Preto too but you'll have to put your own stamp of personality, luck, and trial and error on the venture. They will all need plenty of water and possibly some shade and wind protection there in Austin. Big fig leaves, big roots, and sweet fruit are demanding. VDB, RDB, Mt Etna, and most LSUs I've found to be especially productive (read, valuable) compared to many cultivars. That said, I grow in a much cooler zone, 6b, so productivity might not be your main hurdle to overcome. These are productive partly because relatively early ripening. It's possible that your most productive cultivars would be the later ripening ones that produce in September, October, and November when things begin to cool down a bit in Central Texas. (Panache, LSU Black, Madeira/Preto, & Alma are later ripening.) Looking and asking around of central Texans could help. I lived in Texas for 10 years, central and south, but that was before I started growing figs. A pity!

[austin]

mountainfigs: thanks for the advice. I would love Black Madeira but that is soo expensive! Panache: it sounds too finnicky so I stay away. The LSU purple: has not risen to the top as a prefer choice amoung many so I try to stay with safer choices. The main problem is water because there are water restriction here in tx. Again thanks~

[Sarahkt]

Panache is not at all finnicky for someone in your zone, it's just that it ripens a little later than some varieties so it grows best where there's a long warm growing season -- not a problem where you live. In zone 5/6/7, sure, that might be difficult.

You want to talk about finnicky, let's talk stone fruit. Aphids, peach leaf curl, 3 kinds of mold -- my trees have it all right now.

[austin]

sarah: got some rdb in works (attempting rooting) but maybe now I should hunt for a Adriatic JH.... hmmm

[Sarahkt]

You won't be sorry. It's a slippery slope though, be aware. I wanted ONE tree (a Panache) a couple years ago and now I have 80-100+ varieties. Others have similar stories. Hope you have a lot of land!

Some info on Adriatic JH:
http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/variety...26-adriatic-jh (variety subforum entry)

http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/6624-adriatic-jh

http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/51516-flanders-osborn-prolific-and-adriatic-jh-salvaged-after-the-first-seasonal-frosts

http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/43648-my-first-jh-adriatic

http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/30583-strawberry-verte-and-jh-adriatic-main

[Sarahkt]

Go to your name at the top --> User settings --> Account tab. Under "Conversation Detail Options" click on "edit post signature."

[COGardener]

Apologies.

here is the correct link

http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/15744-index-of-frequently-referenced-topics

[austin]

Got the signature working!

[WillsC]

Yes you did

[WillsC]

Mods are on the ball

[austin]

Except nothing show up... let me try this again

[austin]

whoo ho! it was a computer update delay.

[AscPete]

Hello Austin,

Welcome to our fig forum community.

I started my "collection" based on selections from the Fig Flavor Groups, http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-ho...-flavor-groups
Most growers (including myself) prefer figs with more intense flavors, usually the ones with "berry" tones. Good Luck.


Your available selection falls into the following flavor groups...
Honey;
ALMA, KODATA, L.S.U. GOLD

Sugar;
BLACK JACK, BLUE GIANT, BROWN TURKEY, CELESTE, L.S.U. PURPLE, OSBORNE PROLIFIC, TEXAS EVERBEARING.

Bordeaux (Berry);
BLACK MISSION,

Adriatic Berry;
GREEN ITSHCIA, PANACHE TIGER FIG,

Dark Berry;
BLACK ITALIAN

[Visceral]

I've been to RCW and JRN nurseries and there was nothing you couldn't get a lot cheaper as a cutting from a member here or off ebay.
Figs grow pretty fast in TX, so you won't be waiting too long.

Just a warning: You'd better not start browsing this site looking at pics like the ones in the links Sarah posted. You'll be sucked into the fig abyss forever!

[Sarahkt]

Shh! Ignore him. Austin, click away! lol.

[Visceral]

Enabler!

[austin]

Sarah... you already got me interested in the JH adriatic

[austin]

Thanks all.
Pete: Looking at your link right now. thanks for the catagory.

[austin]

Visceral, but what if I don't want a cutting? what if I continously failed at 1 particular cutting so I give up? Actually going through Pete's list I I think I want an JH adriatic or a black maderia. But ebay is outrageous right now. So I rather hope that 1 day when I got something and all the sticks have grown, I can trade.

[austin]

so fig4fun and ourfig are connected or separate? why should there be 2 forum of the same thing?

[Visceral]

They are separate. The following link is helpful:

http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/15835-welcome-new-start-here

[austin]

Yeah. fig4fun is alot more complex and more ads. But more establish so it is good to have both.