For the first time, we had more than one fig ripen at the same time: two LSU Improved Celeste, a Strawberry Verte, and a Hardy Chicago. The rich, sweet, complex tasting Hardy Chicago was the best. The sweet, figgy tasting LSU Improved Celeste (in the SE quad of the photo above) was the next best. Strawberry Verte is good but not in the same class as Hardy Chicago and LSU Improved Celeste.

Lesson learned: Although the Improved Celeste (in the NW quad of the photo above) was juicer and had honey dripping from the eye it sealed, it was slightly overripe. LSU ICs yellow, swell, and droop in rapid succession. For my taste, climate, etc., I will pick them no later than three days after they start to turn from yellow-to-golden brown.

Pictured from left to right: Hardy Chicago, LSU Improved Celeste, and Strawberry Verte.

Very nice JD They look delicious.

Looks tasty! A little jealous you are already eating lots of figs!

Jason,

Your time will arrive soon!

Going from no figs to one was great. Going from one every seven to ten days to four today was very thrilling. Now I can start to really say what I like because a comparison is real-time, relative, and relevant. Given that ability to compare: here's what I think I think: 1) My wife likes fig-tasting figs, 2) My daughter is drawn to dark skinned figs, 3) I do not prefer pulp with a jam like consistency, and 4) I really like a slight seed crunch. Finally, four figs better not be a lot because that means something unfortunate is going to happen.

Thanks Rob.

Looks good JD I agree the Hardy Chicago is good tasting even in first year I was suprised we have been getting VDB,Hardy Chicago,Nero and the Owensboro from Bob and they have been my favorite this year but I like the sharkskin texture of the Nero skin best.
I am leaning toward dark types I think.
Thanks for sharing

Congratulation JD. They all look so delicious. I must say, that your I.C. looks very similar (the neck, skin color and the pulp color) to my O'Rurke's. My previous I.C. did not have a long neck as yours does.

Thank you for posting the pictures.

Hi JD,
thanks for posting the fig pictures and especially the hardy chicago.  ; )

Hardy Chicago was a fig that tasted so good from the very first one i ate years ago - i like that in a fig tree.

Martin,
That Hardy Chicago is the fruit from a cutting you gave me about two years ago. Thank YOU!!

Beautiful pictures, nice job!! 

Thanks al!

Navid,
Yeah, I hear you. I have read posts, notices, etc.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=4843602&highlight=orourke
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2982584
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/file?id=652284

 It is definitely an Improved Celeste but I am not sure if it is O'Rouke. My leaf does not match the LSU publication and it also does not match the five-lobed O'Rourke leaves of others.  How do you know and/or determine if an Improved Celeste is an O'Rourke?

Jd i had forgotten . Im glad you like it one of my favorites still.

JD, I did not say your I.C. is an O'Rourke. There is lots of confusion between these two cultivators among the growers and I am not an expert to say which is which. I go by the number of the lobes, skin color, interior color and the size of the eye, to determine which variety it is.
I had posted couple of the leaves pictures from my O'Rourke in thread below, comparing with Cecil's O'Rourke (post 11 and 12).

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=5391885

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/file?id=652284

Navid.

Navid,
Correct, you didn't say I had an IC and I certainly didn't take it that way. When I bought it, it had two tags: LSU Improved Celeste and O'Rourke. I was wondering how you knew you had an O'Rourke but your pictures tell the story.

JD, your fig is identical to my O'Rourke (the neck, interior and exterior color and the eye), but your leaves don't match with the LSU publication (Pg 9 of the given link), mine does. Maybe I should send you an air layer from mine so you can grow both beside each other to see if there are in-fact the same cultivator or not.



Navid.

Navid,
Good plan. If I have an available branch, I'll start a layer for you today. I already have three layers on it so if not, then cuttings in the Fall or an air layer in the Spring. Either way, you should grow it side by side as well.

Great looking figs JD, you make me jealous. My O'Rourke is just starting to ripen some figs, 1 at the time, and so is my LSU Tiger which is a beautiful fig. My problem is I have a rodent problem, likely a rat, that has developed a taste for figs. He hits me every night or so and only eats the ones that are a day or so from being  ripe. I've set a trap but can't seen to catch it. I might have to start a night patrol.
"gene"

Very nice, JD. They look delicious.

Ken and Gene,
Coming your way soon... two of the few foil wrapped layers on this tree have your names on it.

JD, you have a PM.

LSU Improved Celeste. (So the label says) It is very good and quite productive. On Sunday, we picked a total of four figs including the three shown in the photos. I was thankful to taste half of one. My wife and daughter enjoy these.

Hardy Chicago. It has been in ground for 12+ months and continues to be an excellent front runner. The tree steadily ripens one fig per three days on average. Hardy Chicago is a class of its own and happens to be the best tasting fig a) that I am growing and b) that has fruited and ripened. We shared this one for dessert.

Black Bethlehem. The birds are back! And they have pecked through the last three ripe Black Bethlehem. As a result, I have taken to picking them earlier than I should.
It will be nice to taste a couple of fully ripe Black Bethlehems one day.

Danged,  There I go - ruined another keyboard with drool!

Hardy Chicago (two on left) is still the best of what we have grown and eaten this season.

TXBA-1 (middle) was picked early and still not memorable. It is a candidate for a new home.

Texas Blue Giant (right) had dropped a few figs and ripened a few odd looking and tasting fig since I received it from a forum member. Call it stress. The one shown in the images that follow was honey sweet with a slight fig taste, no seeds, better than expected, and surprisingly good.