Topics

Violetta Sweet surprise

Have been picking ripe Violetta Bayernfeige now since October, here in Connecticut.


This fig was on our,"To be replaced list". In fact we had already top worked part of it to Gino's, and Ronde de Bordeaux. It did not bear it's first year in the ground. It's second year it's taste was nothing special.

This year, it's breba crop was okay. But, we had better tasting figs. Then it started to bear it's main crop of figs, in October. It had started to cool down here and had been raining most of the summer. So, we were not expecting much. 

But, were we surprised. In October through today, 11-13-2011. This tree started producing the most juicy and sweetest figs I have ever tasted. In fact, The sweetness level was so high, it attracted hundreds of flies. I think one of the reasons why flies are so attracted to it is, mot only is it very sweet, it is also very juicy,The flies were the second surprise, and we were not prepared for the shear number of flies devouring each fig on the tree.

Next year, we will look for a bird/insect netting long before the figs start to ripen, and we may decide not to keep the breba crop. That may avoid having so many unripe fig to be left on the tree.

This is a very sweet fig so late in the season. I just picked three today, 11-13-2011. There were no leaves left on the tree from the hard freeze we received in the early part of November. Although, not as Sweet as they were in October, they were still very sweet tasting figs.

So, far the only negative I have observed is the sweetness level draws tons of flies and almost half the figs are still on the tree. This may have been caused because we allowed the breba crop to set, and we had a very early hard freeze.

If we can figure out how to keep the flies away, and to avoid having so many green figs left on the tree,we may keep this cultivar for it's super sweet taste and size.

We purchased our tree from Lucile Whitman at Whitman farms on the west coast. A very nice lady to do business with.

Bob, zone 5 Connecticut

 
Quote

My Violetta Bayernfeige preformed very dismal for me here in NJ.

Since then, it died to cold (where is its touted hardness?).
And I do not want back here....
Quote

Hmmm, mine did very well!
Quote

My Bayernfeige,also in NJ did very baD,here.
Atreano had a ripe fruit for me today,and there are 7 more close to ripe.
They still taste very flavorful,even if it is so late.
Quote

My tree died back, and came back to give figs.
Quote

We have not been testing it long enough to have all the answers. I  do know it has both disappointed and pleased us.


As to it's cold hardiness, not sure since we bend it to the ground, and cover with soil and layer of insulation, to keep it dry. We will test to see if we can grow it without winter protection, after it has been in the ground for five years.Then maybe we can give more information as to how it performs. But, that would only be for our part of CT..

So far, what we know is that the  first two years here, it was no fruit or bad tasting fruit.
The fruit can be as large as 150 grams for the breba, and as small as 20 grams, on some of the main crop. It's pulp reminds me of the juice in a jar of canned figs. It's that sweet and juicy. But, because the pulp is so juicy and sweet, and the skin is as thin as tissue, flies covered the ripe fruit.

The only place I have seen it for sale is at Whitman Farms, on the west coast. I think that might be because it has a patent on it. Lucile Whitman had to bring in fifty plants. Just so she could ship to us two plants.

This may be one of those hit or miss plants. Were some of us will have good luck with it and others not so good.

Herman, told me he rated the braba crop as a 10. But, he lost his plant to FMV. Then Gorgi says his plant was killed to the ground and he does not want it back.

So,I guess it's going to take some time before we can give a complete report on it.

Bob, zone 5 Connecticut

 
Quote

We have not been testing it long enough to have all the answers. I  do know it has both disappointed and pleased us.


As to it's cold hardiness, not sure since we bend it to the ground, and cover with soil and layer of insulation, to keep it dry. We will test to see if we can grow it without winter protection, after it has been in the ground for five years.Then maybe we can give more information as to how it performs. But, that would only be for our part of CT..

So far, what we know is that the  first two years here, it was no fruit or bad tasting fruit.
The fruit can be as large as 150 grams for the breba, and as small as 20 grams, on some of the main crop. It's pulp reminds me of the juice in a jar of canned figs. It's that sweet and juicy. But, because the pulp is so juicy and sweet, and the skin is as thin as tissue, flies covered the ripe fruit.

The only place I have seen it for sale is at Whitman Farms, on the west coast. I think that might be because it has a patent on it. Lucile Whitman had to bring in fifty plants. Just so she could ship to us two plants.

This may be one of those hit or miss plants. Were some of us will have good luck with it and others not so good.

Herman, told me he rated the braba crop as a 10. But, he lost his plant to FMV. Then Gorgi says his plant was killed to the ground and he does not want it back.

So,I guess it's going to take some time before we can give a complete report on it.

Bob, zone 5 Connecticut

 
Quote

Yes Alan, it's a very vigorous grower.


I'm guesstimating here, without being able to see the tree from were I'm sitting right now. I would say the tree is around 8 to 10 feet in height.

It does appear to have FMV on some of the leaves.But, so far this has not bothered the fruit or it's growth.

The only other information I can offer after three seasons of growing it here, is that the breba ripens here in August. Which means it is our first taste of fresh figs of the year. I'm hoping as it gets older, it can start ripening breba in July.

Bob, Zone 5 Connecticut
Quote
Reply Cancel
Subscribe Share Cancel