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best top five or six tasting figs.

So I am new to the forum and fig growing. There is a ton of info on the site but I can't seem to get all of the answers I need. I am looking for the best tasting figs but I want to stretch the season as long as possible. So whats the best early, medium and late season types? It would also be great if they were smaller varieties so I can squeeze more into the space I have and protect the fruit from my squirrel thieves. 
Thank you

Well it depends on your climate, and taste buds. Your question was Best tasting only which is very subjective. I see your in Conroe, Texas.  I'm thinking that is what zone 8b-9?  Personally, I think you live in a great area for growing just about anything, more rain than we get by at least 12 inches a year.

I would love to tell you which ones by timing for me, but all my figs, because they are young, are ripening much later than normal.

My family really loves Vista/VdB.  Really hard to beat a perfectly ripe one, rich and complex.  

Smith is another great tasting variety, but wasn't IMHO better than VdB, just different.  I would say VdB is a medium season here. I have tasted other figs, and like I said before, a few equaled taste sensation of VdB, but none have surpassed it. 

Most who have tasted one say Preto is a great late variety, mine have grown well, but still waiting for ripe figs.    

An excellent early one for me was St. Rita.  

Some of the "higher" end figs ripened this week during our flood so CdDB, and Bourjasotte Noir split, can't give an accurate taste profile to these.

Maybe some of the fig growers that have been doing this longer from that area will chime in like Fatnsassytexan, and others.

I too wanted to squeeze more figs into my space.  I planted on 6' centers with plans on lots of pruning, but after just one year I'm not certain I would do it again with spacing less than 10'.  

Plan on pinching a lot to keep plants lower, I waited and regret it now. Structural branches are going to be higher off the ground than needed, and I'll be hard pressed to reach ripe fruit from ground which is my current goal in a couple years.  Some have great structure, but it doesn't start until 24" which is wasted space, If possible I now want structure to start at 8-10" from ground.

Just some things to think about.  

I see you said in subject line Best top 5-6 varieties...

For me, that I have tasted so far, more to come, no specific order: Vista, Smith, St. Rita, JH Adriatic, MLK, and RdB

Thanks for the info. I will definitely look into the varieties you suggested. And yes zone 8 would be correct for me. I currently have some citrus and avocados that can be challenging when we have a brutal winter (for us) here. The fig trees should do well though, I remember as a child climbing into a brown turkey fig tree behind our garage and competing with the squirrels/ birds for the ripe ones. I don't know why it took me so long to getting around to planting some, but now it's full speed ahead. Just hope I don't turn into a figaholic... I've been known to get carried away ha,ha,ha
Thanks again, have a great day!

Dons got a similar vest list as mine. But don i haven't got to the MLK YET. THIS COMING SEASON I HAVE HIGH HOPES TO GET TO. I HAVE LOTS OF FIGS GROWING LIKE PRETO . MARTINENCA RIMADA . VASILIKA SIKA ETC. THAT I HAVEN'T PARTAKED IN YET BUT HOPE WITH MY TWO GREENHOUSE'S AND 28 IN GROUND FIGS I SHELL HAVE 40 PLUS BEW VARIETIES TO TASTE

Preto-Black Madeira, Smith, Adriatic JH, Col de Dame (any), Genovese Nero, Marseilles Black

Quote:
Originally Posted by rafaelissimmo
Preto-Black Madeira, Smith, Adriatic JH, Col de Dame (any), Genovese Nero, Marseilles Black


It makes me oh so happy to have half that list.  Hopefully I can get the other half sometime this fall.  Can't wait to get figs next year.

So far..... Black Madeira/Preto, Italian 258, Genovese Nero, Col de Dame, Galicia Negra, Pastiliere

Here are 3 more common ones that can be great tasting. I wanted to mention them because they really do taste nice and should be part of everyone's collection: VDB, Chicago Hardy, Celeste

In terms of flavor, they're all good, but these are a step above so far in my garden:

JH Adriatic
VdB/Vista/Petite Negri
Malta Black

VdB/Vista/Petite Negri were my favorites last year, and Malta Black was my favorite this year until JHA started ripening and took the crown.

But my favorite trees are my Hardy Chicago and Improved Celeste (the IC with lots of single lobed leaves).  They're cold hardy workhorses that push out the most good fruit for me.

I wish I'd had better luck with Black Madeira cuttings the past 2 winters, I still haven't gotten one to root.  I want to taste the fruit so bad I can hardly stand it, but I haven't quite gotten to the point where I want to spend $400 for a 1 gallon tree.

My favorites when you are talking about taste this year is: Adriatic JH...Strawberry Verte...Ronde de Bordeaux...Salem Dark...and Green Greek...: )


Frank from Bama

My Favorites:

VDB
Nero600
Maltese Beauty
Italian 258
CDD (USDAVIS)

Have been reliable and excellent for me -- RdB, Florea, LSU O'Rourke, Desert King, Latarrula, Granthams Royal,
Osborne Prolific, Ginoso. Other high potentials have been LSU Improved Celeste and Red.

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