I am finally beginning to catch up now that figs are mostly over, and watering is a little less. Speaking engagements are over, plant sales are done for the season. Too many good things, too little time.
I have chosen the following entry as our winner. It is simple, and to the point, but more important is the point that it makes. It was written by someone who has a history of trying different varieties, who has made the investment in adding to the common body of fig knowledge and experience and who wishes to carry on in that tradition by growing and testing the Black Madeira variety. That is a tradition that is very important to me, and that, thankfully, is shared by many members of this forum.
"I have grown figs for 30 something years and about 200 varieties have
been tested here. Many didn't make it due to low production, large open
eyes, winter hardiness, and simply not happy in my environment. At
present, I have 91 varieties and many are still under evaluation. I
don't discard a variety until it has been grown in the open ground for
at least 4 years.
The Black Madeira should be given a trial in my area to see if it is
adapted to long, hot, and humid summers and produce good fruit. If
successful, this would expand the growing range for Southern and
Southeastern growers with similar growing conditions. There is almost
no information on it being grown outside of CA and part of this may be
due to not being available from nurseries and low success on rooting.
In a nut shell, this my reason for needing a Black Madeira; to evaluate
it in my environment."
Congratulations to Jack Rice.