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Coll de Dame varieties


Those anyone could tell me which in your opinion are the best varieties of coll de dame figs?
I heard a lot of good things about Coll de dame Grise. One variety that looks good, but it's very expensive is Coll de dame roja, did anyone tried that one?

Col de Dame is a great fig. Do not know the rest by experience.


To my taste, CdD-Blanc was much more intensely flavored than CdD-Gris. (Gris instead of Grise because the fig neck is grey, not the gal).  I have Roja growing as well, but it has yet to fruit.  It is reputed to be every bit as good as Blanc, but indeed it will cost you a pretty penny to add it to the collection.  

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluemalibu

To my taste, CdD-Blanc was much more intensely flavored than CdD-Gris. (Gris instead of Grise because the fig neck is grey, not the gal).  I have Roja growing as well, but it has yet to fruit.  It is reputed to be every bit as good as Blanc, but indeed it will cost you a pretty penny to add it to the collection.  


I've seen the two names, Grise and Gris and Indon't know which is the right one. Grise is the french for gray and Gris is gray in spanish, but as I understand this variety is French, so that adds to my confusion. On the other hand CdD Roja is Spanish fig tree and Roja means red in spanish.

But moving foward of the confusing names, thanks for your imput about the CdD Gris and Blanc. I will consider CdD Blanc.
I wish you have already tasted CdD Roja already.

A very touchy Frenchman appeared on the other forum (he has not been seen since) to announce that the proper waay to say it is Grise. There is no Spanish version so you need not trouble yourself with any confusion. I grow 5 different Col de Dames and I do not see much difference. There may be one or two from Mallorca that are radically different from the others, that is where the unusual ones are from. My personal favorite is CdD Blanca-Negra, which matures a bit earlier than the others.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rafaelissimmo
A very touchy Frenchman appeared on the other forum (he has not been seen since) to announce that the proper waay to say it is Grise. There is no Spanish version so you need not trouble yourself with any confusion. I grow 5 different Col de Dames and I do not see much difference. There may be one or two from Mallorca that are radically different from the others, that is where the unusual ones are from. My personal favorite is CdD Blanca-Negra, which matures a bit earlier than the others.


Thanks for the aclarations regarding the name. Could you tell is which varieties of CdD are you growing?

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  • Sas

In the French language Le Col is used as a masculine and not La Col as a feminin name.
Therefore when calling the color of those figs, you are referring to le Col.
The names would be Gris, Blanc or Noir without the (e) at the end. You don't say Col de Dame Blanche.
The same name is used in Spanish as Col de Signora. Roja would be similar to Gris.
I am currently growing all three in ground and so far the most productive is the Blanc (UCD).The most vigorous grower is the Gris.
I agree with Blue that the Blanc (UCD) is currently my preferred of all three and perhaps of my entire collection.
There's another version of Blanc (Baud) that I'm finding to be hard to get to produce in pots.
My observation far is that this variety (any Color) needs several years before you get good results and needs lots of heat in order to ripen its fruit. It's a late variety.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Sas

I am currently growing all three in ground and so far the most productive is the Blanc (UCD).The most vigorous grower is the Gris.
I agree with Blue that the Blanc (UCD) is currently my preferred of all three and perhaps of my entire collection.
My observation far is that this variety (any Color) needs several years before you get good results and needs lots of heat in order to ripen its fruit. It's a late variety.


It seems that CdD Blanc is getting more points. Thanks for sharing that.
How many years do you think until they produce good quality figs? For me heat it's not a problem, I got heat here all year long.

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  • Sas

I would give it at least seven years.
The soil will make a huge difference. I've got my Col de Dame Blanc (UCD) planted in clay soil and despite this, it fruited from cutting in its first year. But it is very sensitive to winter freezes.
I don't have it protected so it keeps getting damaged . Tried to wrap it the previous year and I did not see any major difference. From year one,  it produces at least a couple of dozen figs each year, not enough to satisfy.
For me, the flavor of Col de Dame Blanc wraps the full flavor spectrum of all the best tasting fig varieties whether light or dark colored including Black Madeira in one.
It's the grand finale of my fig season..

Based on one of Blue's Post(Thank You), I recently was able to find the new variety that some say was better than the Col de Dame Blanc, namely  Emalyn's Purple. Time will tell.

It is very important to remember that the top performance of a fig in a certain location does not mean that it will perform the same way somewhere else. If you've got the heat then this is what this tree likes.
My tree sits in full sun in temperatures exceeding 110 on some summer days.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mfehmi
I've seen the two names, Grise and Gris and Indon't know which is the right one. Grise is the french for gray and Gris is gray in spanish, but as I understand this variety is French, so that adds to my confusion. On the other hand CdD Roja is Spanish fig tree and Roja means red in spanish. But moving foward of the confusing names, thanks for your imput about the CdD Gris and Blanc. I will consider CdD Blanc. I wish you have already tasted CdD Roja already.

Hi mfehmi
I
 dont have col-de dame but in french grise is female gender and gris  is for male.So bought words exist in french.
Hope it helps.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sas
I would give it at least seven years.
The soil will make a huge difference. I've got my Col de Dame Blanc (UCD) planted in clay soil and despite this, it fruited from cutting in its first year. But it is very sensitive to winter freezes.
I don't have it protected so it keeps getting damaged . Tried to wrap it the previous year and I did not see any major difference. From year one,  it produces at least a couple of dozen figs each year, not enough to satisfy.
For me, the flavor of Col de Dame Blanc wraps the full flavor spectrum of all the best tasting fig varieties whether light or dark colored including Black Madeira in one.
It's the grand finale of my fig season..

Based on one of Blue's Post(Thank You), I recently was able to find the new variety that some say was better than the Col de Dame Blanc, namely  Emalyn's Purple. Time will tell.

It is very important to remember that the top performance of a fig in a certain location does not mean that it will perform the same way somewhere else. If you've got the heat then this is what this tree likes.
My tree sits in full sun in temperatures exceeding 110 on some summer days.



Very good information!!!! And I have heat here, my summers are close to 100, but the main diference with Texas is that I don't have winter here. The coldest it gets is 75 on very few nights. So maybe the extra heat in the winter months could help the tree even more. I will try it and I hope to report about that in the near future.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Porfirio

Hi mfehmi
I
 dont have col-de dame but in french grise is female gender and gris  is for male.So bought words exist in french.
Hope it helps.


Thanks for the info!!

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  • Sas

FYI, when it comes to flavor, the closest fig to Col de Dame I found, is the store bought Panache from California. My Panache in pot has not produced a single fig in four years.

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  • Sas

For comparison purposes the first picture is of Col de Dame Blanc, the second Noir and the third Gris.
They are all almost the same age. You could see the difference in size between the Gris and the Blanc or Noir. These fall pictures of the trees were taken earlier today.

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Sas is very accurate in his descriptions. CDDB is a full spectrum fig. It is amazing and should do well in your zone.Panache is very similar.

I agree.  I have CdDB and CdDN, and between them, so far, I like the taste of Blanc better. Both are good though, so I don't want someone reading this to think Noir is a slacker fig.
 
As Sas said it is the grand finale of the season. 

In my yard, it is second only to Preto in flavor.

How about Col de Dame Bordissotenca? Any review on this variety?
 

SAS:

CdD Gris is very Vigorous from what you're showing in the photos.

Thank you mfehmi for starting this thread and forum members for all the great information. Looks like CdDB or CdD Blanca/Negra is going on my list.

A lot of great members here sharing excellent information about CdD. Thank you all guys!!!

Here, CDD Blanc very bright berry taste and very resistant to rain. CDD Noir not as berry tasting, but very good, just a little different. Eye seems more open. Both very late and take a lot of heat. CDD is a little smaller than Black Madeira here and Black Madeira still the taste champ for fresh eating.  
CDD Noir cdd noir.JPG 
CDD Blanc cdd blanc.JPG 

3 Black Madeira and CDD Noir 3 bm 1 cdd noir.JPG 


Quote:
Originally Posted by scott_ga

Here, CDD Blanc very bright berry taste and very resistant to rain. CDD Noir not as berry tasting, but very good, just a little different. Eye seems more open. Both very late and take a lot of heat. CDD is a little smaller than Black Madeira here and Black Madeira still the taste champ for fresh eating.  
CDD Noir cdd noir.JPG 
CDD Blanc cdd blanc.JPG 

3 Black Madeira and CDD Noir 3 bm 1 cdd noir.JPG 



Thanks for the pics. CDD Blanc interior looks dark crimson and Noir looks lighter red to my eyes. Is the color true to life or is it the lighting?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sas
FYI, when it comes to flavor, the closest fig to Col de Dame I found, is the store bought Panache from California.  


Great assessment, Sas...

At the UCD Fig Tasting last month, there was a placard next to the Panache offering, which stated that all of their research to date has led to them to believe that Panache is a Rimada within the CdD family. 

Hi,
As for using feminine or masculine, just lets use a reference for that: Baud . He uses masculine so
Col de dame Blanc
Col de dame Noir
Col de dame Gris

Panaché is from the strain Bourjassotte.
You could probably try to grow bourjassotte noir.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sas
For comparison purposes the first picture is of Col de Dame Blanc, the second Noir and the third Gris.
They are all almost the same age. You could see the difference in size between the Gris and the Blanc or Noir. These fall pictures of the trees were taken earlier today.


What a good size and shape to the Gris.

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