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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Could you tell which one is a Preto and which one is a Black Madeira(UCD)?
 
 


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Sas

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Just picked two ripe figs. One from my Preto in pot and the other one from my in ground miniature Black Madeira (UCD) tree( the only one this season).

Guess which is which and which one tasted better.
I will shortly comment on the slight differences between the two.

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Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B
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Figgysid1

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
I shall guess the one on the left is Preto and the other is Black Madeira (UCD). And Preto tasted better I hope.. :)
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vito12831

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
I guess the same as Figgysid1.
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Rewton

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
I grew both the UCD Black Madeira and Figo Preto side-by-side to maturity and got a large number of figs off of each.  The figs (and the leaves) were indistinguishable, to me anyway.
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Sas

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
First of all my Preto is in pot while the Black Madeira is in ground.
They tasted almost the same and I really had a tough time telling the difference.
The one on the right (bottom in second photo) is the Black Madeira.
Here are the differences from observation so far.
Black Madeira leaves grow denser and currently are smaller than the a Preto.
The Black Madeira when ripe is firmer with a tight eye and formed a drop of honey while the Preto (after three ripening figs in a row) was softer with an exploding eye. I'm not sure whether this widening eye or splitting is due to excess watering or just a characteristic of ripening.
The Preto is a much faster grower than the Black Madeira (UCD).
Which one would I grow? For faster results, productivity and in pot I would go with the Preto. For a Better looking fig in ground and despite slow growth and an uphill battle, my vote goes to the Black Madeira. We had five days of heavy rain and that fig refused to split. However this choice would be for hot regions and the very patient gardener that has other varieties which allows him the luxury to wait for many years in order to hopefully achieve the desired results.

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Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B
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jdsfrance

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Hi Sas,
I thought Portuguese knew their colors better than UC-DAVIS :) LOL ... And thought the dark to be the Preto.
But since Preto is in a pot, the comparison is not that fair. Perhaps she gets less sun too, and that would explain the lighter skin.

Since Black Madeira is a late ripening cultivar and she is in the ground, it is surprising to see her ripen fruits at this time of the year.
Have you tried the Preto in ground ?
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fignutty

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Growing conditions have a huge effect on fig fruits. Pot vs ground is apples vs oranges. The fact that the fruits were still similar says a lot, but I'm not sure what...LOL. This yr in pots both of mine are growing rapidly. In ground the BM is outgrowing FP. Next yr it might all change.

Thank you for the report..!!
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Herman2

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
How could i tell the difference when both trees are the same cultivar , of different origin!
Sas

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
The leaves made me question whether they were different.I must agree, except for occasional splitting, which could be due to environmental conditions, I could not see any significant difference between the two fruits.
Just had two more Pretos ripening and these ones did not split. I reduced the watering the last couple of days.


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Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B
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Frankallen

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Hey Sas, Thanks so much for your observations! I guess the jury is still out. Both for sure
has beautiful and tasty fruit! Very nice photos. : )
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