Among the dozen or so in ground figs we are testing for cold hardiness, Danny's Delight was our best tasting fig for 2012. Which came as a complete surprise. We are in a zone 5b/6a part of Connecticut. We decided to try and track down cuttings of it about 3 years ago, after reading that it had been discovered in a zone 5b/6a, in Michigan.

The more we read about Danny' delight the more confusing it was, in trying to figure out were the real Danny's Delight might be. We learned that it was originally purchased wholesale from  Hartman's Nursery, by a grower who repackaged 100 of them and then sold them to other growers.

Then we started reading different evaluations of it. Some growers said it was a green fig that was a dude. Some said it was a shy bearing fig. Then some growers reported that it was a dark fig and bore heavy crops. After sending out a lot of emails we felt we had maybe, finally located the right one.

After growing it for two years we asked a well known fig expert to identify it. He Identified it as the fig that Hartman had originally sold as Danny' Delight. Still not certain as to what it would be like we kept only one plant, and sold the other rooted plants. Explaining to customers that we thought it was Danny's Delight. But, could not be certain that it would be as cold hardy as it was listed.

Now after three years, what we do know is that it has been identified as the fig that was once sold by Hartman's Nursery, as Danny's Delight. It's a very heavy bearing fig. It had 80 figs on a three year old plant. It starts to bear heavily after three years in ground. In 2012, it had ripe fruit about three to four days before Marseilles Black VS. It's a dark fig. Seems to be very resistant to FMV. Lastly, I wish we had kept more of the plants. So far ,it is among the best tasting cold hardy figs I have ever tasted.

Now all we have to do is to confirm if it's as cold hardy as it has been advertised, minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit to minus 6 degrees Fahrenheit.

So far, it has survived minus 11 Degrees Fahrenheit, and minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, planted outside with winter protection. We bend it to the ground and cover it with soil and then a sheet of insulation. Although, it's first winter it was killed to the soil line. Then in it's second and third winter it suffered no die back.

I would rate Danny's Delight as a number 10 for taste, and a must have for any one trying to grow figs in a cold part of the country, through maybe a zone 6b. That is, If it's planted in a protected spot away from winter winds, and in a spot that does not retain a lot of water.

We will be sending cuttings to Jon for future distribution, and hope to have a big enough supply of cuttings to sell, by fall of 2013.

Bob Zone 5b/6a Connecticut 



 

Bob, thanks for the interesting information on Danny's Delight. I'm curious how you would compare the taste to Hardy Chicago & MVS. I realize that taste is subjective but I think a comparison would be usefull for growers who have limited space and want to avoid figs that taste very similar.

Thanks,
 Peter

Very good info Robert .
Any pics ?

John

Peter, when I first started looking for figs that would do good here, the first thing I would ask is what does it taste like. Most growers had a problem explaining what different figs tasted like.

I now have the same problem, once I got beyond looking for figs that had a honey and fig taste. I also, only wanted figs that had a fig taste, and or honey and fig taste.

Danny's Delight does not taste anything like Hardy Chicago. Or at least the Hardy Chicago we have. Hardy Chicago is only good here, when rain has been light for the summer. Then it is a good fig. This year Hardy Chicago was nothing special. But, then I really don't think that everything out there that is being called Hardy Chicago, is in fact the original Hardy Chicago.

So far our Hardy Chicago and Danny's Delight looks like they are going to have about the same cold hardiness. In that case I would select Danny's Delight over Hardy Chicago, for taste alone. Plus, it seems to be able to handle wet soil better. 

For me, our Danny's Delight taste a lot better then Hardy Chicago and better then Marseilles Black VS. I like the taste of our Hardy Chicago, when it ripens during a dry summer. But, the summer of 2012 was one of the wettest summers we have every had.  Our Hardy Chicago was twice as large as it was during dry summers. With all that water the taste was okay. Since Marseilles Black VS, has only been in ground here for three years it, it could simply need more time to taste as good as Danny's Delight.

I was planning on having more pictures of Danny's Delight. But, my wife's sister and her husband stopped in the same time Danny's Delight was ripening. So I thought  I would get his opinion. Since he was born and raised in the south. Then before I realized it he had eaten most of them, stating that it was a really good fig for a northern grown fig, and that it was one of the best figs he had ever tasted.

But, back to an attempt to try and describe what it taste like. To me, sweet mulberry juice mixed with sweet Pomegranate juice???. Up until I tasted Danny's Delight, I thought that I would not like any fig that was not super sweet and had a strong fig taste This fig changed my mind.

John, I will post pictures, if I can figure out how to reduce the MB size of the pictures.

Bob zone 5b/6a Connecticut 

Bob,
   Had that same problem with trying to reduce MB size in order to post a picture on the Forum. Then my son came in the office and in about 3 seconds he had the problem solved and my picture posted. I still don't know what he did, or how he did it....."very embarassing".
   When you put those Danny's Delight cuttings up for sale in Fall of 2013 I would like to make a purchase. Will you post a notice on the Forum?  Thanks for the info on that wonderful fig tree.
                                                                 Regards,
                                                       

Great work!!
PLEASE count me in for cuttings.

Bob ,
How would you compare it overall to your Hardy Hartford ?

Kerry, I think it might be about the same in cold hardiness as Hardy Hartford.

But, not in taste. Hardy Hartford is a zone 6b fig.

But, for your location, and my location I would not recommend Hardy Hartford for any part of zone 5. That is, for any one wanting to grow figs without winter protection in a zone 5

Bob zone 5b/6a

To decrease picture size

Open paint in Windows accessories
 
Fiel - open - search for picture wanted and double click.

click on Image along the top - click on resize/ske  - in the pop up window resize % of Horizontal and Vertical the same amount and click OK  When it looks about 4x6 on the screen it will be small enough for forum to accept.

Good Luck!!

Thanks for the post Bob,
Danny's Delight sounds like it would be worth trying in Ontario.
While I enjoyed a variety of potted figs this summer, I really want to get a few good ones that I can plant in ground
to enjoy an easier and more bountiful harvest.

There are only three figs that I'm aware of that might succeed in a Canadian zone 5 location, without winter protection. Hanc's English Brown Turkey, Marseilles Black VS, and LaRadek's English Brown Turkey.

All three have been reported to be have taken temperatures as low as minus 18 to 19 degrees Fahrenheit. we have not had our three  long enough to grow unprotected, for the winter. Our oldest is Marseilles Black VS., at three years old. It has another two years before we can leave it unproteced for the winter, for testing.

Adriano's nursery in Canada has LaRadek's, and I would think there should be some Canadian growers who have had Marseilles Black VS, long enough to have extra cuttings, if you ask on this forum.

Getting the real Hanc's Englsih Brown Turkey, might be more difficult, since it has gotten confused with Miller's Brown Turkey.

Thanks for the advise JoAnn.

Hope this helps.

Bob zone 5/6b Connecticut

Bob, if you have the picture on the web, send me a link and I'll post it.

Thanks Rob, for the extra suggestions. I'm working on wish list for 2014 season.
I received MB vs cuttings from a generous forum member this past winter, and now have one protected in-ground,
and one in a pot.
I don't mind giving some winter protection.
Biggest concern would be ripening in a relatively short summer.
Climate zones are a bit misleading since they refer to average minimum winter temps, Vancouver area is a zone 7 or 8 in places, but here, a zone 5b-6a depending on the map, the summers are hotter and dryer.