This is a great fig. It taste nothing like Black Maderia. It is a great tasting fig though. Not much heat in my area. We are having Fall like weather but this fig did ripen. It was a 7 on a 10 scale. It will get better over time. This fig is NOT hardy at all. Enjoy.

Mine was a 10, Thanks for posting, we have a lot of dry heat over here. Mine had a grape / hawaiian punch flavor

That looks amazing! Is the hardiness comparable to your black mission?

Thanks for sharing....and for using the correct name in the thread title. ;)  (been a subject of discussion, in case you missed it!)

  Thank you for sharing the photos .  Most of the yearling figs I'm growing, I have never seen.  Pictures are very much appreciated.

Nice

THX Dennis.

SoniSoni,
What do you want pictures of?

Looks nice!  Mine were good this year while most of my others had little flavor because of the weather.  Smith was great last year and tasteless this year.  Figo Preto was good.

Thanks Dennis.  Mine should be swelling any day now.

It may taste like a 7 Dennis, but looks much better. Lots of green figs on my Pretos, this is the first year of production for me. It's sad to hear it has no cold hardiness. I plan to keep them in the ground, but will do what I can to protect them. My Pretos look very much like my Black Maderia, thanks for your observation.

Mike in Hanover, VA

@ Dennis 
if lampo heard you say that its not the same fig, he would freak out... LOL
thanks for the info. Dennis

I agree Dennis,

My Preto is producing it's fool head off this year, my 2 Black Madeiras, nothing ripe yet, trees at least as old as Preto, same conditions. Not proof positive but a good indicator that they are different  

They are different as to the disease or lack of they have.
If both of them will be totally healthy,then they will be identical.
So far Preto is healthier and ,for the same reason get ripe earlier.

I lost both last winter, they do not like the cold at all. They don't die back they die period! The last thing I need is another high maintenance fig I already have a high maintenance wife :) It's lovely fig none the less and for those with warmer weather I'd say go for it. 

Herman, if Preto and Black Madeira taste different, how can they be the same? Black Madeira being better tasting yet fmv infected. That doesn't make sense.

The picture colors does not do justice to this fig. It has much awesome looking colors than what the picture could show.

BTW, Jon and another reliable collecter did indicate to me years ago that BM & Preto are either similar or are very close. Preto is awesome in all respects apart from being a late ripener for my zone.

It make sense to me because ,they did not ripe in the same time,they had different climates at the ripening time,like,for example:
Atlantic coast climate:
Black Madeira got ripe in October and the climate was warm and dry,
Preto was ripening in September ,when a lot of rain and sauna type humid days were present.
Of course they will not taste the same Black Madeira will be delicious while Preto will be watery,and bland.
If the plants would have been grown in Fresno Ca.,side by side,then they would have tasted the same.as the climate would have been steady warm and dry,allowing both figs to ripe properly,in proper climate.

I'm talking about trees in the same yard, same conditions. I live in Atlantic area and October is cooler which usually means less tasty figs than those ripening in heat. I am convinced that while they are similar there are differences. Dennis is saying his Preto is ripening now as is mine and mine has been ripening for almost a month. My Black Madeira trees are not near ready to ripen. I know fmv can slow plants down, but this much difference in ripening must be more than an fmv issue. 

Dennis Statement:  !Not much heat in my area. We are having Fall like weather but this fig did ripen. It was a 7 on a 10 scale.
Preto fig was ripening ,for Dennis in cool weather.
Dennis compare it to a Black Madeira that got ripe in hot dry weather.
Then he compare them as taste wise,and they are different.
Of course they are.
Climate at the time of ripening,makes them different tasting. 

Guess you can argue it that way, but I don't see where Dennis tells when his BM ripened, maybe we should ask him and also ask him to expand on why he feels they're different. I'm convinced they are different due to taste and ripening time. Weather conditions certainly can effect taste also, I'll agree with that, but the ripening times vary too greatly to be the same,  fmv notwithstanding  

OK ,I welcome  Dennis ,chime in ,because I do remember well when Dennis, Black Madeira got ripe a few years ago ,and it was in nice hot weather.
He posted ripe Madeira black ,pixies from his trees.
Fig mosaic disease, changes the way a plant grow and fruits.

I have black madeira need a few preto cuttings to get started or I can trade for a small plant. Im in fresno could clear this up.

Mike, if you keep it in the ground, you're going to have to double protect it.  Over the past 10 years, I've lost 2 Black Maderia and 2 Figo Pretos.  Our PRE-winter comes twice in November with temps dropping to 25 degrees.   I had 3 Figo Preto and under a test, I left 2 out in November unprotected-- but brought it in December.  Guess what?  It was too late.  It died.

What I recommend to those who are wondering if these 2 cultivars are the same is to do what I did.  Grow them for yourself side by side.  I was told that when I first came to the forum and that's what I do today.  My Black Maderia has quite a few more figs on it but they are no were ripe.  My Figo Preto figs are riping now!  Are they the same fig?  In my opinon, no.  BUT they are very much related.  Others might disagree and that's fine.  I will not say they are the same.  It will be labeled the same way I got it.  I'm sure FP is an excellent tasting fig, but not this year.  It just needs a lot more heat in my roller coastal hot humid weather.  In 2009 and 2010, BM was super excellent and taste like no other fig out there.  I need another year like 09 and 10 for a true comparsion.

And get this....my BM is  older than my FP by about 4 yrs!

@ Dennis 
hello my friend.
do you have any greek figs?