I thought I would create a thread dedicated to this.  I see there is another thread for "Gino's fig", but it doesn't look black, so I'm not sure if it's the same variety.

I must say, with roundabout some effort, I picked up some of H2's Gino's Black cuttings.  Out of the dozen or so varieties of cuttings of the first batch this year, Gino's Black has been the absolute fastest/best rooter of the bunch.  The only one that has been nearly as good is Negronne and Hardy Chicago.  I expect to see some "monster" roots within the next 2-3 weeks at the rate it is going.

I am eager to see what will happen with this.  I hope to keep this thread updated in the process.  Will take pictures as we go.

Great for you !
Its weird some scion rootd easy for me some a real pain, my hardy chicago was always a real slow slow rooter. Glad its all working out for you cause its sure fun watching them roots suddenly appear then the transplant working and my favorite the tiny cute leaves emergeing.

Congrats Jason. You have "fig" fingers.

Info on Gino is very limited. I am sure happy to see a thread started for it.  Heard Gino is another superb variant with good news that it may even be great for my zone. Another superb find by H2. Any idea on this variant productivity.

Jason:Gino's fig Has a ripe fig,that is very similar in taste,size color,etc,with Violette de Bordeaux.
It is different,in Leaf shape.
Also different in needs.
It needs much less heat to get ripe,never sour,never cracks or splits during rain,as Violette does.
So it is relyable every year,unlike Violette.
You should grow both of them for supertasty figs,and find out the difference in taste,because I might not be good enough in noticing a difference.
And decide for yourself,wich is better.
In my climate with rain at time of getting ripe Gino is better.
But once in a while like every three years Violette makes some supertasty,figs I can't live without.
So I keep both.
You have seen picture of Gino Taken in last 2 years when the Sommer was extra cold here so that is why they do not look black or dark blue.
Color is the first is gone when lack of hit is the problem.
Gino was out of Color tha last 2 years but it was almost just as tasty as in 2007,when they were totally black.
H2

Herman, thanks much for your constant good fig evaluation
for us up-north fig people. However, me being nuts about fig
names, I  wonder if you (or Gino) have any more back-traced
source/origin info about this good fig.

Hi George:No This fig does not come from Gino,But.
It Came from William Class, a Gardener in New Jersey,who I traded with a good number,May be 6 yrs ago.
It came under Gino's fig name so I kept it this way.
It  superior in taste,and more productive than Hardy Chicago,and I like it better than Marseilles vs,if it will resist to the cold,like Marseilles black does.
It is Darker inside,outside,compared to both.
I can call the inside purple,so dark it is.
And beats both of them if getting ripe in Havy rain.

H2

Hi Herman, I was curious about the comparisons between Gino's fig and Violette De Bordeaux.Are you talking about the VDB from Raintree or Edible Landscaping.Also thanks to William Class for finding and sharing such a Gem.
             Stay Well,
                   Anthony

All of this is good news to read.  I have two more cuttings of Gino's Black which are not quite ready.  One shows signs it will be ready by end of week; the other looks as if it may not produce.  I should have at least two viable plants from the cuttings I'd received.

Thanks for starting this thread Jason.

I also ended up with a couple of H2's Gino Black cuttings (among others) in a trade. Thank you Herman2. The cuttings look great. I have a number of others that seem to be rooting faster but I did pot up my first Gino cutting yesterday. It had one good root about 1/2" long.

The Marseilles VS and Stella have proven to put out roots much sooner than the Gino. More abundant roots as well. I also potted/cupped up one VdB.  So, most of them are looking really good H2. Thanks again!

Any additional info on the Gino Black is much welcome from me. 

I have been having usual problems in Marseilles VS, it was not an easy rooter for me.  I think I may get a couple cuttings to survive, but I am not holding my breath right now.  Negronne rooted well, so did Sal's (Gene) and two of my 5-6 Hardy Chicago cuttings (the other 3-4 cuttings just won't go).

J,

What are the 'usual' problems with Marseilles VS?

Supposedly "Hard to root". "Hardest to root cultivar".  Etc.

Obviously, in reading the edit on the last post, i thought I was having the same experience others have complained of, but I'm happy MBVS is easier to root than a lot of others.  Just for laughs, when I got my first batch of Sal's (EL/Gene's),  had 2/3 act as if they would root.  The third, I potted anyway.  The first two took off!  The third....nothing.  so, finally, after 6 weeks of nothing, I risked carefully removing from the pot, only to find zero roots!  I put it back in the baggie, where it stayed for 2 months (!!!!) before it finally started roots.  I pulled out, potted again, and the roots have exploded ;)  Just goes to show you ... patience, patience, patience.

I guess I should count my blessings then.

I've potted up 2 of my 5 Mars. VS cuttings (all from H2) so far. One of the 2 I put in a small pot that isn't clear so I can't see what the roots are doing. But it sure is putting on some pretty baby leaves :-). The other one is in a cut-off 20 oz soda bottle and I just noticed earlier that some roots are starting to show through. A third cutting has some 1"+ roots on it and is still in the bag w/ sphagnum.

So, I'm having good success so far. Don't know if it will last but all I can do is keep giving it my best shot and see what happens.

I'm taking a few pics lately so I'll try to get some more posted soon.

I also had good luck with my Black Marseilles vs hopefully I didnt speak to soon but they both rooted rather quick one has started to push out a little fig lol. This Gino's fig looks promising though anyone have pics of this fig?

Hi Antonio:I am talking about Being similar in size ,shape structure with The real Violette de Bordeaux,from EL.
Of course it is a different cultivar if you look at the leaves.
But it is similar in qualities and much better in adaptation,to adverse climate.
And yes Your Violette de Bordeaux from Raintree,is Identical to Gino's fig,i have no doubt at all at this time.
I no Wonder Why Raintree sold it to you as Violette de Bordeaux,and I think they Honestly tought it is Violette de Bordeaux.
Yet The true Violette de Bordeaux,and the real one is the Specimen That E Landsc. sold in The past,and in present I hope.
Best Regards
H2

Here are some pics of 3 of my newly (2009/2010) rooted cuttings of Gino's Black, for reference.  I promised some pics as I go up there, so here are a few.

A couple of the plants shown here are also in a picture a few posts up, you should be able to pick them off.  The pics below are 3 months later.  Same cups.  Same mix.  Same everything. 

Jason,

Nice pics. I'm glad to see that you got those cuttings to root. You're having better luck than me so far :)

So I'm trying to make sense of what has been posted so far in this thread. It looks like Gino's and VDB have been confused with each other. The VDB sold by Raintree is really Gino's. The VDB sold by EL is the true VDB.

But what about the VDB that UCDavis has? Is that one also the same as Gino's? To me the leaves of Gino's look very different than the leaves of VDB.

Joe

The UCD Violette is the same cultivar as EL,Violette but has a much worse case of FMV,possible different strain,of FMV.
To Antonio:Gino's fig,has figs very similar like EL,Violette but leaves,adaptability health,is different and better.

Thanks for the clarification.

Joe

Thanks all for the good information on the variety.
While reading the thread from start to bottom, I thought `Gino`and Gino Black`were different. Mid-way, after Herman`s post, I understood that the two were not different. The discussion that followed continued referring to both names.
Then I search this forum using `Gino`and `Gino Black` and found 26 threads(37 posts) with `Gino`and 10 threads (13 posts) with `Gino Black`.

This makes me ask again if both names refer to the same fig variety.

Also, with so much interest in it, it has earned its place on varietal pages in the future updates.

We got a "VDB" from Raintree Nursery last Spring.

It grew like a weed and fruited pretty well, just a few, but they were fantastic in flavor, almost "sparkling" in texture and taste.

Above Herman noted: "Your Violette de Bordeaux from Raintree,is Identical to Gino's fig,i have no doubt at all at this time" and ours may be also.  It did not split at all even after heavy rains, so it may be Gino's also.

Either way, it is an excellent fig, and should be even better as it matures.

Best wishes to all.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b

Jason, those are some nice looking plants. I recently received some from H also, but have a ways to go before roots. I hope they do as well as yours. Re: the Marseilles Black VS, I bought some from H  several years ago and while they took a little longer, they all rooted 100%.. Great thread.

Hi John:I grew Both Gino's fig and Violette de Bordeaux from Raintree to this point in time,and I can say,that thow they may be similar as fruits shape,size color ,taste,etc,
They were not identical in cold tolerance.
The plant from Raintree is much less cold tolerant compared with Gino's from Bill Class in NJ.

Cathy, that looks like the rather unique leaf of a VdB. 

Thank you Herman.  Good to know.  The better cold tolerance with the NJ Gino's would be helpful even here, as we sometimes have some real winter weather, including 12 inches of snow this winter and temperatures in the teens many nights.

Thank you for the great research you are doing on figs Herman.  You are helping thousands to grow figs better now, and in the future, helping millions in enjoying the very best tasting and nutritious figs.

And great thread Jason.  Thanks.

Best wishes to all.

John