Here is Gino's .It is dark enough but not totally ripe,when ripe it become totally black.
Improved Celeste also become more Violett when totally ripe but I can't leave them any more because the Catbirds are putting a hole in them every time now that only a few are ripe.
Inside Gino is very dark red,and Improved Celeste is Pink.
To Date I had main crop ripe from:
Marseilles vs blak 07 30
Improved Celeste 08 05
Gino's Fig           08-05-2010
Today I installed net over my little Improved Celeste,so that cat bird will not damage it anymore!

Those look very nice Herman. I've got to remember to buy some cuttings of the Gino's this Winter from you. I've got Improved Celeste from JR and a small O'Rourke from Bass. Thanks for the pictures and the time frame for ripening---I assume they may ripen at an earlier date here. Am I on track with that statement?

Yes absolutelly,they will ripe 2 weeks earlier at least in your place.
I would also like to say that improved Celeste is Delicious,and it did not drop one fig from the 20 it has in third year.
It is no bigger than a Bush bean.
About Gino I will also say one word :Delicioso+

Herman, I did not know Gino's got that dark!  I've been picking mine too soon!  I got 9 or so more figs and moved the containter over to my deck with bird netting.  this time, I'll let it stay on until it gets black and then try it.  This fall I plan on planting Gino's in the ground.  Dennis

Herman,
Here are some old pics from my (SSE - GA IN C 06) "Improved Celeste".
I had told you that I had lost the mama; but now it IS coming back!
[I c that you are air-layering a couple of shoots.]
For some reason, the skin is darker.
[I believe that yours came from me.]
I do remember that the fruit was sweet.
From the leaf shape it is clear that this one is not the "O'Rourke"
one, though I pretty am sure that it was bred by Dr. O'R himself.

Also, the Gino fig you gave me is doing great, thanks.

My IC fruit and leaf:

George ,I am sure it is the same fig,but mine in the pix is not fully ripe.
I have a problem with Catbirds going after this cultivar specifically.
The last damaged one today was damaged with the net on.
It went in and out trough a little opening under the net base.
They are super super tasty to me,a very desirable cultivar,and it does not drop fruits at all.

...thanks herman. My tree has at least 6 Gino's & I hope airlayering the greenwood is a success for a lucky friend.

Herman, thanks for the information. The Gino's is at the top of my want list.

Hi Herman.  Hope you are well my friend.

That Gino looks beautiful, a real winner.  And a must have for next year's list.

I got some Celeste cuttings from you this Spring.  They are doing very well thank you.  In fact all of the cuttings we got from you are doing great.  Most are up to 3 feet tall starting from cuttings in Spring.

Do you happen to recall whether the Celeste cuttings your sent were regular Celeste, improved Celeste or some other strain?

I'm putting together a little book with as many details as I can find about each variety we are growing so I will remember in the future if others ask.

Hope you are having a good summer.

Best wishes.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b

Jon:I was selling cuttings from My older Celeste selections,that I was pleased with them in the past,as being with larger fruits or not dropping as bad as other regular Celeste I grew and discarded.
I do not remember to have been sold Improved CEleste cuttings because the tree is small,and if I did sel one kit or 2 I specified it as :Improved Celeste(not O rourke).
If it was not specified then it was not from this Improved Celeste.
This Celeste is as good tasting as Regular Celeste,But in Bad adverse rainy condition,it does lose flavor,while Non improved Celeste does not.
So you see one grower has to have non improved Celeste (Original),too,so it decide for himself what he likes better.

Bump (RE: IC/O'R fig).

Here is my thinking:
Dr O'R bred the Celeste fig to "Improve" it.
He ended up with a few good tasting fig
offsprings that were dubbed as "Improved Celeste".

ONE of them was recently selected/chosen and
released by LSU as the "O'Rourke", in honor of
his name. According to their document, it is
supposed to be the one with very finger-like leaves.

The others are just (good tasting) ICs.
 
Switch to/See:  O'Rourke fig and leaves
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