How many Malta Blacks are there?

Author

Comment

binbin9

Registered:1387923330
Posts: 221

Posted 1460498117	Reply with quote #1

So I need some clarification. Last year I got a Malta Black from a local source here in WA. He got it from Herman originally. My Malta Black. Its the tiny one on the left. Malta Black from a European Forum. This thing is huge! The 2nd photo is clearly not the same fig. Perhaps somewhere down the road some folks gave 2 different figs the same name because they came out of the same area? Does anyone have experience with the larger Malta Black? __________________ Renton, WA My Seattle Garden Blog \| Fig Addiction WISH LIST: Genovese Nero Rafeds \| UCR 187-25 \| Black Tuscan \| Black Triana \| Jack Lilly \| Barbillone \| St Rita \| Tauro \| Jin Ao Fen \| Lampeira Preto \| Any fig over 100grams =)

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1460507689	Reply with quote #2

I just collected the one that originates from Herman2 because it seemed like the one I already have is indistinguishable from a Mt. Etna type. I'm looking forward to making the comparison. I am pretty sure the Malta Black in the U.S. originated from the Belleclare nursery, or at least they are the ones that popularized it. __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

figpig_66

Registered:1416870358
Posts: 2,678

Posted 1460508670 · Edited	Reply with quote #3

I read that malta black is a parent to celeste. Dont remember for sure. I like the big malta that ben showed us . If you have to wait for a fig to ripen it might as well be big . ;) Ben thats a sad little malta you got there. Lol __________________ RICHIE BONI HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity Wish list. Col de dame blanc Col de rimada Lsu numbered figs

binbin9

Registered:1387923330
Posts: 221

Posted 1460515216	Reply with quote #4

Quote: Originally Posted by figpig_66 I read that malta black is a parent to celeste. Dont remember for sure. I like the big malta that ben showed us . If you have to wait for a fig to ripen it might as well be big . ;) Ben thats a sad little malta you got there. Lol lol Yeah it's a bit runtish. I had others bigger but just couldnt find a photo of it. The other black one next to it was a takoma violet. Now that tree was highly productive and very good! __________________ Renton, WA My Seattle Garden Blog \| Fig Addiction WISH LIST: Genovese Nero Rafeds \| UCR 187-25 \| Black Tuscan \| Black Triana \| Jack Lilly \| Barbillone \| St Rita \| Tauro \| Jin Ao Fen \| Lampeira Preto \| Any fig over 100grams =)

Herman2

Registered:1189809424
Posts: 2,625

Posted 1460519879 · Edited	Reply with quote #5

My Malta Black Came from George Michaleff,in North Jersey,and he bought the tree from Belleclare Nursery in NY. To Bin Bin:Your pix show a fruit that is ,the right color,but not the right size and shape. I assume you got a very young tree and that fruit is ,the first fruit,or the tree is very small growing in a greenhouse. My Malta Black fruits are much larger tho occasionally it does make a small one mixed with larger ones as per this pix; You can see the little one in my hand,and every other one is larger. Malta Black is not Celeste is ,way a better plant,and is not MT Etna fig tho is just as robust and cold resistant. It is much better while ripening during rain,compared to Mt Etna type figs. Delicious ,with dark red interior,this fig is priceless. The fruits from European forum are what is known here in the US as Sicilian Black JR. Attached Images Malta_Blackfrts.JPG (137.53 KB, 73 views)

figpig_66

Registered:1416870358
Posts: 2,678

Posted 1460594972	Reply with quote #6

I also see they wrinkle up nicely on the tree. A great trate to have. I had cuttings that didnt make it but will do some trading and get them again. My trees got a huge head start this year. The malta black is almost a chocolate color instead of black. Nice pics hermen. . __________________ RICHIE BONI HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity Wish list. Col de dame blanc Col de rimada Lsu numbered figs

GreenFin

Registered:1331268315
Posts: 684

Posted 1460598932	Reply with quote #7

I have the same strain as Herman2, and agree with what he said. I'd describe it as a better version of Hardy Chicago: it looks similar, but seems a step up in terms of quality. So whereas I'd consider Mt. Etnas to be about 8/10 on a taste scale, my Malta Black is a 9/10. The taste isn't just better, it's a little different (maybe a hint of black licorice? and maybe an extra 'smoothness' to the flavor?). The Malta Black figs also seem slightly larger than my Mt. Etna figs. My in-ground outdoor Mt. Etnas make better figs than my greenhouse Mt. Etnas, and my potted greenhouse Malta Black figs are on par with those in-ground outdoor Mt. Etnas. __________________ James, zone 6a Kansas (zone 10 greenhouses); wish list is in my profile http://www.FigCuttings.com

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,364

Posted 1460599263	Reply with quote #8

My Malta black came from Herman2, in the form of cutting. it still has not produced, I got it because it was described on this forum. By knowing my source although the name is not an official name, It becomes easy for me to identify or describe the variety. If I ever get another Malta fig it would have to be Malta something else. I try to always label my figs correctly. __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

paully22

Registered:1195324538
Posts: 2,719

Posted 1460606406	Reply with quote #9

@Greenfin -- experience similar issues with green house grown figs -- not only GH grown figs not tasting as good as in-ground ones, their color is not as appealing.

binbin9

Registered:1387923330
Posts: 221

Posted 1460656667	Reply with quote #10

The tree is actually about 4ft tall with decent branching, I think its about 2-3 yrs old at the time. I definitely had better figs off it but that was the only photo I could find unfortunately. It's a terrible representation of the actual fig. Herman's Photo is more true to size. I'll be sure to document some new photos this year. Ben __________________ Renton, WA My Seattle Garden Blog \| Fig Addiction WISH LIST: Genovese Nero Rafeds \| UCR 187-25 \| Black Tuscan \| Black Triana \| Jack Lilly \| Barbillone \| St Rita \| Tauro \| Jin Ao Fen \| Lampeira Preto \| Any fig over 100grams =)

Previous Topic | Next Topic