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Improved Celeste Breba got ripe,now pix:

This is not O 'Rourke  Improved Celeste.
It is Improved indeed because the dropping fruit gene was bred out,and is larger in size,but is not O'Rourke improved.
Tree had only one but it is only 3 years old so ,I think is remarkably early,the earliest in this location,for an in ground tree.

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  • PHD

Herman,
 How did it taste? was it comparable to other celeste?
 
  Thanks,
   Pete

Did not cut it off yet.
Judging from last year breba ,it tasted very good,just like regular Celeste main crop.
And they are 1/3 larger than regular Celeste.
Here is a pix from last year.
Of course last year they were not this early,but more in line with other early figs.
The first fig in top of this pix is a Breba last year.
I am not sure if it is 3 or 4 years old now,but it is still a small 2 foot tall plant.
All I am happy about it is that this one does not drop figs without reason,like other Celeste.
I know in other climates Regular Celeste does not drop any figs but in mine it did,and I tried about 4-6 different variants.
Edit Note:
I went and measured it ,and it is 3 foot tall round bush!

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Herman, we have one strong growing plant of Improved Celeste from cuttings we purchased from you, last year. It's already two feet or more, and appears to be a very strong growing, healthy plant.


Have you been able to determine whether the improved Celeste is more or less cold hardy then the regular Celeste?

From what I have read, regular Celeste is hardy to around O degrees Fahrenheit.
Are you aware of any of the cuttings you have sold of this Improved Celeste, being grown any where in the country where it has endured temperatures lower then 0 degrees Fahrenheit, without winter protection?

Bob - Zone 5 Connecticut

Robert:I do not know how hardy it is,but it is reasonably hardy.
You can find out,as it should be more cold in your climate than in mine.

This Year 2013,My Improved Celeste ,only now has the first fruit getting ripe,and it is June 29.
The figs are retarded at least one week,compared to last year due to Cool Spring,we had.
So the ripening time varies about,one week to 10 days from one year to the other.

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Thanks for the update...
I have 3 different "Improved Celeste" from nurseries and none look anything like yours. Can you comment on the source of your plant?

<edit> The Improved Celeste which I currently have are very productive, they are keepers. Only time will tell if they will be as productive and as early as your strain. I will be trying Florea hopefully next season.

Thanks..

Pete:I got ,this plant from George M,in North Jersey,and he called it ,Improved Celeste,O'Rourke Not.
By The way,I added a pix of the breba fruit today,getting ripe,but not ready yet.
I really like it,and ,think of it as being as early as Florea,and no others are as early as these 2.

herman to clarify improved celeste breba is as early as florea main crop? which tastes better?

My Climate is ,not ideal for Florea,because the rain are the worse in July here when Florea get ripe.
So here in my Garden,Improved Celeste makes better tasting fruits compared to Florea,Breba or main crop,both are better.
In other climates,Florea is way much better tasting,and if grown next to Florea,it might not be better.
It is all about the climate.

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