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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > It's RAINING FIGS in the Carolinas!!!!!
 
 


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snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Well this day has come and I am busting with joy!  I wasn't going to post these pics because some will say I am bragging even though I am not.  I am just freaking HAPPY!  Every day since last week's heat spell, it has been raining figs in my orchard and pots!  I have been so busy with my irrigation system, orchard maintenance, and repots trees that I haven't had time to post any pictures or answer emal.  Eli, I will respond....just give me some time please.  This is my birthday month (6 days and counting)and I am trying to celebrate daily!  And with all the different varieties I have---they are ripening now except for a few late comers!

Every day, I am picking figs and thanking God!  Its been a long 4 years watching and learning how figs grow and their soil.  Down South we have a saying.....when you have a garden and when the veggies are ready to pick, we say....."the beans are coming in"....or the squash are coming in".  Well, guess what?  "THE FIGS ARE COMING IN!"  Here is a list of what I have been picking the past few weeks:

Atreano--very sweet--not rich--extra large--softball size!
URC143-36--very acidic--up for elimination (sound like a reality show)
Conadraia--large, not that sweet but pretty!
Votato--definate keeper--very sweet and large--nice texture
Marseilles White -- truly one of the best sweetest figs ever tasted!
Smith -- ugly fig--rich, sweet, excellent--better tasting than Black Maderia!
Black Celeste -- rich, sweet, excellent--superb tasting
Malta Black--rich, ultra-sweet, excellent--large superb tasting
Kathleen Black--rich, large, very sweet, so good!
Ronde de Bourdeaux--rich, excellent, the king in sweetness & taste
Improved Celeste--what can I say...excellent
O'Rourke---long extra sweet fig, a lot of sugar!
Violette de Bourdeaux--LOTS OF THESE! Dynamic richness and sweetness
Beers Black--ripe on the tree--giving it a few more days just for grins
LSU Tiger--not that sweet--up for elimination (sound like a reality show)
Petite Negra--Not the same as VdB--large very rich excellent fig
Negronne--Not the same as VdB--medium size ultra sweet and rich tasting
Celeste--pure sweetness, not rich---but sharp sweetness!

enjoy and...... HOW BOUT THOSE FIGS!!!!!!!!!!






So, below are the fruits of my daily labor with figs!  Enjoy

Attached Images
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jpeg Smith3_1.jpg (992.82 KB, 47 views)
jpeg Smith4_1.jpg (996.00 KB, 49 views)
jpeg Smith5_1.jpg (996.45 KB, 44 views)


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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
go4broek

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Very, very nice, Dennis. Congrats and enjoy!
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Ruben
Cibolo, TX/Zone 8b
Wish List: Dalmatie, Italian 258, Martin's Unknown (not the Italian), CdD-N, NdC, Signora, Latarolla, Stella!
Check out my online journal @ http://davesgarden.com/community/journals/vbc/go4broek/83546/
Figluvah

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Dennis, now you've done it!

I am about to starve to death!

Lookin good!
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Cecil (Z 8b?) in the sticks of E.Tx

(Elkhart/Palestine TX)
nypd5229

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Nice!

Ah the dreams of those up North!

At least it wasn't men! LOL
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Dominick
Zone 6a-MA
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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
i'm in carolinas and i'm still dreaming... those figs look real good. good looking figs dennis.

pete
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
Dieseler

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Hey Dennis,
good for you !
some for everyone to like in them pictures im sure. !

Dont worry what others think .   ; )

and
many thanks for taking the time for those pictures you posted.
BLB

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 

If they were mine, I'd be posting pics too!!! They look great!! 
OttawanZ5

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
snaglpus
Plants can't brag by themselves so I would not mind to brag for them if my figs perform so well. Enjoy.
My lonely Black-Jack breba may be ready in a few days. I hope any raccoon does not see it before it is properly ripe.

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TucsonKen

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Great job Dennis! As they say, "If you can do it, then it's not bragging."
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Ken
Tucson, Arizona
Zone 8b
DaveBNFl

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Great Figs Dennis.
Thanks for the review. Some I can look forward to.
So far my LSU Tiger is not very sweet (first year, LOTS of rain)Lots of splitting=lots of preserves.
Agree with the Celeste some have a drop of clear syrup in the eye and are like candy with a ?taffy?aftertaste. 
Looking forward to the Smith and RdB.
Dave.
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rafed

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Dennis,
You are not bragging and don't think this way.
We are happy for you. Hard work and long time just paid off.

Wish you great success year after year.

Now get back on your horse and run up and down the street and yell; The Figs Are Coming! The Figs Are Coming!
Caneyscud

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Way to go Dennis!  My mouth is watering about right now and I have a little tear of happiness in the corner of my eye - it's not a tear of envy - I swear!  After tasting 3 types of store bought figs I don't have any idea of what a rich sweet fig tastes like.  And I just made a quick trip to my unknown trees around town - nothing ripe!  Although I did find a new tree with a different leaf than the others around.  Now if I can just remember where I saw it!
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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Hi  Dennis and Congratulation.
Your Summer Season is starting rich this year.
Here things are just as good considering the colder climate!
I also had Brebas,from:JH Adriatic,Kathleen Black,Gino's,Marseilles vs  blk,Atreano,Sal Corleone,Peter Honey,Maltese Falcon,Improved Celeste.
That was it at this point in time.
No main crop figs here yet.
And yes:My Grape selections, are full of grapes I mean loaded every plant,20pounds+,and that is growing organically without any chemical sprays,organic or otherwise.
BeninMA

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Dennis, I knew you had a nice orchard developing -- now it's great to see it producing!

Herman, I'd be interested to know your evaluation of grape varieties.  I'm interested in growing grapes that taste best for fresh eating (including muscat types), but I can't do any spraying.

Ben
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Posted Reply with quote  #15 

Great looking figs, Dennis. 
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Grant
Kitchener Ontario Canada
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Dan_la

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 

Way to go Dennis. I grow most of those figs and know how good they can taste and can appreciate your enjoyment. Too bad if some people perceive your telling the truth as bragging......which it is not. 

Wait until your Smith tree fully matures. We guys from Louisiana keep telling all other fignuts what a great tasting fig Smith really is. For too long  it was one of our little known secrets. It will become very rich and complex tasting. Right now mine are under attack by birds and squirrels. We had very heavy rains in the last several days and all of those figs that were pecked open a tiny bit by the birds are now being attacked by wasps and horse flies. My IC is already finished with its first main crop and is now forming its second crop. Hopefully your season will be long enough to ripen second crop figs for you. If not, I would be very interested to know if your IC produces a large breba crop next year. I have a hunch that IC may be a good breba producing fig in some cooler climates.


Dan
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Fatnsassytexan

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Dennis, very nice! I don't ever see it as bragging---just a fellow fignut who is proud of his hard work---as it should be! Congratulations and thanks for sharing.
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Tim
Southeast Texas
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Wish List:Noire de Caromb, Maltese Beauty,Socorro Black, Others especially tight eyed varieties.
Herman2

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Ben:Here is my selection at this point.
These are the remaining cultivars from my trial of about 60 cultivars from Europe and North America.
Case in point:European cultivars are a disaster here without the proper chemical,poisons and alkaline soil.
So What worked was French American Hybrids,and American Grapes.
Of course only the most disease resistant ones.
From the most resistant the following I kept for good flavor and taste:
Seeded:Sheridan B,Steuben B,NiagaraW,Cayuga W.,Alwood B.
Seedless: Canadice Red,Mars Blue,Jupiter Purple
These will all work for you In Mass,better than for me,as my climate is more humid,and grapes grow "Black rot" ,usually in Humid climates and not good grapes.
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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
Dennis,
I thought negronne is another name for VDB (http://www.durionursery.biz/figs.htm  and http://figs4fun.com/Info/Info_Violette_de_Bordeaux.html),  how come you have listed them as different?
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Any DFW fignuts? msg me please :)
AnnieBee

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
Dennis,
 What a great message and pictures, thank you for sharing! Your loving care has obviously paid off. Good job!
JD

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
HOW ABOUT THOSE FIGS!!!!!!

Excellent. Keep posting pictures. It gives folks like me and others HOPE! I am almost two years into that four year window you speak of and seeing your photographs inspires us all.

How was the Byadi?
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snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Thank for all the kind words.   They are appreciated.   I would like to respond to rchukka's question about whether VdB and Negronne are the same fig.  My response is.....no they are not the smame.  This is the reason why I have many varieties of fig trees.  I want to know and taste the fruit for myself.  When I first got started growing fig trees, I only knew the taste of a fig growing up, the famous Brown Turkey.  So over the past 4 or so years, I started buying fig trees from various nurseries, Durion, Petals from the Past, EL, Raintree, Cowboyflowerman, Bass, Jon, Herman2, and others.  When I bought trees, I have to honestly believe and trust the name given to my tree.  Yes, some nurseries like Durion say that Negronne and VdB are the same.  But what I have learned is that figs are flowers and not all flowers are the same even though some nursuries call them the same.  I do know for a fact that VdB, Negronne, and Petite Negra are not the same fig tree.  I have all 3 in the ground, and in pots and from different nurseries.  So, I don't crash my brain trying to decide if figs are the same.  I just grow them side by side and keep on trucking!  :) 

A fully ripen Marseille White is one of the sweetest figs I've ever tasted.  Some nurseries list Marseilles White and Latturula and Italian Honey and Peter's honey as the same fig tree.  I know for a fact that Marseilles White is nowhere close to being the same fig as those.  However, my Byadi is growing 12 feet in the ground from my Marseille White and guess what?  Both trees fruited the exact same time, both have the same shape, and the fruit taste EXACTLY the same.  In a taste test you would swear they are the same!  So, are they the same fig?  Probably.  But I will honor the name on my Byadi because in another country, Marseilles could be called Byadi even though they are the same tree.  In my database, I will list them as probably the same but so so good!

Now, last year I had 2 large Black Madeira fig trees.  Both produced a lot of figs and both are dead now.  Too many figs killed them both.  In a blind fold taste test, I can chose BM every time.  In a blind fold taste test, I can choose Smith every time.  I don't know were the Smith fig came from but I tell you, it is a taste you will never forget just like a BM.  Smith figs ooze honey from the eye just like BM.  The interior and shape is also related to BM.  They are not the same fig but similar.  This is my opinion.

So, that's why I start growing my own to compare for myself and share my results.  And the best part is eating all these figs!!!!

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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Dennis-thanks for sharing your photos!  Awesome!  Definitely not bragging so keep those pix coming!!

Eun
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Eun
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Posted Reply with quote  #24 

I like the labeled figs pic.  It would be nice to have a poster, sort of like a family tree if the figs are related with pictures and labels for quick reference to hang on the wall.  I know there are a lot of figs but there seem to be about maybe 20 or so figs that are always being talked about.
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Tom
Massachusetts Zone 6b
snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
JD, turns out my Byadi taste the same, shaped the same, ripens the same, as Marseilles White.  Both are definate keepers.  The taste is excellent!
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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
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Posted Reply with quote  #26 

Dennis, where did you get your Marseilles White, if I might ask?
Dan_la

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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
Dennis,

FYI....the Smith fig is an Italian heirloom fig that was discovered growing in the New Orleans area many years ago. The Becnel family nursery In Belle Chase, La. brought this fig into the retail trade. I have never tasted a BM fig so I would not know if the taste were similar to that of a Smith fig. All I know is that Smith is a very good tasting fig and IMO most collectors would love the flavor of a Smith fig. Rich and complex tasting is how I describe its taste........one taste and you become hooked on this fig.

Dan
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Posted Reply with quote  #28 
hello Dennis -- First of all congrats. The hard work is paying off. I certainly felt the taste as per description(clap, clap) especially given our poor fig weather to-date. Overhere Figs are ripening and it is overcast with rain for the last 3 weeks. Keep on posting those delicious pic's for Pacific North Westerners sake as it looks like we have a poor weather year for figs & any outdoor activities. Savioring the pic's is another joy of figging.
saramc

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Posted Reply with quote  #29 

Nice details and photos Dennis! You deserve it!   The figs sure do look great and I cannot wait until the day that I can do a post similar to yours.
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Posted Reply with quote  #30 
wow...what a sweet sweet pictures.....congrads dennis....will be great with some blue cheese...yam
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2007_giants

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Posted Reply with quote  #31 
Congratulations Dennis, all the hard work has rewarded you. Great pictures and nice varieties. Keep posting pics PLEASE
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snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #32 
Ben, I got my Marseilles from Durion Nursery. 

Say, Dan I am headed your way in about 4 weeks.  I plan on visiting Mr Robin and Dalton while I'm in the NO.

Well the Brown Turkeys are coming in!  Time to go pick some!
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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
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Posted Reply with quote  #33 
Dennis, Your discussion of the differences of similar figs or varieties that are sometimes lumped together is very interesting and kind of good to know that these are actually different figs, thanks.  

TMC2009 you can actually purchase a nice fig poster from Fruitlovers.com.
Dan_la

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Posted Reply with quote  #34 
Hey Dennis,

Are you going to be in the area for awhile or just passing through??

Dan
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snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #35 
Hello Dan.  I will be there 3 days......arriving Friday, leaving Sunday. 

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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
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Posted Reply with quote  #36 
Maybe you will have time to visit one of the finest u-pick-it fruit orchards in Cajun land (not mine). I'll send you a PM to discuss.

Dan
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