this year has been slow. no figs on the tree yet. not really concerned since my VdB and Paradiso also don't have figs on. however, all three has\d root pruning. what i noticed about the Kathleen's Black is, it's putting on lots and lots of new vegetative growth. so much so it's having new growth in places i didn't expect. new buds are opening on 4 yr old wood. it's like very node has new bud opening and growing leaves. 

i believe this is one of the reason why some of the members are not having figs on their KB. KB loves to put on green growth and don't bother with figs. pinching becomes necessary at times. this yr, i won't be pinching. main reason is it seems once you pinch the tree, it will put on figs on its own next yr. i'll see what happens. 

noss,

KB doesn't drop figs like certain Celeste of Pastiliere. it just won't put on any figs until you pinch it :) once fig is on, it will hold on to it.

Pete,
I may have to try that on one of my KB's in the future. I've had access to Gene Hosey's original KB when the figs were ripe and was very impressed by them but my trees may not be old enough for figs yet as my oldest is only 3.

over the weekend noiced that Paradio Gene and VdB are putting on the figs. very small fig embryos are coming up. KB looks like it's going to put them out also, but i have seen this two yrs ago where they just didn't finish the job and never developed into a fig. will have to wait few more weeks to see what's going on.

Genovese Nero looks as if it will put on a figs. Calvert has few on this yr's growth, and so does ischia White. if things go well, i might be able to have at least 3 figs this yr.. lol

Does anyone have any impression of how KB does in container vs. in the ground?  I planted my 2 foot tall tree in the ground a few weeks ago.  I wonder if it will fruit sooner than in a container or will it put out massive amounts of foliage with no figs unless aggressively pinched?  I won't expect any fruit this year but plan to start pinching next season.

mine grows in container. 10 gal. i think herman has it in ground. not sure if barry has it in ground or not. both barry and herman didn't have the problem i had.

My Kathleen's Black was started from a cutting in July, 2012 (from a generous forum member), was allowed to go dormant for the winter, underwent the fig shuffle in the spring, and then was planted in the ground in late May.  I planted it in one of the most primo spots on my property for figs.  It has really taken off.  The only pinching/pruning I've done is I pinched the central leader in June to encourage more branching.  Even without any significant pinching, in the past month or so figs have started to develop.  There are now several figs the size of marbles.  They won't come to fruition this year, of course, but it suggests that I will get a decent number of figs next year.  In contrast I seem to remember reading that for some others it has taken 3 years or more for KB to fruit and careful pinching is required.  I wonder if it has to do with growing in the ground vs. container?  Maybe for whatever reason KB is just happier in the ground.

some of the members moved theirs into the groun with no results. however, once pinched, the cont. to put on figs. this yr, all my figs started slow, but now i have good number of them on the tree. everything i tasted are better than last yr, other than VdB. not sure what went wrong with VdB this yr. probably not hot enough, and too much rain. KB tasted pretty good. this is only 2nd yr putting on the figs, so i'm hoping it will improve further. this yr, the texture is fine. last yrs texture was weird.

My KB is in ground to and has survived one winter. We had such a cold wet spring that it was very late setting fruit. I  seriously doubt main crop will ripen this year, but there are a couple brebas still hanging on so I should get those.

@ Mike in VA.

If possible, can you post some photos of the original, Gene Hosey-Kathleen's Black trees?  I'd would love to see what KB looks like as a tree.  I may not get a chance to see this variety in its prime, judging by the temperamental KB that I'm growing.  This is year two....and, no fig action on my 4-1/2 footer, planted in a 10 gallon pot.  Zip, zero, nada.  The tree is healthy, and has been grown just like all my other containerized figs, which despite the horrible Spring weather, did just fine, not great, but, OK.  The KB just sulks.  I'm getting tired of her sassy, attitude.  If the tree had put out some good growth, I would have pinched the tips back, but my KB hardly grew any new wood.

I'll give her another year.  Maybe next season, good things will come to me, who waits.

Pete, thanks for the pinching tips.  Maybe Kattie-B will give me her goodies next year.


Frank

Here are a couple pics of my tree slightly over a year old.  It's definitely a fast grower in the ground.