Eli: A great forum member shared a tree with me several years ago by the name of Fracazzano Nero. Until this year, it would produce a few figs but they would fall off. This year it produced an abundant yellow figs which are obviously not Fracazzano Nero. But these figs are exceptionally sweet. I think they are Dottato figs. I have some separate photos of the fig close up and will post them. I love the taste of these figs. I have no bad feelings over this gift. Obviously my friend received a mislabel from someone else. It happens!
Vince: A Greek friend of mine once told me that he would remove all of the leaves on his fig trees except for maybe 5 or 6 at the distal ends of the branches. He told me that he had a friend who worked in a Greek fig orchard where they practiced this leaf removal to allow as much sun into the tree as possible to produce bigger and more flavorful figs. Vince, there is a book you need to read. You can buy a cheap copy on Amazon.com The book is called "Chico's Organic Gardening and Natural Living". It is about a Sicilian man by the name of Frank Bucaro (Chico) who bought five acres of land in Malibu in 1959 and grew organic fruits and vegetables that he would sell to the public. From what I understand, the current Vital Zuman farm is the property once owned by Frank Bucaro.
Anyway, this little book has a chapter on growing figs which every collector should find interesting. Chico talks about growing, pruning, and de-leafing fig trees in this chapter. There are other chapters in the book that you would find interesting such as preparing soil, growing tomatoes, fruit trees, grapes, and even wine making! But the chapter on figs is exceptional. Get the book!
jds- Merry Christmas!