.........and the crop is coming to an end. Time to start cleaning up the pots, fixing labels, prepping to bring the potted trees in once we get a few frosts and temps remain cold. Not today though, going to be close to 70 again today, as was yesterday. Too late for many figs still hanging on.

Mark,  I missed some of your earlier posts.  It's impressive that you were able to get Col de Dame Blanc to ripen here in mid-September.  How old is your tree?  I assume it is containerized.  I have CdDB that was rooted in Spring of 2013 that I am growing in a container.  It is much slower growing than the other Col de Dames that I grow but has relatively clean-looking leaves.  It didn't set any fruit last year and this year set just two figs even though it was pinched.  They still haven't ripened and I doubt if they will at this point.  Part of the reason, I think, is that I headed it back rather hard last February so it would branch out.  Unfortunately, it leaked clear sap for a couple weeks once it came out of dormancy and during that time did very little growing.  So hopefully next year I will get a CdD fig.

Thanks guys. Here's what the Black Yugoslav looked like last weekend. Obviously, could have been on the tree much longer.v

Glad to see black yugo produced for you. It's going into it's 3rd year for me with only 1 fig so far and the damn hornets got it before I could taste it or get a good picture. Oh well there's always next year  granted this winter isn't too bad. I enjoyed looking at all your varieties thanks for sharing. 

Thanks! It was a pretty good year. Leaves are now mostly off the ones in pots, my in-ground ones have plenty of leaves and even a lot of small fruit.

Mark, could you reply to my post (#103) when you get a chance?   By the way, not sure when you will be pruning your Vista but I'm still interesting in couple cuttings. Thanks!

Hey Steve

Missed your questions up there and kept moving on. So, I'm thinking that this must have been year three for our CDBs, and yes containerized. Cuttings were started two years ago after winning one of the generous contests here on the Forum. The CDB is one of that lot. All in pots now, on the back deck, six hours or so of sunlight per day, hooked up to daily drip watering system. Some MG early in Spring, but i think just once or twice.

I didnt forget about your Vista cuttings - i hope they will do well for you over there in Rockville.

Mark,

Now that the season is done, can you give us some highlights of the season for your fig trees?

I'd specifically be interested in the following:

1. Best tasting black, white and green/adriatic
2. Best producing black, white and green/adriatic
3. Biggest duds
4. Fastest growing
5. Your #1 fig variety for the year 

Close to the end of the year 2014 now, plenty of frosts, leaves are dropping like dead flies, sun is low, no more ripening days left. Lots of figs left on the trees, especially my original large in-ground Hardy Chicago.

Here are some pix of year end, well, until I bring all the potted ones in and cover up the in-ground trees. Thats the real end of 2014, but the beginning of 2015.

You can see some nice terminal buds on a few, already primed for next year.

I see Malcolm has a few questions posted, i need to gather my taste bud data and come up with a response.

Malcolm, sorry it took so long to reply!

1. Best tasting black - Black Mission, Negronne, Vista
2. Best tasting white - Conandria, Longue d'Aout
3. Biggest dud - unknown that has yet to put out figs!
4. Fastest grower - Carini, Longue d'Aout
5. Best of the Year - Conandria

Mark,

Can't wait to hear your final thoughts on the 2014 growing season.

Malcolm

Greetings

Closing in on the end of the year and Ive started the process of covering up my in-ground fig trees thst include both Hardy Chicago and Celeste types. I first trim off/prune back a lot of the smaller branches, bend and tie down a main branch or two so they are only about one foot off the ground, and erect a wire enclosure around the trees. Then as I mow the lawn and pick up all the maple and oak leaves I dump them into my enclosure, slowly filling it up. Here are a few pictures of the beginning of the process.

I have a lot of Hardy Chicago cuttings for any one wanting some of these and a good amount of Celeste as well.

i do that also

Neither the birds or squirrels are interested in this gathering of figs that continue to sun dry out on our deck.