This fig is a surprise. The last two year I didn't get to taste them because of the poor weather. I did try to sample the ripe and split ones and some not so ripe to try to get an idea of the taste but it was a total let down. This year with dry weather until the ripening day and they are supurb. The taste surprised me by not being figgy as in Celeste and also not being berry tasting. If fact I cannot place the taste but it is sweet and ends with a peachy flavor. Very nice and I can't wait for more.
"gene"

That looks like a perfectly ripe fig, Gene.  Thanks for the pics.

My Mead has large fruit this year,
but they are still green.
I can not wait to taste it.
Thanks Gene

Doug my figs are larger this year also. In fact the interior even looks different. Last year the figs were as small as Celeste or smaller and the interior was amber colored. This year they are much larger than Celeste and have a nice red interior.
"gene"

I guess I need to be patient, next year will be here soon enough and I will have a taste of some Meads. They look so good.

Wayne, you have to have patience when grow trees. They, unlike flowers, don't pop up and produce in a few months. Sometimes is takes a few years. Then when they bear you have to be patient to allow them to ripen before you pick. Here's the best to you and your trees and may your harvest next year be great. 
"gene''

Thanks Gene, good advice, that's why I like this forum, not only for the knowledge, I get encouragement and advice all the time. Thanks again.

Very nice fig

Francisco

Francisco, it is a nice looking fig. I must give thanks to MGorski who introduced me to the tree and gave me cuttings. As I understand it, the tree was growing at his Aunt Mead's house, thus the name. Perhaps he will chime in with a little more info. Thanks again Mike.
"gene"

I got a fig called Meade ending with an 'e' from Jon V.  Is this the same fig?

Yes, that is the same one as far as I know. The fig is named after MGorski's aunt but when he started letting out cuttings he spelled her name with the extra "e". He later realized that her name was Mead. When he and I were trading cuttings he had spelled it Mead and that's the way I've kept it. I hope I got the story right.
"gene''

Hey Gene, I'm glad you finally got to enjoy this fig fully, I knew you would enjoy it once you had a good fig weather. It is a delicious fig from my late Aunt Sarah Mead's yard in Hanover. Aunt Sarah was the sister of my great step- grandfather, but everyone in the family called her Aunt Sarah. When I made my original post- http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/meade-fig-3688064?highlight=meade&pid=41888461#post41888461
I misspelled her last name, and had already shared cuttings with Jon with the name spelled with an "e" at the end. I wish I had better photos of both platings in her yard.

The tree was given to Aunt Sarah and her husband by an Italian couple who brought two plants back from a trip back home, at least 40 years ago. These trees were large and suckered out over a good size area, with lots of those tight noded fruiting branches. Many people enjoyed the figs over the years. My Aunt told me of some Greek ladies that would visit every year to pick baskets of figs. I moved into the house after my Aunt passed, and the Greek ladies visited while I was at work. The next door neighbor told them there was a new owner and not to pick the figs. They never came back, which saddend me, as I had some rooted cuttings I wanted to share with them. We sold the house a couple of years later, and The new owner cut the trees down for fear of bees. I had asked her to please call if she ever planned to do this, but never got the call.

I hope this plant gets shared far and wide, it's a special fig for our family. I'm glad to see a number of you who are growing it. I hope you will report your experiences with it.

Mike in Hanover, VA

Ha, I'll have to change out my tags and notes.  Being a poet and writer, I'd hate to propagate an incorrect spelling.

Had first fruit a few days ago. Seemed to be very similar to Hardy Chicago.

I agree with Jon that it is similar to HC. When I had both plants producing figs I saw some differences. I would welcome any observations from people who have both. The Mt Etna figs seem to be similar to one another, I have seen a number of them pictured with descriptions and wondered if this was the same as my Aunt's fig. Who knows, for now it is Mead UNK..

Mike in Hanover, VA

It is a wonderful looking fig. I am looking forward to have my own fruit soon, many thanks to Gene, this variety is in Seattle, WA also.

I've never had a Hardy Chicago to compare it to. I do have about a dozen that will be ripe in a day or so. I hope to get a very good taste of them. Thanks Mike for taking the time to set the record straight on the name of this fig. Some times I tend to forget things or remember them incorrectly.
"gene"