Thanks Marie! You gave us something to dream about and hope for!
I m surely going shopping for one of those!
Well done!

Has anyone see or heard from Marie?

Hi guys!  I am back, left on holiday and just got home. 
Thanks all for your wonderful comments, I appreciate them!

Dennis, yes she was a Monrovia plant.

I was out and about the Caribbean islands, and in 10 days saw not ONE, not one fig tree!  I had hoped to see some since it's so nice and warm there.  Does anyone know if it was a fluke that I saw none or is it because they can't grow there due to salt air or humidity?  The soil perhaps doesn't support growth?
Maybe I will post that question to the forum as a new topic, let's see if any of us on this thread know that answer.  Anyone?

Back to work this morning!  Thanks again everyone for your comments.

Welcome back Marie!  I'm glad to hear you were on vacation having fun in the sun!  I have 3 large Monrovia Black Jacks and one from Jason and another one from OGW.  They are not cold hardy at all even in my climate.  When does it start to warm up in your area?  Mine are outside in pots but I am contemplating bringing them in.  We've already reached 20 degree temps last month and I know January will be cold windy and icy.  So, I need to find more room for these guys.

You've done a great job with yours....beautiful color!  Kudos to you!  Despite what others might say, Black Jack does have a great taste.  Keep up the good work!  Great job...well done!

my uncle has a black jack but he wont let me get 1 cutting  

KCMarie if you have cuttings next spring or fall I would really like to get 2.  That is a beautiful fig.  I have a 6 ft. plus tissue culture Italian Honey that has not produced a fig.  This spring it will be 4 yrs. old.  I have high hopes of eating a self-produced fig the fall of 2015.  I also have several cuttings frim a fig tree growing in Brooklyn, very tasty reportedly, but it got down to 18 degrees in the mailbox before I got  them inside.  They may be a lost cause but they are down in the vegetable drawer with prayers...

I too am doing the fig shuffle so I am taking my time on deciding what varieties I will work with.  I want an Osborne Prolific because we have good friends by that name and I eventually want some with a deep red interior.  Maybe not good reasons for picking and choosing, but, they are my reasons.

Most nurseries that I shop at have a hard time keep Black Jacks in stock.  The figs are sweet and the more heat the better.  The first couple of young years the figs don't taste all that great. At least they did not on my tree.  But the figs seem to get better with age like most figs.  I am hoping forum friends will post pictures next year of their Black Jack fig.  It really is a good fig.

Dennis, do you get a good crop of brebas. How does it compare to Osborne Prolific(that is if U have one)?
Monrovia BJ are available here.

Thanks COGardener!  I will go there to look at their stock.  It's ok that they are out right now because I wouldn't want any more things to keep up with until we get through winter/spring.  I know I have to limit myself to just a few types of figs because of the shuffle reality.  I think the Black Jack is beautiful.  My other tree that I've been hoping to acquire is the lime that you use the leaves in Thai soups and the rind for cleaning.  I won't use the only name I know because apparently it also has some very undesirable other definitions.  I have two sources but I've got to figure where it will go during Oct. to May...

Hi Marie. I hope you don't mind my adding some Black Jack pics to your thread. I've had mine 2 years, and it produces really well. A friend has a small home nursery, and sells quite a few figs. She says B J is her most popular one, partly because it doesnt get too big. These are what mine looked like this year, Dennis.    

No worries Greenbud, just putting options out there.   You all have me wanting a Black Jacks now too.  Dang it, I'm going to have to stop reading the forum before I end up with 300 fig trees. 

Oh my......

Those look amazing Gary! Keep up the good work!

Marie and/or Dennis. The past 2 years, I've pruned to shape my Black Jack. Before I prune it this time, I am wondering if it produces a decent breba. Do either of you, or other forum members get a nice breba crop from Black Jacks? Many thanks.

Hey everyone! Marie welcome back! Mrs K and I just came back from Aruba and were as surprised as You with the absence of figs there! We drove through the Whole island looking into yards and parks with no luck! One would think that under all that sun figs would thrive but who knows! I know they have very strict rules when it comes to introducing non native species so maybe this is the reason they re not there and not inability to thrive!!!
The Black Jack pics look great,Yours and Gary's ! Job well done! We have one coming throu Groworganic , and I think it is still available ! It is my first time buy from them so I canot recommend but the look like a very serious business ! Bay Flora has them also and I'm more than happy with them! Have a great evening Yall !

So beautiful. I ve just started Black Jack for few months.
Hope it grow & ripe well like this.

amazing looking fig, any1 know where i could buy a blackjack plant??

Here is a good source for anyone looking for a Black Jack. If your not familiar with Willis Orchards, I have ordered a variety of plants and trees from them over the last few years, they are always of top quality, never had any issues.  I would say that they are also very fairly priced on most items across the board. 


https://www.willisorchards.com/product/black-jack-fig-tree#.VKYSK6NlDFp

Scott

Thanks Scott, the first fig tree purchase of 2015.  Probably not the last. :)

The Brebas on my BJs are sweeter than the main crop. BJ is one tree that's a site to see such a small dwarf tree with these large jet black figs dangling.

I'm thrilled to see others excited about the Black Jacks!  Best wishes to all, and good growing!

Marie, Thanks for your posts re: Black Jack figs.  I'm new to figs and new to the forum.  I grow a number of fruits in my yard.  After studying figs for about a year, I came across Black Jacks at a local nursery (Monrovia, 5 gal trees, 4-5 ft tall).  I bought the four they had remaining!  Since then, I purchased a Brown Turkey found at another nursery.  I know the BT is much maligned but a story last year in the local paper described the success of someone near me growing BT figs in ground.  So, I'm certainly encouraged by you BJ fig photos!  I'll keep my fig plants in pots, transplanting them into larger nursery containers in early spring.  I'm also contemplating trimming the trees so the figs develop a bush form- I know I'll lose some fig production this next year.  My figs are safely stacked inside my insulated garage where the temp is 38-45 degrees (outside temps in single digits).  Anyway, thanks again- I'm encouraged!

I also thank the members for the excellent information I have found on the forum.  Blessings in 2015 to everyone!