Hello
First 2 pics are 2nd year nero 600 from bigbadbill, perfectly ripe with very sweet jammy taste little bit nutty taste, very happy with this tree. Next two pics are 3rd year RDB from driveway farmer (kerry), also very sweet with great flavor. Last two pics are 2nd year Kathleen black from bigbadbill. Even though it was not fully ripe, it was very sweet. Skin was very soft sweet and juicy. all three trees were transferred to ground early this spring and growing very nicely.

Great sampler!  Thanks for the report.  Nice to see these being compared side-by-side.

Those are without a doubt 3 of my favorite figs. To me, they have very similar taste characteristics. Anyone out there looking for suggestions on what to grow, I highly recommend these 3 fellas

Thanks!  for the useful update. 

Thanks for sharing makes these figs look very inviting!
Are KB and Nero600 cold hardy?

Well done and congrats K. The Kathleen and RDB look great but the Nero 600M looks "outstanding"! Thanks for sharing.

I believe nero 600 is very hardy and kb somewhat cold hardy. Nero was perfect ripe, but rdb and kb could have used few more days. Rdb and kb was still very sweet and tasty.

Kathleen Black is pretty hardy.  Hardier than Ronde de Bordeaux.  Both of mine are planted in the ground.  RdB is older and almost dead.  KB on the other hand is taller and healthier.  I have not protected either in the past 4 years.  However, this year, they all will be protected b/c I'd hate to loose these excellent tasting fig.  My Nero 600m is too year to leave outside.

Dennis that's interesting.  I have both KB and RdB planted in-ground here in my yard in MD.  For me, if anything, the RdB has been more cold-hardy.  Both were protected and heavily damaged but RdB was a bit less damaged and has bounced back better.  RdB is planted in a more open/less protected area too.  On top of that, RdB has come back to start ripening fruits in the last week or so.  KB has never produced one properly ripened fruit for me - it was rooted in 2012 and put in the ground Spring 2013.  It was developing fruits (too late to ripen but still encouraging) but then got damaged by the polar vortex winter of 2013-14.  Since then it has regressed and developed a few fruits last summer to late to ripen and only has one fruit this summer, again too late to ripen.  It is a large bush though and grows well in one of the best spots in my yard.  I think I will take it out this Fall and try again with a container KB.  

Kso106, it will be interesting to hear how yours does in the ground in Philly.  Maybe we will get a few mild winters in a row and it will be fine but if we keep getting colder than normal winters then my prediction is that it won't ripen any fruits.

Hi Rewton,
KB should be bifera and that would be an advantage over rdb.
I'm trying not to think to the "Noire de caromb" (aka KB) that I spotted in a nursery for 20€ ... The tree is of a decent size but most is green growth.
That tree might just have come from our South ... She would have a hard time this winter here in my Zone7 ... But if I don't try it, I won't know for sure :)  .

Steve, it is very true my friend!  My in ground RdB is one of my oldest trees in the ground.  I got mine from Bass years ago when he first started selling them from his website.  It did produce figs this year but if I don't winterize it this year, I know it will be dead next year.  I might dig it up.  the root ball is massive but at least I know it will survive.  I have 3 KBs.  One is in a 10g pot.  I'm getting ready to upsize it to 27g pot next week.  One is in the ground and doing fine.  Both have figs on.  The one in the ground is in a great spot of loam soil.  Ronde is on the top of a hill in clay.  I don't think KB and NdC are the same.  My NdC ripen weeks ago.  My KBs have not ripen yet.  My NdC came from the UK.

Moreover, the leaf pattern of my KBs are nowhere close to the leaf pattern on my NdC.  The figs on my NdC are flat out of this world good.  And the same goes for my KBs.