Hello guys,
I am debating myself to choose a variety of fig to fill in the last space in the garden. I wanted a RDB because everyone says it is good, yet I want a Dalmatie because of the size. My weather is okay for any fig. Can you guys help me choose because I want a good taste only and I have a chance to get one of those. I found someone that can ship me either one of them but I do not know which tastes better. What are the flavor profiles and sugar levels of these two figs when compared? I only have late figs that are ripening now. I want good early ones.
Thanks.
Pardon my English.
Mohamed,

Mohamed,
do you have  Black Madeira, Violette de Bordeaux and Black Mission in that order?

If not, make sure you do, you will thank me later. :)

Do not exclude RDB otherwise you may not be hapy with Aaron...

happy thanksgiving

Mohamed, get both, plant them together as a braid and you will have no regrets of not choosing the right one.

I think braiding is an excellent idea. I'm not sure of the growth rate difference between the two, I don't have Dalmatie. Grafting in the future will open the door for other flavors as well. If you want an earlier fig, RdB is a great choice and it will give you ripe figs a month or more before all the others you mentioned you have.

I second Wayne

  Wayne  what a GREAT solution!

 I' d love to do that too.  I doint have enough experience to begin to pair up the varities with similar growth.  Can any one make some compatibility suggestions?    I'm guessing that Mt Etna types could be paired up ?

The braid looks nice, but you can also just plant 3 or 4 trees in the same hole. Then, prune as if they were a single tree with an open center. 

The braid thought just came up as an alternative, but Paul has a good thought. Here are a couple threads on braiding and if you search "braid" you will find several more.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/fig-braid-6310445?highlight=braid&pid=1283470311#post1283470311

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/some-not-so-good-pictures-6158377?highlight=braid&trail=50

Great idea, a very interesting concept.

I'm pretty sure you want Pastilliere.  Best early variant.  Might consider LSU Champagne.

Why does it have to be braided? Can't they be planted in one hole as two branches from one trunk look? I mean, don't get me wrong, it looks beautiful and all, but... why torture the trees and what if one of them dies altogether due to stress?
I have seen pictures of Fig Plantations with braided trees but still don't understand the concept behind the braiding. Do they need to be fused ? And what does fused braiding do extra for the tree?

Aaron, check out Paul's post #13 and my post #14. Also, you may consider a variety that roots the best or is known to have the most vigorous root system and graft or bud a couple other varieties onto this fig tree, that way, you will have one trunk with a few variety of figs growing on one tree. I know a person in WPB, FL who has a small yard, so he has a few mango trees with several variety of mangoes growing on each tree. Just a thought, and if you are not happy with a certain variety, cut it off and graft another variety. It's a never ending project which you are in complete charge of the outcome.

ok, valid points, i like that.
thanks Wayne.

There is no need to braid them in order to create a high density planting.  I have seen stone fruits and ornamentals placed as high as 6 and 10 trees to a hole.  Some intermix the trees to create balance, other prune the trees into separate sections to maintain the individuality of each variety, that is all in the eye of the beholder.  This is a technique  I will be using in the near future.

It is also recommended, just like multi grafted trees, to put the most vigorous grower to the north east side and the least vigorous to the south west side.  Then keep them pruned to similar size to prevent the faster growing varieties from over growing and killing out the slower varieties.

Great idea Scott!

Thanks guys, I wouldn't try braiding until I have excess cuttings from pruning good sized trees for when something goes wrong and both die from an error in my technique. I think I am leaning towards RDB because I read that it is acidic and I love tart fruits :)

I understand that RDB is a great fig over all.  I to would like to pick one up.  Either some cuttings or someone's extra rooted cutting.

I think you've made a great choice.

Scott 

I wish I could help you COGardener, but Im not in USA. Good luck :)