Despite the cooler days and nights, the first Preto ripened for me today.  Now I understand the hype.  Nothing I've tasted this year is similar to this fig.  Full of bold flavors with a strong berry taste.  I would say it tasted like a plum mashed with a strawberry.  Outstanding!  This is also the first fig I've cut open to have a syrup puddle in the middle.  This came off a 2 year old tree.  It started from a pencil-sized stick this spring and came from a 5 gallon bucket SIP system.  I may have to kick out a few other varieties to multiply this one.

 

Frank that looks incredible. 

Looks great Frank! I can't remember, do you have Black Madeira as well?

Congrats Frank! thanks for posting

 Pete

Calvin,

I do not have Black Madeira.  I don't think I would've been able to taste it, as I hear it ripens a couple weeks later than Preto.
From what I've gathered, Preto and BM are very similar.  Some argue it's the same fig, while others say they're completely different.  I have no interest in BM if that's the case.

Looks good!

Very Nice Frank. Definitely on my want list

Great report, Frank. I have 2 that should give me several figs next year. Now, I can't wait!

Zone 9 should get you a bunch of delicioius Pretos to taste next year Gary!

Nice fig. Enjoy!

Frank congrats I can't say enough good things about Preto, Most of my trees are bare of fruit but there are still several Pretos left ripening on my tree, last year they all ripened and much earlier, very odd. A great fig, I too have honey puddles in the middle and dripping out of the eye sometimes.

Looks good and tasty! Congrats!

Wow Frank.....that is a nice looking fig,congrats.

Frank, glad you were able to ripen that. Yours grew to normal size, my first and only one so far was very small. Lots of honey leaked out, and was as you mentioned, an outstanding fig.

Mike in Hanover, VA

Looks great Frank glad it ripened for you my preto tree is in it's 4th season and was loaded this year but none ripened so far I pulled everything off. Still one favorite varieties.

This was from last year looks just like yours

Very nice, Nelson.  I may try to set up a cheap small greenhouse just for Preto next year.

Looks and sound like a great fig to have.

I was doing the same thing with my black madiera Nelson, then some started to swell earlier this week I was able to eat 1 so I stopped pulling off so many so far.  The smaller ones are falling off on their own as well that I missed from before when pruning.

WOW Nelson...That is huge. Do they always get that large??
I need me some Preto.

That fig is too beautiful.

Two questions:

1) Why can't I find Preto on Jon's site?: http://figs4fun.com/varieties.html

2) Do you know where one (meaning me) might obtain some Preto cuttings?

Paul, it is listed under Figo Preto. Cuttings are readily available:))

Oops, missed this post.

Congrats..Frank,  nice Figo Preto ! I would say identical (synonym) to Black Madeira. Both directly related to Violeta in Portugal where this same fig was given a few more names.

Features common to all are :

Their typical elliptical contour with a flat top-

A rather thick and long neck

Dark bluish skin color with marked white speckles from the eye down

The ostiole scales with a diffuse color.. light brownish ?(not at all red as it is mostly the rule with dark figs)

When ripe and cut in halves all show an arc of well matured flesh under the pulp of a deep red with plenty of syrup

Everywhere, from zones 6 to 11 this cultivar if given acceptable conditions and treatment is a prolific producer of delicious figs.
On zone 11 with all that heat and sun it ripens around 3rd week of July and if caprificated may  go up to 70/80 gram weight.

Francisco
Portugal

Thank you for that great information, Francisco.  I'm looking forward to what it does next year.  It really put on a lot of quality growth this year.

I have two plants, I'm still not sure if I'll get any more ripe figs, but we do have at least a week of sunny weather with highs70's-80. We had some frost the other night, but it didn't kill anything tender.

Mike in Hanover, VA