Ronde de Bordeaux and Kathleen Black.Are These are the two best quality hardy black figs? Which do you prefer? Which is more cold hardy?

Bill Tennessee zone 7

There isn't really enough data on either to say for sure.  We are still very early on the discovery process for Kathleen Black in various places.  RdB is well liked, but it's probably not better than many of the other similar figs, given what I read.  Early ripening, though.  Also, you're pretty close to being warm enough that hardiness doesn't really matter so much as wind issues or first frost date.

from herman's posts, i think KB is just ok as far as hardiness is concerned. there are better suited figs if cold hardiness is your main concern. also cold hardiness is only a major concern if you are going to plant them in ground. if you keep them in container and move them into garage or something during the winter, not much of an issue there. then again, there are down side to keeping figs in containers.. 

Axier

     Thank you so much for posting these photos. They are encouraging and a source for enthusiasm. Can you include something by which we can judge the size of this fig?

axier, 

i got mine from gene also. you should pinch your KB. it will start putting on the figs that way. last year was my tree's 3rd year and they didn't put on the figs. in may, i pinched and soon after they put on figs. 

this spring, they put on good number of brebas, but i had problem with soil in the container and removed most of them. 

without pinching, KB just grows and grows, and no figs. very vigorous grower. 

Pete, how large/old do you think KB should be before you start pinching? Mine are at the 2-3 gallon pot stage and the growth is really taking off.

Rewton, don't know if you have read this thread on pinching but it has some good info. Not to but in on Pete answering your quesiton. LOL

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/pinch-transplanted-cuttings-in-1gallon-pots-6134837

rewton, 

my KB came to me in 1 gal. i bare root right away in fall of 2010 and put into 3 gal. it was rooted by gene in spring of 2010. in summer of 2011, i put it into 10 gal. no figs in 2011. in 2012, waited till may, and didn't see it putting on figs. i started bunch of thread on this forum asking what's going on. got number of response from other members saying their KB is 3-5 yrs old and didn't put on the figs. 

so i started pinching right away in that may. soon after pinching it started putting on the figs. i had my first crop of figs in late season 2012. 

my VdB and Paradiso Gene are also from gene. they put on the figs in 2011, and 2012 without pinching. by 2012, their taste has improved very much. 

this year, KB put on the breba around late feb. it put on good number of breba. 

to answer your question, i think if the KB doesn't give figs by 3rd yr, it should be pinched. 

Pete, this is my KB which I got from Herman last year in one gal pot. I moved it to seven gal. As you can see it has one breba. It is about 3 1/2 feet tall
and has three main branches. Would you start pinching it?

Where are my figs? April 7, 2010

• Maybe the neighborhood kids or your landscapers are sneaking through your yard and eating your figs.

• There’s no guarantee that you’ll see figs growing on your transplanted tree for the first 2-3 years. If you see figs, you’re either lucky or the person who supplied a fig tree to you did everything as right as possible to ensure fig production. But there can be margins of error. If you don’t see figs within the first 2-3 years, be patient and hope to see figs the next year. A friend said to me one day that when he doesn’t insulate his fig tree from the winter frost, he doesn’t have figs that year. I only follow this rule for the first year I plant the tree and leave it alone for the following Winter seasons if the tree is at least 5ft tall or the trunk is more than 3 yrs old. I like a thick trunk.

• If you’ve had your fig trees for a while and you’re just not seeing figs growing, then here are steps to follow to force the tree to grow figs the next year. These steps will not guarantee fig propagation, but it’s a worthy experiment that has worked for me and other people.

Forcing Fig Growth

1. Follow the pruning procedures at item 6 in Outside Living.
2. When the tree begins to grow be sure to cut back any growth that wants to emerge from the base of the trunk.
3. While the new growth begins to emerge from the existing branches, only allow 6 leaves to grow from each branch. Beyond this point, pinch (clip) off the additional growth. This will force the tree to redirect energy from growing limbs to growing figs. Check on the limbs periodically because the tree may start to grow new branches at the base (armpit) of the leaf stems. If so, pinch these off. You’ll scratch your head thinking.. “But figgiriggi said not to prune during growing season.” For this situation, we’re not concerned about that. The pinched ends will dry quickly and then seal themselves off by the following day.
4. Check on the tree for new growth about once every 4 days.
5. Be careful and keep an eye out for rounded bumps. Figs begin to emerge as small ball forms on very short stalks. They can be confused for leaves, but carefully compare the bumps with how the leaves form. Leaves form almost immediately at the base (armpit) of the leaf stems. Figs also form at the same location. If you’re not sure if you see a fig or not, wait another 4 days and then you’ll know.
6. You’ll have to tend to this for the entire growing season. It gives you an excuse to observe your tree when the neighbors see you out in the yard, otherwise they might think you’ve lost your mind.
7. If you give up, hopefully you won’t. Go to a nursery and buy a new fig tree.

Mike,

I don't pinch unless the tree doesn't give me figs. Reading the forum, Herman, Barry and some others didn't have issue getting figs from KB. Not sure why my tree and some other members are having this issue. If I'm correct, pinching is mainly used for fig production, and encouraging branching and shaping.

From Herman's pinching guide, once the tree is at desired height, pinch the.terminal bud every 6 or so leaves.

Thanks Pete. Do you have a link to Hermans pinching guide? I did a search and it did not come up with it.

there are several post here and on the other forum. 

here is one from the other forum. 

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fig/msg0611441718628.html

here is one that is follow up to above post. 

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/All-about-pinching-6228754?highlight=pinch

there used to be a picture guide to pinching, but i can't find that one. 

RDB is much hardier, however, Kathleen's Black is far superior in taste for me. My KB made it through the winter with some protection, my RDB is not in ground, it's a younger tree.

With all this talk about hardiness, I'm wondering how RDB does in a Mediterranean climate.  I've got a nice one ready to go in ground.  I'm hoping it's one of those really tall growers!

Suzi

phooey with hardiness. i keep mine in the containers and breaking my back every spring. oi vay.. 

I will let you  know next year with my RdB that I am planting in ground.

I'll be planting out my RDB from cutting last year. It is small but we have warm temps now, a well prepared planting spot and a long season. Time will tell!