As previously reported I have two strains of RDB. This one can be traced to Baud. I had it in the ground for a couple of years and it was winter killed....because I left too many figs on it too late in the season. DON'T DO THAT NEWBIES!!!   Fortunately, I took cuttings and have a new tree for planting next year. Here are pictures of a breba fig.

The other strain that I have growing in the ground is now about 8 ft tall and has figs on it that should ripen. That tree was killed to the ground this past winter and that new growth & figs is from the roots.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

All I can say is great Come Back stories Dan.
But the one and only RDB I ever had was darker inside.
Can this be because of the region?

Great pictures Dan.  Thanks.

I thoroughly read and copied Herman's recommendations on how many figs to leave on the fig tree based on the age of the plant.

But what I am not sure about is how and when to remove the excess figs.

Should I go with leaving only the oldest/largest figlets up to the designated number, and then remove all the subsequent newest/smallest through frost? 

That would make sense I would think, and that way the remaining figs should ripen well before frost.

Or should I just do nothing till sometime (a month; a few weeks?) before frost and then remove all green figs at once?

And does it hurt the tree to leak sap when figs are removed?  Should I use clippers, pinch them off?

I would greatly appreciate your suggestions on this.

Hope you are well my friend.

John

Dan do you ever offer scion from your in-ground tree?  RDB is definitely on my desire list, and I so enjoy starting from scion.  If I could find a plant I would buy it, if I could afford it.  LOL.    Nice photos by the way and thanks for the NEWBIE ALERT about what not to do.  One day I hope to have figs on my trees!!

Sara,

I sometimes trade cuttings for varieties that I do not have. Likewise with trading new starts. I do not sell cuttings nor do I sell any plants. My fig reports are for information purposes only and not meant to hype any "sales". However, I will be making one exception and will be selling a few cuttings of Black Beauty 10 (BB10) on eBay. That is one awesome tasting fig.....the best I have ever eaten, including RDB.  And I have eaten a lot of different varieties of figs from my own collention and from many trees throughout South Louisiana. Selling it on eBay is the fairest way to distribute this new discovery into the fig community and to ensure that it gets into the hands of people who can really appreciate this fine fig and can successfully root it.

So far I've not had much growth on my two RDB's where I could have taken some cuttings. My first RDB in ground tree was completely winter killed and its replacement tree (rooted from one cutting) is still in a container.  I cannot imagine this cultivar doing well in a container as it wants to be a very large tree. This year is the first year that the other in ground strain has really taken off. Maybe next year I will have lots of extra wood.

John,

I don't really know how to answer your question as I'm still learning too. I've  learned the "not to leave too many figs on the tree" part real well.....and have not yet learned how best to accomplish that. I need to go back and re-read H2's recommendations as well.


Dan
Semper Fi-cus