I'm still pretty down with Bronchitis, so not much to do.  Today, I put two screens up.  One the UC DAVIS offerings and the other, Jon's Variety list. 

I made up an order for 2016, but not sure about all of it.  A.  UC DAVIS doesn't have what I really want.  B.  Jon doesn't describe some I think I might want. 

Sigh!  This is a tough job!

I think I already have the world's best Green with red center figs, the best Yellow with the honey drip figs, maybe lacking in the dark ones and the rich nutty ones.  I have VdB x 2, but it doesn't impress me much.  First year for figs on HC and Black Mission was last year.  Maybe better this year.  Marseilles vs Black still need to produce.

My new list:
Pastiliere, DFIC 47
Raspberry Late, DFIC 393
Atreano
Maltese Falcon
Galbun
Black Madeira DFIC 144
Tena DFIC 21
Orphan DFIC 35
Verdal Longue DFIC 56
Grosse Montrueuse de Lipari DFIC 67


Let me qualify.  I want taste.  I'm not somebody that wants to collect more varieties than you.  I just want the best tasting figs here, on site.

There are two in my wish list, but I'm willing to wait.  You never know. 

Suzi

Sucrette is also an excellent fig as is Black Ischia. I liked the Black Ischia better than the Black Madeira (is that sacrilege?) when tasting at UCD.

Interesting, Sue!  I'll add Black Ischia to the list.  Last year they sent me a Black Madeira cutting, but it never rooted.

Did you see the kind words Fransisco had for you when I told him what your were gifting me? 

Looking forward to our visit this month.  Waiting for that avocado I am dying to get to be in stock in Fallbrook, and then we'll make a day of it, stopping at Mike's BBQ in Escondido on the way home.

Let there be rain!

Suzi

What are the numbers,at the back end of the names. I have some on tour list that i probably can get to you in late spring. But dont know what the extra numbers mean

Richard, those are the order numbers if I order from UC DAVIS for 2016.  That's it. 

Suzi

Yes, I just saw his kind words, thanks! :-) I'm glad to help. Actually you are helping me! I have too many caprifigs now though all are only a year old. I can't kill them but I don't want too many wasp around to make my figs explode either. So, what to do?

I have 3 Capri Z, 2 Capri V, 3 Stanford, 2 Roeding #3, 1 from Herman, and 3 unknowns. I also have Capri Q, Castaic, and 2 or 3 Saleeb which are edible capris...yep, eyes bigger than tummy! I'm hoping you will take more than 1 capri when you come down. hehehe.

Sue, I'm taking two.  Zidi and one of the Capris.  You choose!  I could be persuaded to take others...  I might trade you a cutting you don't have for one of your Peachy things.....

:-)  Suzi

Well I still have a ton of cuttings from the 'peachy tree' so I am going to start them and maybe sell them on ebay. Happy to trade!

You rock!  I won't be paying bajillions of dollars on Ebay, but I've got special figs that I might want to offer.  I'm not a fig seller  but I have a good rating on Ebay.  Good luck, but save me a cutting...

Suzi

So for the balance, I think I need a dark fig.  Are those even good?

Not in my experience.  So far.  Impatient, yep.

Suzi

Hope you get feeling completely better real quick!

greenbud, you are adorable, so which dark fig would you recommend?  I do need balance. Cough, Cough...

I need a dark easy on the eyes fig that my family (grandkids) will say "Nana!  I want that tree."

Hi DesertDance,
Try "noire de caromb" / "Kathleen black"

Suzi,

I trust that you get well and feel better soon.

I suggest that you consider LSU Scott's Black [1], Petite Negri [2] or Black Bethlehem [3]. By the way, is Adriatic JH in your collection as a 'best of' green-reds?

JD, I have a baby (year 2) LSU Scott's black that hasn't given me any fruit yet, but it's happy this spring and has two leafy trunks.  It's going to spend this year in a 5 gallon container.  Next year it will go in ground when it's dormant.  I only have plain old Adriatic, not JH, but I think JH is better for cooler areas.  Adriatic does fine in my climate and is delicious.  My tree has 5 trunks and is full of fruit.  Don't think I need both Adriatics, do you?

I'm sure I'll be better soon.  Going to the Pulmonary doc Monday.  He'll figure this mess out for sure!  Thanks!

Suzi

Suzi,

Good to hear...that you have the proper mindset and confidence to get better. Also good to hear (but much less important) that you have Scott's Black. It is good. MVS Black is a prolific fig producer but not superior tasting to my buds. Pananas Purple or NdA?

I wish I could tell you there was or was not a difference between PO Adriatic and JH Adriatic. I cannot and the only other Adriatic I have is one from Grasa that 'might could' produce a few figs this season.

Hey Suzi. Our best wishes for a quick recovery! Preto sounds like a very good dark fig , And of course Smith. It is the one I'm missing also. I have a one year old negronne from bay Flora that produced a few figs on the first year and also tasted very promising. Give Vdb a chance. The do get better with age as do the LSU purple. A good mature LSU Purple tastes like a very good white honey fig in purple skin with 3 or more crops! In your type of climate I would definitely try a Brunswick also.
I hope you find your fig balance soon although it sounds like the next big paradox ! For all of us ! There will always be the one new fig that pops up to throw us off! ;)

ChrisK, thanks for the suggestions.  My VdBs are 6 years old.  I have 2 in ground, and they don't seem to like heat.  Their leaves droop at the first sign of it, when the rest of the figs planted near them thrive with the same watering program and the same heat.  I won't rip them out, but so far, the figs are pretty dry.  They won't even make good root stock because they are dwarf figs.  I think they are best in cooler climates.

What is balance?  Goal is to have color balance along with ripening season balance.  This is a long season here and they begin ripening May-July and stop in Oct-Nov, but I haven't kept records of which ripens when, so I guess this is the year to begin that process for this exact planting zone.  I also need to compare Breba vs Main crop flavors. 

Achieving balance isn't easy.

Suzi

Hey Suzi. Sorry to hear about the Vdbs. There is a site " planet fig.com" from the south of France worth visiting. The have evaluation on a few cultivars on the south of France ,Negronne being one of them. It is believed to be very closely related to Vdb( if not the same) and they explain a few things that might make sense in collaboration to your description. Maybe relocating them to a shady area or a spot where they benefit more from the early morning sun( Maybe NE of the plot or near a structure could give them some relief from the scorching afternoon sun. Also picking them a couple of days earlier could help with the dryness of the fruit as they tend to dry on the tree.
As far as grafting and since you like white figs it could make a good rootstock for Dalmatie or even Brunswick since they have similar growth habits and very good production per size. That could even help by extending your rippening season. You have two six year old established trees there( and nice ones to boot)and I think it is worth every effort ,saving or improving them! Best of luck with your efforts.:)

Suzi, I don't know enough to recommend varieties.  I have not had one fig from my plants over 4 yrs.  I hope you're on the mend, though...

VdB are wimpy in the heat but they should taste good.  You might want a fertilizer with micronutrients for them.  As far as other darks, have you considered Ronde de Bordeau, Figo Preto, AscPete's Bryant Dark, Hardy Chicago, Maltese Falcon & Beauty, Salem Dark, Col de Dame Gris & Noir, Celeste or Vista Mission?

@greenbud, not one fig in 4 years?  That doesn't seem right.  Maybe you should start a topic with photos and varieties and let the forum help you.

@rcantor, I have RdB and Hardy Chicago growing aggressively in ground and hope to taste their figs this year.  HC produced one big fat nice one last year, but figs improve  with age, so looking forward to this year.  I lost Maltese Falcon and Beauty in the mother of all fungus gnat infestations, and the others I never tried rooting.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Suzi