Looks amazing! You have done an awesome job! Thanks for sharing the pics!

the centre is so red.  must taste like jam

photo for a magazine

Jose,

An offspring is in the ground and the Mother tree (from the log) is in a large pot. The offspring is still about one year six months old and produced a few figs this year that were tasty. The three year old Mother tree is the one tree I would grab if I had only one to choose.

• Taste. Excellent as usual. Dark rich berry jam-like with a slight crunch.
• Productivity. Outstanding. 50+ figs. Mocking birds enjoyed 90% of them. I traveled for work quite a bit this summer and missed the growing season. I know the birds will be back next year because they have not left.
  
• Crops. Two main. July and October/November. It would likely make a third main crop if planted in South Florida. I am testing my theory.
  
• Distribution. I have shared cuttings and layers with fig friends and I will continue to do so again once I prune.
  

Jd, looks amazing! Thanks for the pictures and description! Looking forward to updates on this variant!

Oh my gosh!

The fig picture in post No.19 looks so scrumptious, mouth-watering delicious!!
I wonder how this fig type would work in Maryland? Wow!

Thanks for sharing you are bounty.

Hello JD, Have you compared the leaf shape with black madeira? To me the fruit looks very simular. The shape and insides are a perfect match. The skin colors have been known to have slight difference in climate and soil conditions. I would love to be able to grow here in New Jersey, to see if it would ripen by season end.

If anyone has some cuttings to sell or trade, please pm.



luke

Wow!  That is gorgeous!! Looks like a scoop of jam in there. I wonder how it would do in the wet and cooler northwest?  Thanks for sharing.
Sarah

Good comparison with Black Madiera, but I have both (lots of Socorro Black) and the BM is not nearly as hardy and I haven't managed to ripen a fig from the BM.

I would love to try it in southwest Florida!
As for the birds, I have had my problems with them and nothing really worked to scare them.
Now I got three cats and they stay away!
Sal
Z 10b

To my fig friends who have Socorro Black, please start a thread, add to this one, or send me a PM or email to share how it is growing where you are.

Luke,

I agree with Jose.

I have Black Madeira from UCD in the ground and in a pot. I also have another Black Madeira in a pot from a non-UCD source. Although it has fruited (and has fruit right now), BM has ripened exactly one fig in three plus years and that one was inedible. The fruit presents itself differently, the fruit shape is similar but Socorro Black has a concavity on the top that I have not noticed with Black Madeira. Finally, the pulp of Socorro Black (here in Florida) has a cavity that I have not yet noticed with Black Madeira.

As I type this, there is one Black Madeira that is trying to ripen. If the birds do not get it, I will. Unfortunately, I can almost guarantee that it will be tasteless and bland because there is not enough heat.

Hi Jimmie,

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to root the Black Socorro cuttings you generously provided, so no info on how it is growing across town.

My UCD BM, true to form is on one long continuous life-support journey with  it's little nub of a head and the same two leaves. Maybe by the time I'm 80, I'll see a fruit or two....or not.

Frank

JD,

my two cuttings have rooted. however, they are rather slow growing. RdB i rooted at the same time is over a foot long. the larger of SB cuttings has about 2" of growth and the smaller one just put out a leaf few months ago. my UCD BM is actually growing very well. they are all in 1 gal continer so the roots are restricted. i'll be moving all to 5 gal in the spring and pumping fertilizer to promote further growth.

Frank, are you 79? :)

JD and Jose, Have you compared the leaves? Reason for asking is, wondering if this could be healthy Black Madeira. With healthy version, things could be slightly different. But major thing would be, it would grow much faster and better. All of the other BM are infected badly and struggle to survive in not perfect conditions. Is the leaf even somewhat closely resemble. Does anyone have pictures to compare the two.


luke

Negative Luke. I have not compared the leaves. Will do once Spring springs.

JD, i was just digging thru the forum and came across these again. I have had not had the chance to compare the leaves. My Socorro Black so far has been a great fig and the mother tree was nearly 2 stories tall until an really bad arctic storm caused it to die back about a year ago. The storm even killed our rosemary bushes. Anyways, hope you are all well. Im hoping to grow an orchard of this variety at some point.. A guy can dream!

Jose,
I looked at the leaves recently but not to compare. Thank for the reminder.

Luke,
I am confident that they are different. I have Black Madeira from UCDavis and from a non UCDavis source. Black Madeira struggles to grow here even when well watered, neglected, potted, grounded, fertilized or some combination of the aforementioned. It does not like heat, humidity and rain. Socorro Black is better suited for life in 8B.