This year in central Texas has been very weird.  ** I tried to post pics, will have to look into how to some other time.

Spring started with a very late frost, killing back all new growth on figs which was close to a foot or more on some and ruining plums, etc.

 June was really wet and cool, later our normally dry August was cool and wet, and our October which is the 2nd wettest month on average was dry.

This took it's toll on my figs fruit.  I had exponentially more figs than the previous year, but got to eat (and enjoy) fewer than last year.  Most succumbed to splitting, and/or souring, then later came fruit flies, even though I never let a fruit hit the ground (they go to my chickens), fruit flies have been very hard to control.

And yet because of all the rain I had tremendous growth so a silver lining in an otherwise lousy fruit year.

Lots of figs still hanging, taunting me.

Preto was my #1 tasting fig last year, this year the 10 that have "ripened" so far soured, and or split.
Same with CdDB, Blk Madeira and CdDN 
Bourjassote Noir I got one good tasting one out of a few dozens.

Pics of 2 year old Preto with 130 figs still unripe in November.


Tops in my yard this year:

#1 Vista  Out of the hundreds of figs that were produced, I got maybe 20-30 ripe un-spoiled ones.

I originally purchased VdB from a Cali collector, and also got a UCDavis VdB,  both grew so slowly because of FMV I never propagated them. Another from out east also showed FMV, grew slowly (these still produce good fig fruits).

Then I got cuttings of Vista, and VdB from Fatnsassytexan and these have been great growers, all my cuttings from him have done very well. 4th time is the charm.  I see why some say it is mediocre for them, but after getting a "good" one this fig has it all here in our heat, and continues to be the fig all others are judged against.  Vista/VdB is a moderate grower, moderate rooter.

Nero600 and Piccola Negretta from my first year trees taste remind me of VdB, but seem to be more agressive growers so far.

#2 Smith  Ripened in July in the window between June, and August rains and was fantastic, very rich flavor. I got to eat the most of these fully ripe. Fast grower at first, then moderate.

#3 JHA and MLK  What a disappointment for me.  I have 4 espaliered Japanese style (sorta) one JHA and three MLK, all four produced zero fig fruits.
But I also have several JHA and many MLKs in ground growing normally and pots and got lucky enough to eat several dozen MLKs and a few JHA that didn't sour. Still bunches hanging :(

A little edge goes to MLK, but possibly due to I had more to try. Both are like premium strawberry jam, sometimes hints of raspberry.  If allowed (lucky) to dry a bit to concentrate, wow, you could spread mashed fig right on your toast. Fruits look identical, but leaves are quite different, both grow moderately, but MLK roots quicker for me.

# 3.5 RdB  When I can find one un split or not attacked by flies it is delicious fig, keeps producing figs all season like VdB and a few others.  Fast growing, and easy rooter.

#4 St. Rita  Pumped out hundreds of figs on a 2 year old tree, I got to eat less than a quarter of them, the rest soured. Berry flavored, but not as complex as RdB or VdB. Fast grower at first, then more moderate.

#5 Black Greek, Tacoma Violet and MBVS  These three were my most productive figs, and produced some really great fruit if allowed to dry a little to concentrate flavor.  I still only got less than a quarter of the crop that was edible.  MBVS is Fast grower, Blk Greek and TV were moderate growers.

All of my Mt. Etnas split the least with rain than any other fig (ALL figs had some splitting), but fruit flies attacked the same regardless.

#6  Sultane  I only got a few so far that weren't soured, these are very good, but not having enough to compare it is pushed down on the list.  Sultane is a quick rooter and a fast grower like LdA.

#7 Loungue d'Aout and Calderwood  These are two entirely different trees, but equal in taste imo.
Not saying they taste the same, they don't.

Both of these are large fruited, very productive, fast growing and fruit flies took their toll. LdA slightly berrish, sweet, Calderwood reminds me of a large, juicy, slightly less sweet Celeste. 

Sorry for the lack of pictures, without them, presentation is, well dry.  I'll learn to post them before I post again.

Are all these in the ground? Most of my fig trees are in pots. Many were disappointing when it came to production. I thought that I should blame it on aggressive pruning, but when some did not produce at all, then it had to be the weather. As for fruit flies, don't have that problem yet, but my yard is 100% sun with no shade anywhere.
My Violette de Sollies inground, did not produce nor shown any real growth this year. I'm going to give it about four years to get established. Based on what Im seeing don't expect much from an inground tree before five years. I know it sounds like a long time, but that's my observation with the soil that I'm dealing with in Texas.

Sas, All but the CdDB and Smith are in ground (although I have these in ground now too).

I have been keeping copies in pots, but this is turning out to be way too much work watering everyday.

I was wondering the same thing about aggressive pruning, since I did as well, especially on the espaliers.

Or possibly fertilizer? I skipped all older trees this year and all manure went to trees I put in ground this year.

TorontoJoe, Thanks!  I will try that after some more coffee.