JD!  Man those look good.  I think you do have an IC.  My O'Rourke figs are grey in color, long and very sweet.  Awesome pics, Job well done!

Thanks Dennis! When you have a minute, will you please post photographs - full, eye, and cut - of your O'Rourke? I know that Gene C has posted photos of his O'Rourke which is clearly different from mine, I would like to see more.

Ronde de Bordeaux. My first RdB. It looked good but wasn't good. Picked it early because they pecked it. !@*&$#&^%#(*^!(&@!_@ birds. I wonder if the bird liked it or said 'Oops. That wasn't dead ripe.' and then flew away.' Speaking of dead...I am very happy that I do not see the birds nor do I have the time to wait and watch for them. Note: Tree originally received on 31 March 2010.

Fico Preto. Again, kinda looks good - the brown at the pulp-pith border was worrisome - but it was spit-it-out bad. The tree is potted and this was the first to ripen so maybe that has something to do with it. A few more left to ripen so I trust they will be edible at the very least. Note: Cutting originally received on 13 March 2010.

Is the weather too hot right now?

Dom,
Thanks for reminding me to include the particulars. The Fico Preto is on an east-facing covered patio that gets morning and partial afternoon sun. The RdB is on an east-facing house wall outside. This is my first time with ripening figs so I cannot answer your question yet. Our weather is close to being at those temps but with humidity and almost 30 degrees temp swing over a day (high 92 and low 63) likely has some impact.

Meanwhile, I covered the RdB with bird netting to protect a few that are still ripening and still today I find - yep - peck holes. I have more pressing concerns so hopefully, the birds will leave one or two to ripen. I sure hope they don't get trapped in that netting...

LSU Scott's Black. The constant drizzle and the mocking birds forced me to pick some figs yesterday evening. First, I noticed that I had figs dropping from several plants and others lost due to mocking bird attacks. Luckily, a couple LSU Scott's Black went unnoticed although the dark smaller one was worm infested. Notice the white worms around the eye of the fig in the sixth image. Finally, the two figs shown below are both labeled as LSU Scott's Black; one has a hollow cavity and the other does not, and come from extremely reliable sources. Edit. LSU Scott's Black produces excellent tasting figs. I concur with the high ratings (in terms of taste-flavor-complexity-productivity) given previously by Dan, Herman, Navid, and others.

Conadria. The constant drizzle impacted this fig as well. It was watery and bland. However, it is a larger fig with nice delicate crunch, a slightly figgy taste, and a closed eye. I look forward to tasting more next season.

Jimmie,  I had a couple of Green Ischia yesterday and they were like kissing my sister. I don't have a sister but if I did, and for some reason I did kiss her that's what it would probably be like.

Ok, I said too much.

Lol yeah now the real problem would be if she was your mother and aunt at the same time. Lol

Ants have been getting the better of me.  I had to early-pick my first ever Gino's Black on Monday.  Didn't taste that great.

JD
You well deserve all of the fig harvest and have a good reason to observe the coming 'Thanksgiving'.

See you soon Frank.

Thanks Akram. It has been an enjoyable journey to having more than one fig to taste.

JD,

Is it just me or does it look like something laid eggs in your fig, really near the eye?  (there are a couple in the other half also)

 

Could  be. For sure on images #5 & #6 of the Scott's Black post. I chose not to eat that one - when I can see something moving, I stand down. Those figs are two different trees in two different areas but when you have to lays eggs, it doesn't matter where you are. Note on Scott Black: the eye certain is neither closed nor sealed.

Fig Date W 12 October 2011. Soon after these figs, I thought about Martin and how multiple times every season he gets these types of harvests. We are overjoyed to have this first one. So yesterday was a good day.

In terms of the figs in the photos: LSU Purple, north of the Mason Dixon line, was the sweetest and most flavorful. Black Bethlehem in the southwest quadrant was good. And those in the southeast quadrant starting from the center: Sicilian Black JR (Not) was watery, Unknown Foxcroft was small and is likely a very good Celeste, and LSU Scott's Black was its typically very good tasting self. Note: Sicilian Black JR (Not) and one Foxcroft were eaten prior to the 2nd photograph.





The first four images attached are from a tree received on 19 February 2010 and labeled "Sicilian Black JR" as part of a bunch of cuttings that I purchased. I know I know: What's in a name? but not again. It was large, split, watery, and not the expected color; I'll chalk most of that up to two days of drizzle and the immaturity of the tree but what about the color of the fig? This is the only problem with growing trees from scion. After almost two years and I get a yet-to-be-determined surprise and I might have to wait another season to confirm my suspicions. Not complaining...just saying. It is the #1 reason I prefer and advocate for air layers and suckers.

The final two images are LSU Scott's Black.

JD thanks for posting your pictures.
Only a matter of time now when you need baskets to collect them in and  lots of batteries for your camera .
Rechargeable ones are nice but they wear out fast.  ; )

Martin, I sure hope so. It has been fun and more fun to have a harvest of more than one fig. Rechargeable batteries for sure.

Atreano. Easily the largest and most seed-related crunchy fig I have ever grown and eaten. This fig (picked today) was sweet and juicy but the taste could be better (it was weather related watery). It could also be what everyone says it is...a very good fig. I like it enough to keep it one more season even though I believe that several of the other figs highlighted in this thread are better.

wow, thats look delicious

Albuquerque White #2. Cuttings received on 25 February 2011. Very first ripe fig on 22 October 2011. I was intrigued, however, as soon as I picked this one - in addition to the less than dusty unpolished look - I should have known something was wrong because it was uncovered/unprotected and the birds had not "sampled" it like they have everything else. Now I know why. It might have been a good one but it went to the compost pile. Update: This first fig had issues. The second one to ripen (see post #52) looks more like what is expected.

those look really great!

JD, some great pictures of some great looking figs. You're a lucky man to be able to pick such a bunch of figs all at one time. Next year my in ground trees will be 3 years old and then maybe I'll be getting a plate full. This season it's been one fig at the time off of each plant, some lucky days I get two, although I must say that my Cajun Gold  gave me plenty, but they are 4 and 5 years old. My LSU Tiger has been a good one given me some nice figs since mid summer and still has some ripening now. My O'Rourke has been a disappointment, only giving me a few small figs. My regular Celeste produces more and better.  Of course this was it's first year in the ground and first year bearing figs. I also have an Improved Celeste, but it's in a 3 gallon pot to be planted in the ground this coming Spring. It gave me no figs this year.
"gene"

JD & Gene - Thanks for the feedbacks from your zone. I am experimenting growing some fig variants in similar climatic zone. So far the better ones are Conadria & LSU Tiger. Any chance you have any info on how Sal's EL performs in your zone ? I am not sure whether I should have both growing there like I have in Canada.

Paully,
About Sal's EL.
Fruiting. It budded in late August/early September here in 8B. The first fruit ripened earlier this month. It fruited very well but the ripening has been slower than most of the other figs. Probably because it needs to be up-potted.
Growth. It is a vigorous grower. The roots have grown out of its pot and into the ground. I have pinched it twice and it is still six feet tall.
Taste. I do not know. I could have to ask a mocking bird and I suppose the bird would say it was very good because instead of pecking a customary whole in the fig only few flaps of fig were left.

Gene,
No question that I am both lucky and blessed. Two plus (2+) years starting from twigs and now we get to enjoy some of the fruits of the labor of love.