Original thread about this fig is here:  http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Hardy-Chicago-5023931

I wanted to create a unique thread for this fig in case anyone else was interested in it - I know I've handed out a few trees to members based on cuttings I got from Bill and grew.

I'm almost convinced that this tree is a Sal's EL/Gene, it's extremely similar to my Sal's EL/Gene, to the letter.  The potted tree acts, tastes and looks nearly identical although the production of my younger tree looks a bit different from Bill's pics.

My main tree is ~6ft tall right now, trunk caliper almost 2", most branches at 3/4" - 1" calipre.  I pulled one fig off my tree before leaving on vacation a couple of days early.  I pulled one yesterday that was well ripe (not dead ripe) and it was pretty good.  The flavors were like a light berry jam, nice and sweet.  Little seed crunch.  Soft, jelly insides.

Here's the most recent fruit I cut off.

Like the "actual" Sal's EL/Gene that I have, this tree holds up very well to rain.  I have figs splitting all over the place on my Sal's Corleone and it's worthless if you get the least bit of rain while the figs are ripening (explosion central).

Owensboro is a good fig in my book so far.  Negronne and Hardy Chicago are still higher up on my list, but this is one that I plan to keep in my collection if it turns out NOT to be a Sal's EL/Gene.

What's up fellow local, speaking of Negronne, you manage to get decent fruit?

Jason,

Can you post pics of your tree and leaf shapes?

Jason, why the difference in skin color? When I looked at the original pics on the link you posted, they look very dark. Even the pulp looks darker. Not saying this fig doesn't look mighty tasty, cause it does. But it looks like two different figs to me. I will be in search of cuttings for this one this fall.

luke

@shah8 - Negronne is awesome in our area. Search te forums for topics with "Negronne" (in the subject only) an you'll find my thread with pics from this year.

@Ruben - pics to come tonight.

@luke - maybe the parent tree has different sun conditions or something? Maybe the fruit in Bill's thread is breba and this is main crop? Could be climate related as well, he is in KY, I'm in GA, different climate and USDA zones. Could be an issue of age and health of the tree as well. I really have no clue, I just root what people send me ;)

Well, I meant the main season figs, not the springs.  I got washed out of my PN main season, but your Negronne was later, and I wondered if they've had the chance to ripen in drier weather.

I have several main crop figs on my Negronne this year (tree is ~8' tall), will let you know later.  My trees ripen figs through December, sometimes later.

Here is a dead-ripe pic of an Unknown Owensboro.  I'm still working on the leaf pics.

Meanwhile, here is a pic of my main Owensboro tree (see red arrow), and here are the leaf shapes and unripe fruit for Owensboro.  Note that the fruit is affected by FMV (or whatever virus cocktail my trees have), it reacts to the virus same way that Sal's EL/Gene and a few other trees do.

Folks, I know Bill doesn't pop by the forum and comment much, but that man has an awesome unknown on his hands.  Hands down, Unknown Owensboro has been one of the best producing and best tasting figs in my collection.  Bill was really generous with the cuttings he sent me a year or two ago, and I know I've given a few clones of this one away... if you don't have one yet, you need one. 

Here's the one I ate tonight.  Dark fruity, jammy, clean finish, not a lot of acid and only the lightest little crunch to it.  This is a fig everyone should have in its collection.  The leaf, fruit size & shape, traits and ripening is very similar to Bass' Bethlehem Black, but this one if a 9/10 in flavor while Bethlehem Black is more of a 7/10 or 8/10 (no disrespect intended, just being honest).  Both would be awesome to have in a collection.

This one was left on the tree till nicely ripe - note that the skin wrinkles and cracks a bit when ripe like Celeste does.  The skin gets a bit of a flat frost to it when ripe also.  Closed eye, which is awesome for east coast. 

Real winner here.  JH Adriatic main crop and Negronne breba is still better than this, but this beats almost everything else in my collection.  I will probably have cuttings of this available when dormancy comes, so ... if I've traded with you before, add this to your list and get back to me in December.

Jason that red is fabulous... looks awesome on the inside... talk about not judge a book by the cover huh?

It's just a mindful reminder to never discount unknowns ;)

nice fig Jason. I got to get one of those one day.

Dennis, I'm happy to send you some cuttings of it at end of year.  Your post above, you were one of the first people I was going to reach out to.

This tree has one wonky branch that has to come off, and it's bout 4' long.

Wow Jason! I'm very glad to see how well this tree has done for you. It's also great to hear it getting such good reviews. Just never know what I might be missing when I don't check in often enough :).

I've only had a couple of fruit from mine. They were good but I haven't given my little tree all the attention it needs. The pics of my fruit, that were being referred to in this thread, weren't of fully developed fruit from a fully developed tree. I'm sure fruit size and character will change as my tree grows and is given proper attention. 

I should have cuttings of this tree available within a couple of weeks at most. It is a bitter sweet prospect though. I won't be able to give them away since they will be coming from my buddies trees. And that's the deal we've always had worked out. He is the one who "discovered" this variety growing in Owensboro, KY and has had it growing in his greenhouse for a good number of years now (maybe 10 yrs or so).

I will offer these cuttings first here though instead of going straight to eBay with them. I'd much rather them go to the good stewardship of forum members first anyway. Just keep an eye out if you're interested in getting this one. I'll start a new thread for making them (among other varieties) available.

Nice sized cuttings will be offered @ $2.each.

I wonder if its related to UCD Barnissotte?  The leaf look different but that fig skin color immediately reminded me of the first Barnissotte fig I had this year with that dark and green color.  Link here to Barnissotte   http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/UCD-Barnissotte-6006893?highlight=barnissotte

Jason, The pics in post #7 look alot like the Calabria fig that I sent out. Sounds alot like your fig in taste.

Art

Goodness, after reading through this thread, I think I screwed up just getting IH and Salce when Bill offered cuttings a while back.  UO sounds like a fantastic fig!  The wishlist grows yet again lol.

GreenFin,
  Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.
I think the appropriate response is "D'Oh!"
Jim

Italian Honey