VDB Doing Much Better in the Desert Heat Once Established

FrozenJoe
1312136636

I want to post this update in case anyone living in a hot desert climate is considering growing Violette de Bordeaux.

Earlier in the year I commented in a post that VDB was showing signs of stress from the Arizona heat. I was concerned that this variety wasn't going to do well here because the heat curled up its leaves quite badly. Here's what the tree looked like back in May when it started to get hot:

Here is what the same tree looks like today:

This tree needed time to get established and develop its roots. It has been a strong grower and is prolific in making fruit. I have been eating figs from it for most of July. The leaves of this variety are prone to curl when the humidity is low and temperatures are high, but it does NOT affect the performance of the tree. This one is definitely a keeper in the desert. The fruit is rich and sweet.

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Dan_la
1312136747

Great job..........

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

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FrozenJoe
1312139675

Thanks Dan. But the tree did all the work :)

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TucsonKen
1312157749

Very nice, Joe. My VdB isn't quite that large yet, but it's growing well and putting out figs. The very few that ripened were tiny, but I think it is just because the tree is still so young. It may still be able to ripen some larger fruit this summer, but if not, my fingers are crossed for next year!

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FrozenJoe
1312162104

Ken,

Hope you get some good fruit this year. I'm blessed because this tree was given to me last fall by another forum member from AZ. It was only 1 or 2 feet tall because he had taken lots of cuttings from it, but it was a few years old and had a good root system. It's been able to support lots of new growth this year.

My VDB seems to ripen fruit in crops. It formed about a dozen brebas. This current crop is about 3 dozen figs. The last half dozen or so are still ripening up now. It is putting out a flush of new figlets that will form a third crop later in the year. I think there is still plenty of time for you to get figs from your tree. This fig has a small eye, but it's open, so I've been trying to pick ripe figs before the ants get to them.

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