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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > finally.. Kathleen's Black main crop.
 
 


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bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
so.. here it is. it looks about a day or two short from completely ripe. however, i noticed with breba if i let it ripen longer, the inside turns mushy. so i took it off today. i'll leave others longer to see how they taste.

this fig, so far, has been a bit of a diappointment. don't get me wrong. it's not BT. it has sweetness, and it has crunch. however, i'm not impressed. it doesn't have that 'wow' i get when i bite into VdB. it doesn't have that simple satisfying taste of Paradiso Gene. it's just.. not too bad, but nothing to write home about. maybe it's cause this is first year it's putting out the fig? maybe our weather here isn't working for the tree? i'm not sure. maybe it's simply i have been waiting too long for it.

the fig itself is definitely sweet, not overwhelmingly sweet, but it's got very light syrup kinda sweetness to it. no didn't really pick up on any other fruit taste. the crunch was definitely there, but also.. not very much.

VdB main as 5, i'll give this 3.

enjoy...

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jpeg KB.jpg (94.43 KB, 254 views)
jpeg KB_branch.jpg (84.77 KB, 595 views)
jpeg KB_eye.jpg (71.72 KB, 14 views)
jpeg KB_profile.jpg (73.63 KB, 18 views)


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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****

mnedelcu

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
This is a fine looking fig.Thanks for the pictures.
Dieseler

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Bullet im no expert and do not have this type but it very well could be it needs a few years before its meets your expectations .
Negretta did this to me as it was on its way out the yard and then Bam !
Quite a surprise.

I understand where your coming from first time my hardy chicago and Vdb produced they had that wow factor.
My Ronde was almost as good and then the second time it produced it was excellent for my palate.

One for example and iv'e learned to ignore chart ratings is Native de Argentile which last season first time i taste and somewhat of a mealy texture and i was not impressed this year time will see if it improves.
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Martin,

I agree with you. I'll give it few more years. It does have potential.

I had to go out and get a VdB to clean my taste buds... J/K!
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
shah8

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
*sigh*

Today, I saw a nice, bigger Petite Negri fruit that had that cracking skin, and given my bad lip reaction (I think) to eating other early not quite ripe enough, I decided, it needs another couple of days, better put some newspaper on it.  I go inside for a couple of hours, and when I got back out, that fruit was g.o.n.e.  Jeez.  Early fruits have been about 20g.  I wrapped that newspaper on some other fig that's a longer way away from ripening...

So be glad you got that fig at all, man...
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Especially desired figs: UCD 187-25, UCD 200-48, UCD 157-17, UCD 309-B1, Princesa, Black Madeira, high quality sugar fig that ripens Sept-Oct.

Probable desired fig: Smith, St Jean, JH Adriatic, CddB, Gulbun, Pastilliere, Sucrette

Rooting:  Smith, CDDB--this pretty much means I have my fun tries (tho' important since they are truly desirable), and only interested for this year: Gulbun, BM, 187-25, or something wildly exotic or precious that nobody has any good reason to send me.
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Sorry to hear that... darn tree rats and flying vermin..
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
BLB

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Your fig looks great. I'm kinda surprised you didn't like the taske more, but then it is young. It will definitely improve.
BLB

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Your fig looks great. I'm kinda surprised you didn't like the taske more, but then it is young. It will definitely improve.
pyxistort

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Nice looking fig.  You are so lucky to be able to compare taste of many varieties of figs.  
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Scott
Kirkland, WA Zone 7b/8a?
Wish List: Florea , Malta Black, Nordland, Negretta, Nero 600
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
scott,

i only have 4 trees that's putting on the figs. however, i canstill compare them :) next year, i should be able to compare more, but most of the trees are going to  be still young. but weather here is working out very nice for the figs.
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
barry,

i'm not sure what i'm doing wrong to this tree, but this tree has been not up there since i got it. i'm hoping the taste will improve over the years. the fig is good size and it's ripening well now. there are handful that's turning color so i'll update as i get to taste more.
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
Herman2

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
"i noticed with breba if i let it ripen longer, the inside turns mushy. so i took it off today. i'll leave others longer to see how they taste."

!!!!!
This is not a breba flower,this is a fruits,you made a mistake,that fruit is not ripe,so it is ,Flavorless, as Flavor is gained in the last three days till it is totally ripe.
Also due to high heat,the plants shut down in the last week,and do not ripe properly as they do not feed fruits anymore when Temperature is 100F.
They only feed fruits a couple of hours in the morning and in the evening,but not during the day.
My other fruits ,Blackberry,Gooseberry,Peaches,etc,are huge, beautiful,but ,sour,and salted like as they suffered from heat too,and so they are nothing like the taste in other cooler Summers.
Tomatoes However being a warm weather type fruit ,are doing very well despite the High Temperature,and taste just fine.
Global warming is at work here.
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 

herman,

it can't be the heat. my VdB and Paradiso Gene are on the same area as the KB. they are producing amazing figs this year. unless KB just can't take the heat, i doubt that is the main issue.

however, i do notice that Paradiso Gene has gain better flavor than last. i'm leaning more towards KB just not being old enough. maybe second or third season will provide better fig.


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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
Herman2

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Pete:Paradiso Gene is not doing very well here at all.
It only ripe a few fruits and the rest do not ripe till end of season.
That is because it needs more heat than NJ can have.
Kathleen Black by the contrary do ripe fruits just fine.
So do not consider all cultivars ,the same when taking on the heat,by the contrary they are very different.
I do agree the age of plant is a factor,but other factors are also at work,and so one will find only a few cultivars that are able to take the local conditions just fine and properly ripe fruits.
What is nice is that there are hundreds of cultivars to choose from,and with a little luck we can select the ones adapted to our local climate.
Of course I am not suggesting you get rid of Kathleen Black,however in order to minimize disappointment,I would encourage you to grow it in ground for better taste and flavor.
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
i have one that's about at a point where i like my figs.. i think i'm going to leave it alone until it shrivels a little. it's already nicely cracked.
__________________
Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
this one was better, taste was up there with Paradiso Gene. but some how the texture is little off. not sure how to describe it. it's little grainy, if that makes sense. it wasn't smooth like VdB or Paradiso. but the taste was definitely there.



Attached Images
jpeg KB.jpg (83.74 KB, 133 views)
jpeg KB_crak.jpg (77.16 KB, 18 views)
jpeg KB_eye.jpg (63.23 KB, 12 views)


__________________
Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****

shah8

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Posts: 657
Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Judging by my Petite Negri experience so far this year, for main crop...it's a combination of yet still too early, and that this isn't the heart of the bearing season.  The last PNs I tried jumped from being around 20g to 25-30g, with a rather savory musky cucumber taste along with normal sweet fig tastes--and it's just really hard to resist picking these things too early, since they're edible and good black but not really ripe.  That fruit has to *droop* and shrink a bit.  If it's black and still sticking out horizontally, it's good but not truly done yet.  The later ripening fruits should be better and bigger in my case, I think, and so shall yours, Pete.
__________________
Especially desired figs: UCD 187-25, UCD 200-48, UCD 157-17, UCD 309-B1, Princesa, Black Madeira, high quality sugar fig that ripens Sept-Oct.

Probable desired fig: Smith, St Jean, JH Adriatic, CddB, Gulbun, Pastilliere, Sucrette

Rooting:  Smith, CDDB--this pretty much means I have my fun tries (tho' important since they are truly desirable), and only interested for this year: Gulbun, BM, 187-25, or something wildly exotic or precious that nobody has any good reason to send me.
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