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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Black Madeira, remove figs?!?
 
 


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blueboy1977

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Would you remove these 2 figs? I got this BM from KK last Oct and I'm currently air layering the lower branch for a awesome forum buddy;-) As much as I want to taste BM I don't want to stress this plant at all at such a young age. I'm afraid putting on figs and making roots might be too much. Not only that but from what I've read first year figs aren't that impressive any way. What would you do?

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Rob
Zone 9a/9b were the too meet. South Houston Tx

Growing:  Black Madeira, Smith, LSU Scott's Black, Improved Celeste, VDB, MBvs, RDB, Unknown Peach/Apricot, Salce, Malta Black, Texas BA-1, JH Adriatic, Atreano, CDDN, CDDB, CDDG, Strawberry Verte
DallasFigs

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Tree looks healthy and well established.  I'd leave em there.
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James - Irving, TX - Zone: 8a

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fignutty

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
I'd leave them also. The plant looks very healthy, is growing great, and it's only two figs.
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Steve in Alpine TX 7b/8a
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javajunkie

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
After tasting a fig off my first year Black Madiera last year, I would pull them off. It tasted awful and that's the thing in the forefront of my mind now. If I had it to do over I would have pulled it off and trashed it and still be looking forward to a delicious fig off the tree. As it stands now, I'm not so sure I care if it gets another one.
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Tami
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fignutty

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
I've never had a bad fig off Strawberry Verte. If something else can't measure up it's gone after 2-3 crops. I don't care how fancy the name.

If we were worried about a variety not measuring up then I guess we shouldn't ever let it fruit.
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Steve in Alpine TX 7b/8a
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javajunkie

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
If we were worried about a variety not measuring up then I guess we shouldn't ever let it fruit. 

Can you explain what you mean by that Steve?
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Tami
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fignutty

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
No secret meaning, just what it says. If a variety isn't going to measure up we can either find out now or put off the bad news a few years by pulling off the fruit. I'd rather know asap. If it's better in yr two or three I'll forget all about that first bad fig. But I've seldom seen much change yr 1 to 2 or 3. Ya it's happened, not often.
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Steve in Alpine TX 7b/8a
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jdsfrance

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Hi blueboy,
I would let her fruit . If the tree is stressed, she will drop the figs by herself.
That tree looks old enough to be able to handle those fruits.
If the fruit's taste is not the best ; It doesn't matter, at least you could compare later on when the taste gets better :) .
I always want to test things by myself :) .
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javajunkie

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Steve, it seems you have had a different experience than most on here. A good number of the better varieties improve immensely after three years.
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Tami
SE Texas
fignutty

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Tami:

The likely reason is that older figs are less vigorous. Less vigorous because of lower nitrogen, less water, and perhaps more root bound. Or just the fact that the top has caught up with the root volume, pot or soil. If I understand why the quality is lower and I potentially have control at some point then I'm not concerned. I'd still like to taste the fruit as soon as possible, good or bad. But that's just my opinion.
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Steve in Alpine TX 7b/8a
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cis4elk

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
I go with leave them. A couple figs are no problem for that tree. If you want good growth, I would remove all the newer ones as they form though. There is the line between some crop and over-crop, and a tree that size could be easily over cropped.
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Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6
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blueboy1977

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Sweet, thanks for all the replies! I believe I will leave those 2 but remove any more that show them selves.
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Rob
Zone 9a/9b were the too meet. South Houston Tx

Growing:  Black Madeira, Smith, LSU Scott's Black, Improved Celeste, VDB, MBvs, RDB, Unknown Peach/Apricot, Salce, Malta Black, Texas BA-1, JH Adriatic, Atreano, CDDN, CDDB, CDDG, Strawberry Verte
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
i would take them off. i just made below update on another thread.

two things. 1st yr fig usually doesn't taste all that good. 2nd, leaving on the fig will take energy away from vegitative growth. 

so... ideal situation is to take figs off on 1st yr cutting. more growth this yr will support better tasting figs next yr, and more of them. 

i left some figs last yr in 1st yr cuttings. i was lucky, some of them were great. but the trees didn't grow as well as ones that didn't have the figs on. the trees with figs on were thinner and isn't fatting up as quickly as others.
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Pete
Durham, NC
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"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...*****
Aaron4USA

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
@Rob, taste-wise, just like several people say it's not worth the trouble because it's the first year fruit. Otherwise the plant is big enough to support few figs to satisfy your curiosity on the looks ;)
Bottom-line, you don't have to remove the flowers if you really want to see what they look like ripe.
blueboy1977

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
I went ahead and pulled them off. I'm in it for the long haul anyway, growing fruit isn't a sprint, it's a marathon!!!!!!
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Rob
Zone 9a/9b were the too meet. South Houston Tx

Growing:  Black Madeira, Smith, LSU Scott's Black, Improved Celeste, VDB, MBvs, RDB, Unknown Peach/Apricot, Salce, Malta Black, Texas BA-1, JH Adriatic, Atreano, CDDN, CDDB, CDDG, Strawberry Verte
dfoster25

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Keep it!
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dfoster25

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Ooops!  Sorry.   LOL
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hoosierbanana

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
You will see more soon and get to decide again, I say leave a couple because I know you have the skills and climate to do it. If your tree starts looking bad then by all means knock them off. 
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blueboy1977

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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
Thanks Hoosier, I might leave one. Surprisingly it one of my strongest growers right now so I'm sure it can handle a few figs but at the same time I want it to keep on growing strong in the first year .
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Rob
Zone 9a/9b were the too meet. South Houston Tx

Growing:  Black Madeira, Smith, LSU Scott's Black, Improved Celeste, VDB, MBvs, RDB, Unknown Peach/Apricot, Salce, Malta Black, Texas BA-1, JH Adriatic, Atreano, CDDN, CDDB, CDDG, Strawberry Verte
hoosierbanana

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
Technically that is 2nd year because it had roots last season. I bet it will grow so much you get sick of knocking them off ; )
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cis4elk

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
That's what I kept thinking. This isn't a first year plant, but either way it's not my choice. Your tree looks real nice.
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Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6
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DallasFigs

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
I got my BM from KK last October too.   It's growing well and also has 2 decent sized figs on it now.  Looks like your's is growing as well as mine, which has double in height since breaking dormancy in March.
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James - Irving, TX - Zone: 8a

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Quackmaster

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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
I got mine from kk last summer, it was shipped with 3 nice size figs on the bottom of the tree and I left them there to ripen, I left it in the pot through the winter and put it in ground at first sign of spring and it has about 10 nice size figs already. Oh and as far as the first year fruit it was pretty good so I can't wait to try the next ones.
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blueboy1977

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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
Mine has grown very well. It's tripled in size from when it broke dormancy. I did leave in fig on it and it's about an inch long and wide so I will be able to taste it this year. From the looks of it I will be trying BM and my 2nd year LSU Purple. The Purple has one breba on it and is loaded with main crop figs. BM and Malta Black have been my strongest growers this season. The MB was started in Feb as a cutting and is 3ft talk now and still pushing hard.
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Rob
Zone 9a/9b were the too meet. South Houston Tx

Growing:  Black Madeira, Smith, LSU Scott's Black, Improved Celeste, VDB, MBvs, RDB, Unknown Peach/Apricot, Salce, Malta Black, Texas BA-1, JH Adriatic, Atreano, CDDN, CDDB, CDDG, Strawberry Verte
schaplin

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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
Sounds like a great plant and off to a good start.  Enjoy and wish you much luck with it.
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figgary

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Posted Reply with quote  #26 
I'm glad that KK doesn't ship to California.... saves me a lot of money! His plants always look great. I  would have left the figs, but I get why you didn't. Nice plant blueboy.
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Gary in CA 9A  Seeking: Bebera Branca*, Colonel Littman's Cross
armando93223

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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
KK: He won't ship to us...????  LOL    I don't ship to East Rutherford NJ.....LOL    
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Armando in the Heart of California
  
WillsC

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Posted Reply with quote  #28 
Armando,

It isn't his fault it is your states regulations......
armando93223

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Posted Reply with quote  #29 
Yea WillisC,  We have very strict regulations, I have been hearing good comments about KK's cuttings / trees.  I picked a Black Madiera tree and in the process of trying to duplicate it. My dream is to have an orchard of Black Madieras....LOL
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Armando in the Heart of California
  
Figinfever

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Posted Reply with quote  #30 
So the consensus is for the first couple of years, a fig or two won't affect growth much if the plant is healthy/ from KK?

Quote:
Originally Posted by armando93223
My dream is to have an orchard of Black Madieras....LOL


Me too. The second step is Black Madeira jam, preserve, salad, pie...
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Dan, West Central FL 9a

Wishlist- Great tasting dark or light figs with deep red interiors: White Madeira, Craven's Craving, Portugal Black Madeira, Sultani, Violeta, USDA Black Ischia, Dall'Osso, CdDB or CdDB-N
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