Should LSU purple figs be purple? I bought this tree last year at Whole Foods and it has a bunch of figs but the ones that appear ripe are not purple. I ate one the other day and it didn't have much flavor. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Definitely not an Lsu purple

Not lsu purple. Funny thing leaves look like purple. I will post a pic of my ripe purple

Here some pics

Thanks for the pics! Nice looking fruit.

I would try and pic a ripe fig and let it set out for 24 hours,and then taste it. You may be very surprised on the flavor improvement

is it possible that those are LSU Gold figs instead of LSU purple. i think they kinda look like the LSU gold fruits and ive heard they dont have much flavor but are sweet.

Lsu gold is my favorite fig this year. It is a squaty shape fig. With thick awsome flavor. It may not be as good in o5her parts of the states without extremely hot summers like here in Louisiana. I have also read post of people saying it was not a good fig. Read that about purple too. These may be figs for the south.

I've heard a number of people say that LSU purple had very little taste. First,the tree needs to be mature,about 5 years old. Next, they have to be left on the tree until they are dead ripe. Leaving them to sit overnight  after picking will bring out the flavor. When these requirements are met, there isn't a better fig. I would say that the same is true for LSU Gold.

I hope Kane doesn't mind an add on question. That being is LSU Purple slow to bear fruit? Two yrs and it's the only one of 30 varieties with no fruit.

I have cuttings that i grew that i took last november from the lsu feild that has fruit on it now. I will take a pic. They really rooted easily. I have them maked unknown but they are now fruiting so i can see what is what. Some of the cuttings got mixed up when i took them lol

Steve - I have only my limited experience to go on - my LSU Purple is in it's 2nd year and has an average number of figs.  No taste to report yet.

My only ones that will not give me figs this year, in their second year, is a St Anthony and a Raspberry Latte, both of which just started with figs late in the past 2 weeks, long past when I could ripen them in time.  Well, and my Desert King which dropped the breba figs after getting hit with 38 degrees in the fig shuffle in May

Ed thanks for your input. It's probably my growing conditions holding back LSUP.

I think you have a LSU Gold.
The Purple is known for being a slow developer with flavor getting better each successive year.  I have not been able to tell the difference in flavor between in ground and potted trees(my pots are 40+ gallons).

As with all LSU figs, they were developed for the set of conditions found in Southern Louisiana and anything other may have effect on the growth and flavor of the fig.

Gold grows and ripens right agaist the branch were as others figs droops down when ripe. It is,also a wide short fig too.

Kane -- what color is the interior of your fig? That may help. Also, I usually think of the LSUs having broader leaves. Your slender lobes remind me a little of Conadria.

I bought an LSU Purple from Whole Foods last year as well.  Uppoted before the fall of 2014 into 8 gallon pot, and I have more figs on this tree then I ever expected.  The only problem is the fruit is continually dropping.  Some start to turn purple, but drop before they get that black-purple coloring. The tree is on my deck, and the deck is pure hot sun from 11a - 7p.  Temp readings on the boards can reach over 130dgf.  It needs to be watered every day or it droops.  Just can't keep it from dropping figs.  Still has about 4-6 dozen smallish figs on it, so I am hopeful.  Had one or two that got near full ripe and the flavor was not much to brag about, figgy and a touch of sweet.  The tree has beautiful shape, just not happy with how it drops fruit.  Other trees on my deck are not dropping fruit (including my JH Adriatic, White Votato, and UNK OBX (found in the outer banks), White Triana).   Would have thought a tree bred for the hot humid conditions of Louisiana would not struggle with the triple H's of the Delmarva Peninsula. 

More to your question, when mine have reached the size you have shown in your picture, they are already starting to turn purple.  But only a few have reached that size.  Smallish figs on my LSU Purple.  Good Luck!

Richdel,  It almost sounds like you may have a Celeste (smallish/fig drop). 

I don't know if this will be of any help in identifying,but LSU Purple figs are pyriform in shape much like their mother Hunt,and the stem will have a red color as the  figs approach ripeness.

My LSU Purple has figs that are pyriform in shape.  I have one small/medium now that is near ripe.  Just went to look at stem color, but it is not red (yet).  Will keep an eye on it.  Thanks.

Here is a pic of the inside of the not so LSU PURPLE. Tried to eat one again today, and really no flavor. Very disappointing because this tree produced a ton of fruit. Thanks for everyone's comments and insight. I'm still rather new to growing figs and I enjoy learning from everyone on this forum.

Hi Kane,
If they are missing flavor, and you have a lot,try to make jam with them.
Because you'll add sugar to make the jam, it may help making them more interesting.

Kane i have a lsu purple i can give you for free. I have a good many that rooted. They came from lsu ag center. Let me know and i can get it out to you

also would probably be a good candidate for drying.  That condenses the flavor somewhat

My first fully ripe LSU Purple.

 

[QUOTE=Richdel]My first fully ripe LSU Purple.

 [/QUOTE]
Richdel which area you from. I noticed the difference in look from your purple then mine. I have found this to happen with alot of varieties. Environmental change effects the fruit. Not that yours looks bad lol. Just different. I am in Louisiana.

In Delaware, zone 7A, a few miles from Southeast Pennsylvania.
Like I said earlier, most of my figs from this tree have been dropping before
they reach full maturity.  This one has gotten the closest, so I thought I would
take a picture of it.  I will post another picture later after I cut it open.

Didn't get to taste it, my son ate it, he won't be here when the remaining figs are ripe (heading back to college).  He said very sweet, and figgy.  Sounds good to me. 

 

Richdel - I do not think that you have a LSU Purple, not sure what it is but pretty sure it is not a LSU Purple.  IMO

Definitely not lsu purple. Actually looks very awsome looks very richie in flavor. I have a lsu purple with figs on it THAT NEEDS A NEW HOME Offered it to kane but havent heard from him yet. Your second in line if you want it. Its grew from cuttings from lsu's fig field. I will let you know if kane gets it or not.
CAN YOU POST A PIC OF THE LEAF. ?

Here is a picture of the leaf I just took.

 

Richie- I would love to get one of your LSU purple figs. Should I send you a pm? Sorry for the delayed response, working too many hours. I really appreciate the offer.
Thanks!
Kane

I just need you address. So send it to me and will get it out in the morning. Its got one nice size fig on it and a good many small ones. Enjoy.

After an hour or so of scouring the the fig database, and remembering the 5 or so type of figs that Whole Foods was selling last year, I have come to 100% conclusion that I have a Celeste fig tree rather then an LSU Purple fig tree.
I am really disappointed since I have been looking for almost a year to try and locate a true LSU Improved Celeste fig tree, to avoid the issue of dropping fruit.  I bought the "faux LSU Purple" from WF b/c it was such a nice shaped tree and
after reading a bit about the LSU Purple, I didn't think $20 was too much to spend for a 2-3 year tree.  So now I have the tree I was trying to avoid, go figure.

The pictures of the figs from my tree and the F4F database are almost identical, as are the leaves.  The dropping only helps to confirm the truth.  This tree is the only tree on my deck out of 6 currently fruiting tree to be dropping its fruit.
The figs for sale last year were Celeste, LSU Purple, Black Spanish, and Hardy Chicago.

In the end, both Kane and I got something different then we thought by buying figs through WF.

So my search continues.  If anyone has a rooted LSU Improved Celeste they are willing to sell, please let me know.  Thanks to everyone who helped me identify that my LSU Pruple was a true LSU Purple.

Kane, your fig looks a lot like Atreano (or possibly Conadria).  Since they are bland, maybe try allowing them to ripen longer?  With Atreano you really need to let them fully droop.

Kane here's a couple of pics of the purple i sent you
Richdel i have another one i am waiting for it to make figlets. Its either a tiger or purple. Lost the tag. Lol