My 1 yr old cutting put out 3 main crop figs as soon as it came out of dormancy in May but then stopped growing.  I knocked 2 off and here's the third.  It started changing color 1 week ago.  It's very soft but not fully drooping yet.

Looks good Bob. I like the way you protect this beauty.

That's great Bob, waiting and drooling for the cut pics....

Nice armor Bob. Thanks for sharing

Shields up Scotty.

Boom !

Capt - " I thought shields were at full strength " ?

Scotty - " that bird of prey must have a new weapon Captain"

Capt - " is the cloaking device working yet " ?

LOL, Martin.

Bob, it is always a bonus when you get to sample a fig from a first year cutting. Looking forward to your report on how it tastes.

I hid it with a fig leaf, too  :)

My (4) 4 year old St Jeromes (same as Black Triana I've been told) just finished ripening their brebas last weekend and the ones I let fully ripen were pretty darn good. I really like this variety as the figs are attractive as are the leaves. I like both the brebas and main crop figs. A few of my main crop figs have cracked in the past from badly timed rain but other wise this variety is a good one.

Bob - how well does you "wrap" work and what is that material?

That is a very attractive fig but are you going to eat it or dress it up and dance with it?

Michael,
It's organza or tulle. I bought a couple hundred organza bags on ebay ($7 per 100) and tried them this year. The bagged fruit made it, the unbagged did not. I tightened the bag at the top of the fig and wrapped the string around the branch. It was really nice because you can still see what's going on but the critters have a harder time enjoying your fruits. (no ants in mine)

Besides our trees look like little gift trees when the figs are wrapped.

I'll dance with you Bob!

Tami,
Thank you.

Bob always has something interesting to post.

I may have to try this as there are certain fruits I'd hate to loose. I usually use bunches of little fake snakes and balloons with eyes and CD's on fishing line and I even had a scarecrow one year (well part of a year as it so creeped out my Sig Other that she took it down after a short while as it was giving her night mares) -- it was obviously a good scare crow - but I'd have to admit it was very realistic and super creepy. 

Last year I bought a motion sensor water spray mcthingy but I returned it and can't remember why. My halfshymers at work again.

I have phoebes nesting in my fig area so I have to be careful. They are on their second clutch and watching them perch on top of my bamboo plant stakes to guard and try and spot bugs just makes me feel good.

Is there any particular thing I should know before I head to Ebay to but some of these? Like - do they come in sizes or is it just a big piece of cloth and needs to be cut? What size do you cut yours?

thx
mgg

Hey Michael,
I bought mine off ebay and they are 2 different sizes. They are still for sale 130719623528, 111099457965

Mine work really well and they are self closing, they tie.

You won't be disappointed with these I don't think.

Tami,
Which one of the two did you buy?
thx
mgg

I bought both so I could accomodate different size figs. That being said, if I had it to do over I would probably buy the larger ones and see if I could find some larger yet. The smaller ones work well but I would like more room for clumsiness while putting them on. When I take them off the fig comes with them, I leave it on until it's ready but for some reason I get a little stupid when putting them on, maybe I just get nervous about jostling them or something.

Tami,
After you have used them, what color would you recommend? I likes the sage and green, they do not stand out too much.
I can see 4"x6" and 5"x7" sizes, I think I will order both, might use for my persimmons later on.

Excellent idea! I'm wondering if I can get bigger for my dragon fruit, I have awhile before I need to worry about that though :)
I really don't think it matters what color you use, totally personal choice. I bought silver and I was thrilled to see someone else had bought magenta but they said theirs faded after use. Whatever appeals to you is best.

Thanks for idea for the bags Bob and for the info on where to purchase them Tami.  If a slighter larger size is available these would be great for my grapes as well.  The birds started eating them last weekend even before they changed from green to red.  I stapled ziplock bags (with small holes in the corners and other random places) around the bunches.  This seems to have stopped the birds but I am worried about fungus.

If you can't find bags big enough for grapes you can buy organza by the yard and tie on the grapes.

Picked the fig today.  raised it up a bit and it fell right into my hand.









Very sweet and rich, not very figgy (but it is a first year cutting).  To really analyze the taste you have to taste the skin, pith (between the skin and the pulp) and pulp separately.  The pulp tastes like strawberry preserves mostly, with a hint of red grape and blueberry. The pith is sweet and juicy.  The skin has a very deep note.  The skin is a little tougher and not as flavorful as VdB but it reinforces the grape and blueberry notes of the pulp.

Looks very good! thanks for posting

 Pete

Yum, I'm glad you got to enjoy it and critters didn't.

Looks great Bob , sounds delicious . Thanks for sharing .

Letting a fig ripen properly is a skill not easily learnt...

And Bob you have mastered that skill!

Bob, that was the most sophisticated description of fig flavor I've seen :)

Yes you are a very skilled man a true word smith.

goss