JohnnieB
1365275627
Posted 1376993669
Reply with quote #1
Here is a question for people that have both. If you could only have one or the other, which would you prefer? Also please list the reason(s) for your choice if you don't mind. Keep in mind that my trees are all pot culture and that is the plan. By the way my luck is going with eBay it looks like I will only be able to afford one of these trees and I would like to spend my money wisely and enjoy my purchase.
SoniSoni
1362273241
Posted 1376994648
Reply with quote #2
I dont have either one, but like you, I want one. I've seen them both referred to as the best fig you'll ever aste. They both have many, many fans and rave reveiws so I am trying to notice any negative remarks and I've only heard one so far. I read that Blk Madeira will split in high humidity and rainy conditions. I wish you luck obtaining either one or both.
seeking Galicia Negra, Bianchi Guido, Violette de Sollies, Emerald Strawberry
Bass
1188959030
Posted 1377001628
Reply with quote #3
Black madeira is very slow growing, and always stunted with FMV. Ronde de bordeaux is very fast grower and vigorous, and can be a lot more productive. They both taste good.
http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138
JohnnieB
1365275627
Posted 1377001909
Reply with quote #4
Thanks Bass. I always look forward to northeast input.
pako
1316442132
Posted 1377003265
Reply with quote #5
I have my first RdB figs this season from 3-4 years old in ground tree…and I am little bit…hm, disappointed .Small fig, tough skin …yes, some level of sugar inside, but noting exceptional so fare.
I will wait…
Rewton
1291943117
Posted 1377003276
Reply with quote #6
Johnnie, other than that they are both dark figs it seems that they don't have a lot in common. Totally different leaf structure, RdB fruits main crop relatively early, B. Madeira fruits relatively late (and needs a lot ofmsun/heat), RdB tends to not show many FMV symptoms and is a robust grower while B. Madeira can in some cases grow very slowly because of FMV. Finally, from what I have read B. Madeira is not nearly as cold hardy as RdB. So if you lived in a mediterranean type of climate which is perfect for figs you might opt for B. Madeira. But if you live in the northeast, and could only pick one, you might instead opt for RdB.
JohnnieB
1365275627
Posted 1377003526
Reply with quote #7
Thanks for the insight Rewton. Indeed the only other thing they seem to have in common is a rather steep price tag.
7deuce
1275528558
Posted 1377007911
Reply with quote #8
BM takes some work to ripen in the northeast. You either have to start it early in a greenhouse or fig shuffle all spring. It will also take a few years to get some reasonable production.
BLB
1214341548
Posted 1377008170
Reply with quote #9
RDB in my opinion is not a great tasting fig, it is, however, a good grower, early producer and very productive. Taste is good, but I've tasted many superior figs. Taste is very individual, so this is just my opinion. I've yet to taste Black Madeira but currently have 2 trees with fruit growing. It seems among those who have tasted it to be their best tasting fig so I am looking forward to trying it very soon. It really depends on what you are looking for, production or quality between those 2. There are so many other excellent figs, why limit yourself to just these 2?
JohnnieB
1365275627
Posted 1377008728
Reply with quote #10
Jason- Thank you for your insight on these figs. I don't really have a way to kick off the season early so it's looking more and more like RdB will win out for now.
Dieseler
1215735852
JohnnieB
1365275627
Posted 1377009788
Reply with quote #12
Wow Martin,it looks like once you gave those roots a bit of extra the tree really took off. Has your summer out there been as lousy as ours out here in the northeast? That's kind of my concern about BM is the sometimes lack of heat in upstate NY. I have read it really needs a good hot and long growing season. By the way how are these figs from a breba standpoint?
Dieseler
1215735852
Posted 1377010103
Reply with quote #13
Yes its the same here weatherwise . I dont let breba hang on any of my plants for the most part a few here and there.
JohnnieB
1365275627
Posted 1377010576
Reply with quote #14
Thanks again Martin for all the info.
rcantor
1309799312
Posted 1377017846
Reply with quote #15
Black Madeira cuttings are easier to come by than RdB.
bullet08
1284496248
Posted 1377018351
Reply with quote #16
neither. i'll stick with VdB, and Paradiso Gene :) and if i have to choose one of those, i'll graft one of those on the other.
shah8
1339623766
Posted 1377026083
Reply with quote #17
While I think Black Madeira is a standard, I don't think necessarily that anyone should be so focused on "expensive" fig trees. If you're not young, I understand going ahead and buying Black Madeira, but RdB is not really something to bust your budget for. Even Black Madeira, there are a number of substitutes that should be as good, and it's not an uncommon fig as these things go, and there will be opportunities to get BM at reasonable prices or free. There's just a lot of hype passed around for each fig variant that's not common. Once you get past Mission, Celeste, Brown Turkey, Conadria, and Brunswick, there are a set of "good" figs that are healthy, like the Bordeaux variants, the various Adriatic types (of the berry version), etc, etc, etc...that will on any given day, beat just about any figs but the very best. You don't have to pay much for Violette de Bordeaux or JH Adriatic... And if you want something exotic, why not try something like LSU Champagne, or Raspberry Latte, or try out one of those UC figs like UCR 309-B?
Dieseler
1215735852
Posted 1377028591
Reply with quote #18
Shah types in part -Even Black Madeira, there are a number of substitutes that should be as good, and it's not an uncommon fig as these things go, and there will be opportunities to get BM at reasonable prices or free.
7deuce
1275528558
Posted 1377029994
Reply with quote #19
I think Fico Preto's figs are similar to BM but FP grows faster and ripens earlier.
Rewton
1291943117
Posted 1377030308
Reply with quote #20
Jason, do you know if anyone in the mid-atlantic/northeast has planted either BM or FP in the ground and observed their cold hardiness? I'm growing both and wonder if one could get away with it in MD along a south-facing brick wall.
FrozenJoe
1244509224
Posted 1377031082
Reply with quote #21
I have Black Madeira but not RdB. Black Madeira is an excellent fig. The tree is slow growing but healthy and productive. The foliage is nice. The figs are large, sweet, juicy, and delicious. Black Madeira and VdB are my two favorite tasting figs. Black Madeira is juicier and larger than VdB, but they both have outstanding flavor in my opinion.
7deuce
1275528558
Posted 1377031133
Reply with quote #22
Pretty sure Herman2 had it in ground and he didn't like the result. I personally feel either one will be too hard to ripen in ground. I give them both a head start in my greenhouse. Here's the first FP almost ripe. It is already oozing honey.
Attached Images image.jpg (680.06 KB, 88 views)
JohnnieB
1365275627
Posted 1377031256
Reply with quote #23
Jason- I have heard this about Figo Preto as well but this fig seems more elusive to me than BM. I have also read that Italian 258 is very close in flavor profile as well but have had almost no luck locating a tree or cuttings of either. And when I have located them, I was demolished on eBay.
trif1010
1191193721
Posted 1377032251
Reply with quote #24
Here are pictures of my 3 Black Madeira and 2 RDB (left to right) started from cuttings in February. I up-potted them in June to the current 2-gal pots using Foxfarm Ocean Forest soil. All cuttings are growing very well using this potting soil. All will continue to be grown in pots
Attached Images BM_&_RDB_2.JPG (134.88 KB, 127 views)BM_&_RDB_4.JPG (126.27 KB, 114 views)
james
1189185103
Posted 1377032521
Reply with quote #25
Black Madeira can be obtained from UCD, if, one is lucky.
2016 Wish List: Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr , Viōlette Dā uphine . Iranian figs are always welcome.
lifigs
1374698291
Posted 1377033194
Reply with quote #26
Don't have either but was planning on trying to obtain and root a RdB cutting this winter primarily because it is an early producer.
JohnnieB
1365275627
Posted 1377033642
Reply with quote #27
Beautiful pic there Jason. Also it looks like your trees are going to town up there in Saratoga Springs Scot. I have seen the Foxfarm Ocean Forest around here at a few nurseries. Are you using it straight out of the bag Scot? At this time I am using a 50/50 mix of Promix HP and pine bark fines with just a bit of worm castings and touch of dolomite lime for good measure.
trif1010
1191193721
Posted 1377034709
Reply with quote #28
Johnnie, I used the Foxfarm straight out if the bag, with a touch of Espoma garden-tone organic fertilizer mixed in with the soil.
bullet08
1284496248
Posted 1377035192
Reply with quote #29
Black Madeira is free. just keep ordering from USDA/UCA until you get one. like someone said when i first join the fourm, you just need one tree to make 100 out of it. last two yrs, i had one good cutting from USDA/UCD. both yr, they rooted.
BLB
1214341548
Posted 1377038884
Reply with quote #30
Well I feel blessed, got 2 Black Madeiria with fruit and a Preto loaded too. My Italian 258 probably a year away from producing, but I will be happy to wait for that one. I've already had RDB this year and while it was good, I wouldn't consider it in the class of premium figs for taste.
HarveyC
1212433117
Posted 1377045464
Reply with quote #31
I don't know why some think RdB is hard to come by. It is sold very commonly on eBay and prices often aren't very bad. Black Madeira prices are almost higher than RdB (except from NCGR Davis). Jason has a rooted tree for sale on eBay right now.
Harvey - Correia Farms
http://www.figaholics.com https://www.facebook.com/Figaholics
scott_ga
1189222943
Posted 1377051224
Reply with quote #32
My two cents. I don't have RdB, but I really like Black Madeira. Productive, late, good tasting and stands up pretty well to rain. Needs a lot of sun and fertilizer. I haven't found fig mosaic to be a problem here. I can't wait for this year's...
Attached Images Black_Madeira_2012_small.JPG (137.27 KB, 63 views)
HarveyC
1212433117
Posted 1377051577
Reply with quote #33
And now Kerry (DrivewayFarmer) has a RdB for sale. No Black Madeira currently being offered.
Harvey - Correia Farms
http://www.figaholics.com https://www.facebook.com/Figaholics
ejp3
1193140374
Posted 1377056986
Reply with quote #34
Have eaten both pot grown. No comparison in taste, madeira superior. But rdb grows much much faster and I have no doubt is much more cold hardy. RDB wins in every category but the most important, taste
paully22
1195324538
Posted 1377058918
Reply with quote #35
Going by what I have sampled over the last 2 seasons, my RdB may have to go to another
Tonycm
1314411773
Posted 1377059202
Reply with quote #36
I can confirm that RDB is a fast grower. I got mine from Kerry (drivewayfarmer) and it grew like a weed. I'll finally get to taste it this year, it has at least a dozen figs that should ripen and a few that still need to be cut off. No Black Maderia so no comment on that one yet. Some day, hopefully soon.
bullet08
1284496248
Posted 1377085173
Reply with quote #37
there will be a two yr old Black Madeira in 1 gal with figs on it on F4FF auction in 1st week of sept or so :)
Herman2
1189809424
Posted 1377095453
Reply with quote #38
Do not count Ronde de Bordeaux ,out as an inferior fig,because it is ,a superior tasting cultivar.
robertharper
1236730861
Posted 1377100067
Reply with quote #39
We, grow and sell both. But, like Herman said, for the Northeast I think Ronde de Bordeaux is the best.
Herman2
1189809424
Posted 1377101330
Reply with quote #40
And in order to show my conviction from previous post,I went outside and Harvested,my ripe Ronde de B,and Malta Black,and yes ,I checked my Madeira Black(6yers old,one foot high),but only a couple of green fruits on it,so here they are,pixies.
Attached Images Ronde_deBfrts2013.JPG (89.80 KB, 134 views)Maltablkfrts2013.JPG (93.54 KB, 128 views)
robertharper
1236730861
Posted 1377104333
Reply with quote #41
Herman, the last time I talked to you, you were trying to determine whether or not Danny's Delight and Malta Black were the same fig.
Dieseler
1215735852
Posted 1377118113
Reply with quote #42
Robert I deleted response to your question as i do not want to change the subject matter.
Herman2
1189809424
Posted 1377120364
Reply with quote #43
Robert:So Far,It seem they are different,because:
