So far this has been our best fig season ever, and the LSU Purples are outstanding as well.

We had the first ripe main crop LSU Purples around the first of August, but they are just now really hitting their stride and producing heavy.

The flavor is outstanding as well.  Everyone has been eating so many LSU figs that the ones I picked this morning for the pictures weren't as ripe as I like them ideally, but they were still very sweet and juicy even when still just a little firm.

These root very easily, and I have already shared many young trees with my neighbors.  We aren't from LSU (we are IU-Bloomington grads), but our LSU grad neighbors really love these, not only because of the great flavor and productivity (they will continue producing right up to a hard freeze), but they love the Purple/Gold color.  I guess LSU has a football team or something . . . never heard of them though (just kidding!).  ;-)

Hey, but even if they can't beat the Bulldogs, the people at LSU definately put out some great figs!

Best wishes to all.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b

Nice figs I have an lsu purple fig tree that I bought from edible landscapes unfortunately is has a severe case of fmv it lost all of its leaves then the leaves grew back there isnt a fig to be seen on it yet your tree tree looks really healthy!enjoy the fruits of your labor!!

LSU Purple has not been productive in my Zone 5 location. Today I ate the only lonely single one ripe fig fruit on the whole plant. This was the whole production in its three years life. I will treat the plant good next year and see if it treats me back good at the end of the next season.

John, how old is your LSU purple ?

Hi Will.  As you can see, so far no signs of FMV on our LSU purple, and it's been in ground for about 8 years or so.  I don' know whether FMV is something it can catch, or whether it comes from the mother tree, but our mother tree seems to be FMV free or at least non-symptomatic showing no signs of infection.  It is a vigorous grower.

And Ottawan, I don't know if LSU Purple will be productive that far North.  It is a later fig, which doesn't help that far North with the shorter season.  I would say though that the productivity and flavor of the LSU Purple seems to increase dramatically with age.  At first I thought the figs of the LSU Purple were good, but each year they seem to have gotten even better.  Now it's a close second only to the Chicago Hardy, which is everyone's favorite here right now.  We will try our first VDB tommorow though, and I here those are pretty good too.

So maybe next year is the year for your LSU I hope.  Hope your other figs are more than making up the difference this year and that you are having a good summer.

Best wishes.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b

Hi Paully.  I think our LSU Purple is about 8 years old in ground, that's my best guess.  And that's probably pretty close.  It's been long enough that I'm not 100% sure how many years, or even where I got it, but I think Raintree Nursery probably.

It does just fine in ground here in Zone 7b.  We had our coldest winter last winter, with lots of snow and cold, and it didn't even put a dent in this fig.  I don't know how far you can go North with it though, but it's fine in ground here.

Hope you are having a great summer.

Best wishes.

John

Awesome pics John!  I have a 3 yr old LSU Purple that starting its first crop last month.  But now, the darn tree is full of semi ripe figs!  My neighbors came over and were in awe.  So far the birds have not touched them yet.  Every morning I have to run out and check my trees.  I am hoping to pick a huge bowl full tomorrow.

I ate another LSU Purple fig today, from my young tree.  I don't know exactly how old it is, but it can't be two years old yet and I got it this summer.  The first few figs were horrible, but this last one actually had a little flavor.

I don't know if I will like it, though, because I couldn't taste a real fig taste.  Time will tell.

Somehow I can't picture an LSU Purple tree with FMV, but I suppose all figs can get it.  They are strong trees.

They laugh at the heat, so maybe they're not as good in cold climates?

noss

Hi Dennis.  Keep a close eye on the birds.  The purple color seems to really attract them, but I netted our tree and problem solved.

And Noss, the first couple years our LSU Purple wasn't nearly as good as it is now.  I don't know why the flavor improves over time, but now it's really outstanding.  Maybe a more mature tree can draw more nutriets and sun, but whatever it is, this tree seems to get better every year, and this year it has great flavor, top notch.

Best wishes to all.

John

Well John thats good you have a fig thats doing well for your area.
Sounds like LSU needs some years to fully develop taste from some post i have read.
Yes HC is also good fig was number 1 in my yard for some years until
Violet de Bordeaux came to town.
Please post when you get taste of that one im curious what you think since you enjoy HC similar to me.

Edit: forgot to mention you may like Dark Portuguese as well so far seems similar to HC taste wise in my yard.

Hi Martin.  I checked the VDB this morning and it was almost fully ripe.  It's netted, so I hope it will be there tonight and we will try it.

HC is definately my favorite, and everyone's favorite here at our house, so I think we have very similar taste to you.  I have a Dark Portugese from Bass, and it will probably have fruit next year.  And a Sal's ("Gene") from Ed, and a Sal's (Corleone) from George.  Do you think these are similar in taste to HC as well?  Our HCs have been fantastic this summer, and very, very productive.

The LSU Purples have been great too, and every one I eat I like them better and better.

But the VDBs are just starting to ripen.  We will do the taste test tonight and I will let you know.

Hope you are enjoying the summer.

Best wishes.

John

John, I also went to IU and I live in Unionville, just 15 minutes north east of Bloomington. Small world...
Susan

Hi Susan.  It really is a small world.  There are lots of IU-Bloomington grads down here.  There's even an "IU" themed sports bar in Atlanta (so I have been told!).  ;-)

The Piedmont area here looks just like Bloomington, so much so that they filmed part of "Breaking Away" in Athens, GA.  Bloomington has more Maple trees, and not as much red clay (there's some red clay in the Bloomington area too), but otherwise, they are very similar.

Hope you can enjoy a trip to Brown County this fall, very beautiful.

Best wishes.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b

Hi John, i never tasted Sals C. and Genes Sal is that type from Edible Landscaping i think not positive though ? If so i have Sals that i bought from them years ago and to answer your question my EL Sals does not have the flavor of my Hardy Chicago, my sals its more sweeter and not as figgy tasteing.
My dark portuguese came down the line from Bass stock and i taste first time this season, my first impression was i picked this fig off my hardy chicago tree.  ; )
You will enjoy it i think .
But last season i my Violet de Bordeaux produced ripe figs and it was on pare with hardy chicago this season the VdB the taste was a little better to me anyways than my hardy chicago. The Vdb seems to have a mulberry taste but thats on my taste buds but may not on yours.
So you may like it and im curous or nosey to know.

Hi Martin.  Figs are in the same plant family as mulberries, so I guess it would not be surprising at all to have some mulberry/berry flavors in a fig.

I will get home late tonight, but provided no bird has figured out a way around the VDB net, we will try this one tonight, and I will be very happy to report what everyone thinks.  It's one fig (the first one) but I will carefully cut it into fourths for me and my three boys (ages 12, 10, and 7).  My wife keeps saying that she really isn't crazy about figs, so she won't want any.  Other that this obvious flaw, however, she is perfect!  ;-)

I will let you know later tonight.

Hope you are well my friend.

Best wishes.

John

Hi again Martin.  We just tried our first VDB and WOW!  Those are really something special.  We love HC, but the VDB is extraordinary!  Can't wait until we have more.

It's tough to beat HC, but VDB just did!  ;-)

Take care good friend.

John

How did LSU compare in taste this season to your VdB and how old is your LSU.
 I had a feeling you would really like Violet de Bordeaux. What i like is VdB taste good from very first time figs ripened on my tree.

On another note i post soon on how Ronde de Bordeaux taste here in yard as our nights our really cooling down tonight forcast low 51 degree's as my young tree starts to ripen a few figs now. Its my hope it first taste impression is a good one even though so young.
Autumn is nearing as nights have been in 50s here and i was actually getting chilled in yard this eve out with the dogs wearing shorts and T-Shirt. Gonna hate to wear long pants and long sleeve shirt in near future once again .

Hi Martin.  The VDB is the best fig I have ever tasted.

But HC is of course just as good as ever, it's just that to my surprise VDB is even better.  I love the HCs so much, it was hard to imagine a better fig.  And this summer, I would put our LSU Purple a very close third as they have been outstanding.  Any of these figs are excellent.

The LSU Purple is definately better this summer than ever before.  I think it is about 8 years in ground here.  It may be drawing more nutrients and sun to improve flavor, maybe it is the exceptionally hot summer, maybe both, but the LSU Purple's flavor has been very impressive this summer, and highly productive.

But the VDB: WOW!  I was quite surprised at the depth and complexity of the flavor, the rich dark color, even the texture was different and quite remarkable.

We used to love the Fall in the Great Lakes area, but it is also a little sad to see summer go given the tough winters there.  Here in the South though, we are happy to see summer go and welcome some cooler weather and a break from the 90s and 100s.

Take care good friend.

John

Hi John ,
thanks for the descriptions .
It always nice to hear what others think of different figs taste in a given year,Celeste, Vdb, LSU,HC ,Sals and the list goes on there so many figs out there and to hear reports from all over the country in the different climates and how some types perform. Gee as i type this its 49 out now no need for AC thats for sure good snoozing weather .
Thanks again.

Hi Y'all,

Now that some time has gone by, I re-read this thread and see one of the LSU Ps in the picture of both the whole and the cut figs is shaped like the figs on my little tree.  Of the two whole figs at the bottom (6:00 low), the one on the left side is the round shape like mine are.  Of the figs that are cut, it's the one on the right side of the plate, with the round shape and the inside color looks like mine, as well.

I'm glad I re-read this thread.  I see both the more elongated figs and the rounder fig are from the same tree.  The foliage is the same as mine, as well.

I guess I'll hang onto my baby for a while longer and see how it does.

Noss, those pictures depict what LSU Purple figs should look like.  LSU Purple figs will significantly improve in flavor as the tree matures. This has been established by LSU research and verified by many growers.....including me. It is a very productive fig and well suited for growing in hot humid rainy areas. LSU studies indicate that this fig produces three crops. But in my area it is an everbearing fig and will continue producing excellent figs up until the cold weather arrives. Figs that ripen in cooler weather will be somewhat diminished in flavor but are still good. Its rain tolerance, productivity, and good flavor are reasons to grow this cultivar.

IMO since VdB grows well in all parts of the country (as it does in France), everyone who has the room should grow this cultivar since it performs well and tastes so good.  I would agree that VdB, which has more of a Mission fig flavor profile, is generally better tasting than LSU Purple. Mission is no where near as productive as LSU Purple. One downside to LSU Purple is that it is not as cold tolerant as other figs......because it's sap rises at the least little bit of temperature increase. Its early opening buds can get zapped by a following cold front or an early spring frost.

FYI, Smith is one of the best tasting white figs and has a sweet complex flavor. It is greatly appreciated by some fig growers in Louisiana. It has good fruiting qualities and it deserves wider plantings. It is not a pretty fig, but its flavor is very good.  A few ugly figs out of a crop on a mature tree will attain that awesome rating for flavor over the season.

Dan

Hi Dan,

I'm happy to know I do really have an LSU P, after all!  :))) Perhaps I'll make a little coat for it for the winter?  Somehow, the LSU P strikes me as such a vigorous tree that it would seem that a frost wouldn't hold it back much down here, but that may be my misconception. 

What would happen if one were to make a covering of shadecloth for a young LSU P plant for its first few winters in a pot?  A nurseryman told me he can keep his young fig trees in a nursery house covered with only shadecloth and frost will form on the shadecloth and not inside of it and the frost would make it act like a greenhouse, so the little plants wouldn't get frostbitten.

I hope the Smith tree will put on and ripen some fruit next season.  I won a VdB on eBay, so it should get here soon.  Supposedly, it's not a Negronne, whatever that may mean.  ;)

noss

Noss,

When you read Dr. O'Rourke's book on gardening in the south, you will see where he once observed an old Cajun protecting his tomato plants  by covering a wire cage with burlap (opened at the top). Any early spring frost will form on the burlap itself and not on the inside plant. This very simple procedure allows one to safely plant tomatoes a couple of weeks earlier in the year. Shade cloth or weedguard is OK. Please don't tell anyone about this SECRET to getting early tomatoes. It should work for a young fig tree too.

Dan

Hi Dan!!!  That's exciting to know about the burlap!  I have some burlap and will try that with tomatoes and peppers and figs, as well.  Ooops!  I didn't really say that.....  ;)  It's a secret.....

Can't wait to get the you-know-what.

noss

Hi Dan and Noss.

We planted our LSU Purple in ground and unprotected from day one, and it has fruited every year here in zone 7b.  And we can get some pretty nasty late season frosts, snows, and ice storms.  Even if it does get frozen back, our LSU Purple bounces back with a good main crop.

Best wishes.

John