Picked and eaten today: (Breba) Sweet and juicy with a delicate crunch. Simple flavor but have read that the main crop has a rich and complex flavor; if so, LSU Scott's Black is good here in 8B.

man, look at the neck on that thing!  What is your source for the tree?  I had no breba on mine this year - it's at least 2.5 years old, but still smallish.  Didn't grow much at all last year.

Oh c'mon now!

Source: Just Fruits and Exotics

I took the following photo just before I bought it (I think I may have posted this photo previously). According to JFE, it was overwintered in a warm greenhouse. Obviously it did well (20+ breba).

I removed 75% of the breba (all but five). The photo of the breba in my original post is the third of five that have ripen. I picked the first two breba too early because I was worried about the birds, about to travel, and had not installed the bird netting.

Main crop LSU Scott's Black is another dynamite tasting fig......sweet, rich, and complex tasting. One of your better figs. I have never seen a breba before. Thanks for posting the picture.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Here is the second to last unripe breba (fourth of 5)...with today's treat right behind it!

that's great!

So #4 of five was good and is gone. The breba are good. If you look closely in photos 015 (at six o'clock) and 019 (at almost three o'clock) (mouseover to get filenames), you will see a very small ant. The ants were not "in" the fig but they were definitely trying and/or enjoying the honey sealing the eye. A family of fifteen moved out between picking it and eating it. I checked closely to see if anything was crawling around inside before I shared it with my wife. Negative. The eye isn't closed but it was certainly sealed.

Taste thoughts?

Regarding taste...Not much to add from what I wrote in the first post of this thread: The breba are sweet, juicy, not figgy and not yet rich or complex as Dan notes is his previous post, but I am excited that this tree has to be "dynamite". I like how the pulp bleeds into the skin and I am looking forward to tasting the main crop.

Interesting thought on Black Celeste and Scott's Black. Durio sells them both and describes them as such:

scott's black - An older Louisiana State University release that produces large, black figs having red pulp late in the season.

Black Celeste - Identical to 'Celeste' in taste, appearance and ripening season.  The only differences are that the skin color is bluish black and that the figs crack less than do those of 'Celeste'.

LSU Scott's black was bred by crossing Celeste with something else. Your plant would seem to confirm genetic relationship as indicated.

I can dig up more info, or we can wait for Dan to chime in, since I know he knows as well as anyone.

LSU Scot's Black,can't be Black Celeste ,because it is a late ripening fig while all Celeste are early ripening.
My LSU, Scot's Black is one of the few cultivars,that do not have main crop Embryos yet,just like last year when it was late too.
But it does ripe in a short period,after September 15,here,and most fruits get ripe till frost.
When it comes about quality of fruit,taste and flavor+resistance to rain,it has very few contender.
In deed a quality fig from LSU.
I am very pleased with it.

Should *not* be too much different from the parentage of its 'relatives' described in the publication announcing O'Rourke, Champagne, and Tiger. Are those early ripeners? Each is Celeste crossed with C1, a California Capri. However, after reading Herman's post, it may not be crossed with C1. Nevertheless, as an example,

‘Scott's Black’ is a selection from a group of seedlings derived from a cross of 'Celeste' x 'C1’ (a Capri fig from California). The cross was made in 195X and the selection made by Ed O'Rourke in 196X and tested as 5X-1X-12X.

The thought of a Celeste sibling that actually has a breba crop OS enticing enough, if it is comparable in flavor to VdB then .... Wow... Dynamite indeed.

Black Celeste is not a LSU fig......it is a heirloom fig that was found growing in Louisiana.  However, LSU Scott's Black is definitely a fig that was bred by Dr. O'Rourke. Black Celeste is earlier than Scott's Black as Herman has indicated. Both are EXCELLENT cultivars IN ALL RESPECTS.

......and for additional information. LSU Late Black (another mid/late season fig)  is completely different from both of those two figs. It too is a great tasting fig. It has a strange habit of wanting to grow as a huge bush. James Robin will tell you that they are the same fig. I will tell you that he does not know what the heck he is talking about. Same with LSU St. Gabriel Black........I'm still studying this one to see if it is the same as either of those or some other sibling. Time will tell.........

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

I also have Late Black,and my opinion is that late Black is not a fig bred at LSU,but most probably Guilbeau.
I think they used LAte Black in their program,but it existed before program.
It is not Scot's Black,but rather, a healthier version, of DFIC 17, California Brown Turkey,or Guilbeau.
In my climate it is not developing normally,it is not a strong grower,and I suspect,it is from lack of suficient Summer heat.
I am sure it grows much strongly in the deep south.

I do not have Guilbeau in my collection. So I cannot make any direct comparisons to it. LSU Late Black definitely is not the California Brown Turkey variety that I am aware of. I had one that I sent to fig heaven. I have another unknown fig that might be CBT. (Late Black figs taste very good in my area and nothing like the insipid CBTs.)  The unknown fig that might be CBT or related to it, came from a LSU campus tree that was located near the old veterinary school. It is large fig that tastes good when fully ripe....but, it handles rain poorly. I'll post pictures later this season.

FYI..........the LSU Improved Celeste (not the O' Rourke) figs are ripening right now in my yard/area. This year Improved Celeste was the first cultivar to ripen main crop figs for me. That is at least three weeks BEFORE Celeste figs begin ripening. So from the first week of June up until first frost arrives in my area, this cultivar will be producing figs.....that's six months in my area!! "Productivity" is a key word to describe this cultivar.....besides its very good taste. That is exactly what O'Rourke hoped to achieve when he bred Celeste.....improve its productivity. He succeeded........as this one is replacing Celeste in the fig orchards in South Louisiana. It takes one heck of a fig to replace a Celeste tree in South Louisiana where the original Celeste fig rules.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

I suppose I should add consistent to the features of this fig. On yesterday, 23 May 2012, the first breba was picked and eaten. Again it was sweet and juicy with a delicate crunch. The flavor was simple...for now. If last year's main crop (rich and complex) is any indication, then this will be well worth the wait. LSU Scott's Black is very good here in 8B...a must have.

JD,

That fig sure looks amazing. Can't wait till cuttings root and grow.

Thanks again for the cuttings.

Pete

Wow, beautiful pics JD! Can't wait for mine to ripen! My Black Italian trees are ripening. BTW, your tree was shipped yesterday. You should get it tomorrow.

LSU Scott's Blk is an excellent tasting fig, IMO everyone should have one in their collection. It's one of my favorite fig variant.

I totally agree,Navid.
Mine came out from Winter ,OK,with few tips killed,by frost ,but OK,and ready to produce.
It has 5 trunks 2 foot tall each,and 1" thick.
I have no doubt I will have a large harvest this year!.

JD , thanks for the pics

Herman & Navid: have you had the opportunity to compare LSU Black to LSU Purple? I was wondering if LSU Purple would do as well here in the Northeast

 Take care
  Pete

Yes I did Compare:
LSU Purple needs much more Summer heat to ripe,so for us here in the Northeast ,it will ripe only in Good hot long Summers,and not every year.
Last year my tree did not ripe,(cool rainy Summer),so I sold the mature plant to someone in Virginia,where I am sure will ripe much better.
It is a nice fig with close eye so yes it has merits.

Hi Vasile,