Topics

Pied de Boeuf

Is anyone else growing this variety? There are a few pictures on the F4F website but not much information. I got it from the germplasm in Winters (Davis) on the name alone and would like more info and or pictures.

It is a breba-only variety unless the main crop is caprified. Supposed to have good flavor. I have some rooting now. Here's what Condit said about it:

"Pied de Boeuf. Described by La Brousse (1774), Hogg (1866), Barron (1891), and Eisen (1888, 1901). La Brousse gave a disparaging opinion of the fresh-fruit qualities of Pied de Boeuf, but found it very good dried at Antibes, France. The other descriptions leave one in doubt as to the specific crop, but it is probable that both Hogg and Barron have considered the breba crop only, as a second crop of figs is not commonly produced in England. The slight attention given to this variety by horticultural writers is likely due to the fact that second-crop figs mostly drop unless caprification-is practiced. The late Leroy Nickel, of Menlo Park, California, obtained cuttings of Pied de Boeuf from England, and donated wood for the Riverside collection in 1927. Since that time it has proved to be a promising variety for fresh fruit brebas and for caprified figs of the main crop. Its behavior at Riverside has been better than in the cooler climate of Los Angeles. Tree and fruit characters are very much like those of Drap d’Or , but the two are regarded in this publication as distinct varieties.

Pied de Boeuf trees are slow-growing and densely branched, with terminal buds green in color. Leaves medium, somewhat glossy above, mostly 5-lobed, the middle lobe broadly spatulate; upper sinuses of medium depth and width, lower sinuses shallow, basal sinuses narrow; base cordate; margins coarsely crenate. The following description is based on notes made of figs produced during fourteen fruiting seasons.

Breba crop fair to good; figs oblique-pyriform; size large, up to 2-1/4 inches in diameter and 3-1/2 inches in length; average weight 79 grams; neck prominent, often curved, and up to 1 inch long; stalk slender, 1/2 to 1 inch long; ribs very prominent, the surface of the fruit therefore corrugated; eye above medium, scales rose to violetbrown; skin tender, waxy or glossy in appearance, with bloom fairly prominent; white flecks scattered, more or less concealed by body coloration; color Hessian brown, shading to green or light brown on neck; meat white, tinged with pink; pulp light strawberry, slightly hollow at the center, texture rather coarse; quality good. Excellent in appearance, but not well adapted to fresh-fruit shipping on account of tender skin and ribbed surface. (Plate 23, A.)

Second-crop caprified figs oblique-pyriform, above medium to large, up to 2 inches broad and 3 inches long; neck short and thick, or up to 1 inch long; average weight 63 grams; stalk slender, often curved, up to 1 inch long, sometimes enlarged or swollen toward the apex; ribs elevated, prominent; white flecks scattered, fairly conspicuous; eye large, open, scales violet; skin somewhat glossy, tender checking at maturity; color chocolate brown to mahogany red, attractive; meat white; pulp dark strawberry; flavor rich and sweet; quality excellent.

Uncaprified figs light in weight; center hollow; pulp amber; quality poor. (Plates 9; 14, C). See also Condit (1941a, fig. 2, R)."

Thank you for the information.

Pied de Bouef ripens main crop figs of very good quality here most years.  The need for caprification is also stated for Santa Cruz Dark and also wrong  .  If the variety works where you grow it will not disappoint you. My trees are from UCD sourced wood.   

zog,

Does your tree drop any/some of the main crop? I did notice that Condit stated that they "mostly drop" leaving room for some main crop w/o caprification. btw, have any pics of the Pd'B? Thanks!

Some years yes, there is a small percentage dropped, most years no. What does happen is some of the fruit occasionally has a section near the eye that is dry almost like a caprifig but w/o pollen. It is actually a very good producer in my area. Even if it was a shy cropper the appearance and flavor would make it worth growing for me.  I am a terrible photographer but maybe this summer my wife or one of the boys will take some shots for me.

Intresting. Gives me hope that I will get main crop figs too. I think our looong, hot summers will help this variety. Time will tell.

It's a large fig with average flavor. 

Here's a picture I took,

nice-looking fig, Bass! Got any pics of the breba crop?

Anyone else growing this one?  Would love to hear more about it.

I received a small tree of this variety as a gift in the fall of 2013, originated from UCD according to the giver.  Mine is in the process of dropping all main crop figs this year.  This thread and the few other mentions on this forum have conflicting reports about it.  I'm trying to decide whether to keep it around.

Here are the few other F4F threads about PdB:

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/ucd-pied-de-boeuf-pics-5945691?highlight=pied&pid=1274446175#post1274446175

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/pied-de-boeuf-3680737?highlight=pied&pid=35436732#post35436732

Hi, Ed.  What happened with your tree?  I got cuttings earlier this year and would like some info.
Thanks

It dropped all figs in 2015.
It dropped most figs in 2016, a couple hung on and almost ripened but did not taste very good.  I trashed my tree.   I believe there must be a couple different varieties with this name.

There were better figs out there calling my name  :)

Thanks for the info.  Not making me happy.  One of them that I started earlier this year is putting on little figs now after up-potting.  It's got big, pretty leaves.  Here's hoping I've got the "good" strain.

  • Avatar / Picture
  • Sas

My Pied de Boeuf is in a five gallon pot. It does ripen figs, but needs a lot of care to do what you want it to do. It is not a very generous tree when in small pot. As far as taste is concerned, watch your watering, it will dilute the flavor. Don't think that such a fig is meant for small pots, unless perhaps it's a much larger pot than I have it currently in.

Haha. I just up potted to maybe three gallons. It just looks so cute with baby figs on it. I keep threatening but nothing in the ground yet. Two of the people I gave Hardy Chicago plants last year grounded theirs and they made it. I'm a fan of containers. We'll see how the Pied re Beouf does.

Reply Cancel
Subscribe Share Cancel