Dark Portuguese 2013

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Registered:1252379847
Posts: 1,162

Posted 1376128729	Reply with quote #1

Dark Portuguese. Received in a one gallon pot in a trade for tropical fruit. Thanks Bass.Well before I joined this forum and started growing figs, Martin and Bass posted about this fig [1][2][3][4][5]. It is juicy and has slight crunch that adds a texture and flavor that I like. The flavor had a duality/balance that was very different when compared to the figs I tasted after it, i.e., Malta Black, Late Black, MVSB, Smith, Aubique Petite, and Hardy Chicago. The taste is mildly figgy with an acidic undertone like adding citrus to a sweet dessert but with flavor. In my experience, only Camuna Small Black, Battaglia Green and now Dark Portuguese have this duality. If it always tastes this way, then like Martin and Bass said five years ago, Dark Portuguese is winner. The size of the eye and the splitting that was eminent are the only concerns. I need to be sure I pick these once the cracking starts. If not, then hello souring and fruit flies. Attached Images dark_portuguese001.JPG (148.24 KB, 51 views) dark_portuguese002.JPG (166.57 KB, 66 views) dark_portuguese003.JPG (194.96 KB, 62 views) __________________ jd \| tallahassee.fl \| zone 8b

persianmd2orchard

Registered:1342002131
Posts: 431

Posted 1376134171	Reply with quote #2

JD thank you so much for adding all the photos and results to our forum. Especially the detailed flavor impressions. Much appreciated.

paully22

Registered:1195324538
Posts: 2,719

Posted 1376140025	Reply with quote #3

Congrats JD - another top notch variant. This is an AWESOME fig. Reliable and deserve much more rave. Year after yr, it produces well. It is way better in taste than many many figs. I made a bunch of little DP plants from clippings during pruning exercise earlier in the year. I am sure glad I imported this variant from Encanto Farms. Thanks to Jon & the Ottawan CFIA officer for advising on proper importation requirements & Jon's efforts in meeting these requirements. It was OTTAWA CFIA clear advise that helped cleared shipment at border crossing.

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1376151205	Reply with quote #4

Thanks for sharing this info. This is one I planted in ground this spring and it loves its environment. I have another in the pot for backup. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

Pattee

Registered:1345750012
Posts: 1,417

Posted 1376151594	Reply with quote #5

I have a youngish potted DP , there are figs on it for first time, but don't know if they will ripen this year. I may knock off the smaller ones .Thanks for the flavor profile. __________________ 7a & 9b ►I assume all my figs carry FMV ◄ Seeking : Italian 376,395 , Galicia Negra, Negretta,UNK Pastilliere ,Pananas Purple, Malta Blk+purple/red, Italian + Calabrian UNK's , Catanzaro, Malone, Sucrette(Baud) "We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to the meeting of hearts?" - Gandhi

shah8

Registered:1339623766
Posts: 657

Posted 1376153560	Reply with quote #6

Dark Portuguese doesn't get much rave because it has a similar profile, or so they say out there in the Internets (Dan in LA, et al), to Sal (EL), Gino's Black, GM#11. So they all share in the rave for similar performance in the mouth, so it's a matter of choosing which variants grow best and be productive where you are. __________________ Especially desired figs: UCD 187-25, UCD 200-48, UCD 157-17, UCD 309-B1, Princesa, Black Madeira, high quality sugar fig that ripens Sept-Oct. Probable desired fig: Smith, St Jean, JH Adriatic, CddB, Gulbun, Pastilliere, Sucrette Rooting: Smith, CDDB--this pretty much means I have my fun tries (tho' important since they are truly desirable), and only interested for this year: Gulbun, BM, 187-25, or something wildly exotic or precious that nobody has any good reason to send me.

BronxFigs

Registered:1333154764
Posts: 1,864

Posted 1376153778	Reply with quote #7

JD: Thanks for the pics and opinions about the flavor profile of "Dark Portuguese". That slight, acid hit, that you described, helps make the figs less cloying, and too, sweet. Some are too much like figs sprinkled with "Sugar Twin"...yech! JD... Just respectfully, curious....grounded trees, or containerized? If containerized, do you control water at the roots, or, did the tree get caught in the rains? Why the splitting? Frank __________________ Bronx, NYC Zone-7

rufusmd

Registered:1290356265
Posts: 45

Posted 1376155203	Reply with quote #8

I have enjoyed my DP, and have given away quite a few plants I propagated. The DP is a good one and it made the cut to be in the ground this spring. __________________ Rufusmd South Metro Atlanta Georgia/7b

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,727

Posted 1376155321	Reply with quote #9

Looks great. My 3 year old plant is doing n.o.t.h.i.n.g. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

Dieseler

Registered:1215735852
Posts: 8,252

Posted 1376169157	Reply with quote #10

JD thanks for trip down memory lane when i had mine. It was giving to neighbor with some other plants as it was a milder version of my hardy chicago so no need for it. But he left out the containers in his yard over the winter and they all died but he new better(shaking head) no more plants for him. It was good grower and a good producer of figs i can attest to. In JD's first post here click on blue link #5 and scroll down to post 3 for pictures.

susieqz

Registered:1372082549
Posts: 971

Posted 1376169699	Reply with quote #11

thanks a lot for the flavor profile jd. i'm super interested in those. __________________ susie wish list: nothing. i can't grow cuttings . right now, i have 6 trees showing no signs of fmv. i'd like to keep it that way' i was told that if i couldn't deal with fmv, i should grow peaches, so i got a peach tree to live with my clean figs.

Registered:1252379847
Posts: 1,162

Posted 1376172084	Reply with quote #12

You are welcome folks. This is fun Shah8, I think the Dark Portuguese's flavor profile is different from Hardy Chicago, Sal's EL, and the others I mentioned. The flavored acidity makes it unique for my climate and taste buds. The beauty in my situation is that Frank (FMD) has most of the figs that I have. Thus I have a check and balance in terms of a mutually exclusive opinion on grounded figs whereas the majority of mine are potted. FiggyFrank, My tree is potted and connected to an automated irrigation with a zone dedicated to potted plants. Trees get nine minutes of water twice daily and nothing when the rain level trips the sensor. I am not sure why it threatened to split but it didn't and I will pick them such that I mitigate splitting as much as possible. __________________ jd \| tallahassee.fl \| zone 8b

tvp

Registered:1374983753
Posts: 35

Posted 1376173891	Reply with quote #13

Wow looks great! Thanks for sharing! __________________ Zone 6b, Northwest Virginia So far: Chicago Hardy, Celeste, Brown Turkey Wish List: Varieties that grow well in Zone 6!

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