Updated June 7, 2016 hot figs current standings;

97 Fig cultivars nominated so far;

1st place - Italian 258 maintaing the lead
2nd place - Ponte Tresa, Figo Preto
4th place - Black Madeira, Galicia Negra, Black Ischia UCD , Genovese Nero AF
8th Place - Pastilliere, Martinica Rimada, Grantham's Royal, Panache

see pdf attachment for details.

There is no official Top 10 hot figs for 2016 list. 
This topic hopefully will give us an idea on what is hot for F4F members.

Pino, I think Genovese Nero AF should in that list and so does Black Madeira

[QUOTE=newbie]Pino, I think Genovese Nero AF should in that list and so does Black Madeira[/QUOTE]

GN is definitely a good choice, but Pino is saying post your own top 10! Obviously this is all up to your own opinion.

I have a g.n.so far It only produced a few figs but, the I-258 is a great producer and great tasting!

Thanks Newbie and Ross.

I agree that GN AF and Black Madeira are great figs.  I didn't include them because they have both had their heyday already.
They were in the Top 10 hot figs in previous years and already present in many fig collections.  

This list was my initial recommendations I am already thinking of other figs that could be on the list.

Begs the question what does Hot figs mean? 
- figs that people are seeking to add to their collections?
- figs present in many current hot discussions?
- figs with the most dedicated base and most accolades? 

Based on your and Ross's input I think post should change to list of  Top 10 hot figs 2016 candidates. 
In a month we can tally the scores and see the 10 chosen.  Votes should be accompanied with a reason for your choice(s).

Other Top 10 hot figs 2016 candidates;

Genovese Nero AF
Black Madeira

Thanks Exoticplants1 great to hear of people's actual growing experience!

Inchário Preto is the all-time best

Thanks for the suggestion helike13!
Can you give the reason you like this smyrna type fig?

Raises the question on whether to limit this topic to common type figs since so many fig collectors don't have the wasp and so figs like this are just a dream.

I would add two that I would like:

Grantham's Royal - lot of demand for that one in past year due to productivity and quality of brebas; yes it is San Pedro but we are in the North and early means something important here
Gallicia Negra-most striking interior I have seen photos of.

1. UC.Davis Black Ischia. Very difficult to root and grow. Many fake varieties and very few have the real deal. Flavor supposed to be amazing.
2. Bass's favorite. Looks like an amazing fig and will be in limited supply.
3. CDD"Gigantina". A Pons variety with a cool name and very rare.
4. Ponte tresa. Although I don't have this variety yet( I have my personal opinion on this) it looks delicious and would probably do well here in Fresno Ca.
5. Albacor Comuna. Wow this fruit looks spectacular from Mr.Pons, can't wait.
6. I 320. One of the numbered figs from Todd Kennedy's lost Italian fig list.From the description it sounds similar to I 258 and so far the leaves are almost identical. Seems to be very rare.
7. CDD Rimada. From Mr.Pons this variety is supposed to have a distinct berry flavor with the color of panache. It is very difficult to root and extremely slow growing. A highly sought after fig.
8. Princesa fig. This comes from Mr. Pons as well and looks to be a delicious yellow fig.
9. The Enigma fig. I received a cutting of this variety from Marius last year. It is in a 3 gallon growing rapidly with really cool shaped leaves. I believe he didn't share many of these. I look forward to the fruit as it hasn't been seen yet.
10.Victoria fig. Comes from Mr. Pons in Majorca. A big black fig with great flavor and a vigorous grower.
Picture is I-320.

Thanks for the valuable input Ed and Brian!

Brian what is Bass's favourite fig called? 

I am keeping a spreadsheet and tabulating will add to the 1st post soon.

Pino that is the name of it. He just listed it with the story of it on eBay.

Pino it is literally called "Bass' Favorite".  It looks a lot like Black Madeira.

So who had all ten already?

Hi,
10 ... That would mean owning at least 30 different strains to chose from ...
For me any good producer will do. I'm no collector. I want fruits.

For now my list would be:
1. Healthy longue d'aout.
2. Dalmatie
3. An unknown... Look at the pic ... By the way, it might be a caprifig ... So I'll be checking it out  later this year to see if those do ripe to something edible.
The tree is a depot ... not cared for ... Any one an idea ? An Italian one ? Look at that load ...
 

 
I'll go ninja cutting on that one... Some branches should be easy to reach from the outside... Hoping it is NOT a grafted tree as I could end up with some cuttings of the rootstock ( I really hate grafted tree ... for that reason )

4. Panaché for the fun ( Damn tree dropped the lonely breba she had !!! )
5. Dauphine - hoping mine is true to type ... or better ... Mine seems to have more brebas than the other Dauphine. But mine is cared for ...
6. Another unknown from North Portugal. It has some 15 brebas and is not even 2 full years from cutting stage .

wow Bass's "BFF" cuttings are getting a hefty dollar with a few days left still. is this a brand new release, haven't heard much of it?

Yes, Bass sold the first tree on Ebay about a week ago. Now these cuttings.

My top 10 because these are ones I have now or lined up:
Black Madiera
Galicia Negra
CdD B/N
I-258
Figo Preto
Ponte Tresa
Martinica Rimada
Negra de Arganda
BFF
Luv

I know most are past hot but maybe still warm.

Thanks to everyone for posting your favourite fig choices.  Keep them coming 29 days to go!

Pino, Martinenca Rimada and Col de Dame Rimada are very different.

I haven't fruit most of my list. Shoot I don't know how to spell some of the names. I'll know a lot more in a couple of years.

Thanks for clarifying the Martinenca Rimada and BFF!

Fignutty discovering what we can do with these figs is part of the fun!

[QUOTE=ross]

GN is definitely a good choice, but Pino is saying post your own top 10! Obviously this is all up to your own opinion.[/QUOTE]

oppss... I didn't notice that. Thanks for the reminder. I just put those 2 because, it is in my wishlist. wondering when will I get those varieties

@jdsfrance -- awesome productivity. 

My top producer for breba's this 2016 is Granthams Royal. Beats Latarrula, Desert King and Osborne
Prolific in terms of productivity. Another good producer for now in pot culture is Ariane. I need to air layer
Ariane as spare before putting it to ground to realize its full potential.

Thanks Paul!
Your vote for Granthams Royal has put it in a tie for 3rd place. 
Ariane is a new fig for the list.  Haven't heard too much about this fig?

At this time Italian 258 and Ponte Tresa are tied for #1.  There are 7 figs tied for 3rd.

@Pino -- I258 is a great tasting fig. Ripens a little late. The best tasting fig for me last year(2015) was
Bellone. Nelson's "Norella" is another awesome tasting fig and he has some great looking figs(interior)
that looks as super as PT. There's a few collecters in Ontario with the odd awesome & hard to find fig
variants.

Friends here who have sampled my Granthams R. said it is superior in taste over Desert King. I have started
an air layer for you. Myself and family focus on GR over DK because of taste.

I have all of them except for one.  But I think folks need to understand, this top 10 is Pino's named list.  I think we all could identify a very different list...not to take anything away from Pino's recommendation list.

There are so many to list.  For me, it's hard to say which ones are in the top 10.  De La Senyora is definitely in my list along with many others.  Long D'Aout is also in the top.  I have a large Granthams Royal but no figs yet.  Gino's Black, Sal's, Marva Silka, Adriatic, Smith, and Texas BA1 are also top notch figs.

@Paully22, notching up another vote for i258 and adding Bellone and Norella.  Canada is holding its own with a good number of fig collectors.  Havent heard too much from the Montreal fig collectors lately.

Looking forward to the Granthams R. by the way are you interested in a Sicilian Black rooted cutting?  I can send it with your Valoze airlayer.  It is also an amazing breba producer.

Thanks  

[QUOTE=snaglpus]I have all of them except for one.  But I think folks need to understand, this top 10 is Pino's named list.  I think we all could identify a very different list...not to take anything away from Pino's recommendation list.

There are so many to list.  For me, it's hard to say which ones are in the top 10.  De La Senyora is definitely in my list along with many others.  Long D'Aout is also in the top.  I have a large Granthams Royal but no figs yet.  Gino's Black, Sal's, Marva Silka, Adriatic, Smith, and Texas BA1 are also top notch figs.[/QUOTE]
Hi Dennis
My intention was to get everyone to nominate what they thought are their 10 hot figs 2016, tabulate the results and see what the top 10 favourites would be. 
The 10 figs in the 1st post were my kick at the can but most of them are at the bottom now.  Let me know if I need to clarify the post.

At this point  there have been 44 figs nominated.
I 258 is leading with 4 nominations, Ponte tresa and Granthams R. tied for 2nd with 3 likes and 7 figs tied for 3rd see the attached pdf.

I added your figs to the list now;
De La Senyora, Long D'Aout, Granthams Royal, Gino's Black, Sal's (is that C or EL?), Marva Silka, Adriatic (is that the JH?), Smith, and Texas BA1.

Thanks

[QUOTE=johnnyq627]Pino it is literally called "Bass' Favorite".  It looks a lot like Black Madeira.[/QUOTE]
I hope it tastes as good as Black Maderia , I find it really difficult to root. But this grafted one sprouted after many weeks of babying .

Thanks Vinny.
BFF seems to be a fav fig and getting around do we know anything else other than it looks like Black Madeira?  (source, growing habits, cold hardy..?

@Pino -- I would like to trial your Sicilian Blk strain. Thanks. I focus on breba production as I am too
immerse in sports fishing when the main crop are ripening. Also when most main crop variants
are ripening I have a problem with fruit flies as too many fruits in the neighbourhood are ripening
and rotting especially Italian plums. The other reason is when the main crop are ripening, we get
more rainfall and the wife's interest in fresh figs is waning after the usual bonanza breba harvest
and feast on main crop Florea & RdB's. 

Adriatic JH- one of the best looking white fig.

raspberry el-molino-  Unknowns should be respected too and this one looks great although i might have it as Hmadi.

Sultane- Alot of noise around this, i am going to have to take cuttings of this.

Preto- not alot to say.

Fillaciano- ancient variety - tried getting it but no luck untill now- will see this year if i might be able to get it from a collector.

Sbayi- Alot of memebrs dont know about this gem- They should. not alot of figs have wine aromas.

unknown pastillere- looks great and doesnt fall like the real pastillere.

Calderona- looks great and if monserat is growing it so..

Luv- Rare fig from Paolo in Italy. hope to try it.

Ponte Tresa- Got to get it.

Oops i dont have space here for i258 :)

Genovese Nero (2nd year trying to root with no success, same with Rob's version)
And the varieties in my signature box below...

I understand Pino now. It very hard to choose when you have a lot like I do.

[QUOTE=pino]Thanks Vinny.
BFF seems to be a fav fig and getting around do we know anything else other than it looks like Black Madeira?  (source, growing habits, cold hardy..?[/QUOTE]

Pino,

I do not have much information about this variety. Bass said on Instagram that it's one of the if not the best fig and will carry on producing even in colder weather later in the season. Also I'm not sure if it looks similar to black Maderia . I will report the progess of this variety promptly.

Cheers

I'm too new to this to add my two cents, but I'm reading on with excitement.  Thanks folks!

@asima_tribolla being new to figs is the most fun time.  The figs on your radar are your hot figs.  

Thanks Vinny BFF sounds like a fig for my wish list.  Nick mentioned it looks like black madeira sounds great!

@Dennis, wish I had your fig problem..lol  In your post which Sal's and Adriatic were you referring to?


@Eli and Simon, I will add in your fig choices to the list but you didn't provide the reasons you love these figs?

Blanche de Deux Saissons
De la Senyora

Pino, There can be some of our Turkish common varieties in the list both for size and taste and for other issues, such as; Balkan's grey Siyah Kis Type 208 Siyah Orak K.Patlican figs... Also ,there are 3 most popular Symnra fig varieties all around the world are; Bursa Black Sarilop Sarizeybek Thanks Ercan

I thought the point was what ten figs will be the hottest as in most sought after based on fads,propaganda or reputation, (deserved or not). Not "hey, here's my favorite 10". Am I wrong?

Pino: I'm just being shallow and going on looks alone, haha!!

@Michael, chalked up another like for De La Synora and added Blanche de Deux Saissons.

@Ercan, Balkan's grey, Siyah Kis, Type 208, Siyah Orak, K.Patlican and the 3 smyrnas Bursa Black, Sarilop,  Sarizeybek

[QUOTE=bamafig]I thought the point was what ten figs will be the hottest as in most sought after based on fads,propaganda or reputation, (deserved or not). Not "hey, here's my favorite 10". Am I wrong?[/QUOTE]
Hi bamafig,
good point!  the intention is to identify the hot figs for 2016. 
I raised a similar question of what does hot mean in post #5 and will repeat it here along with your suggestions.

What does Hot figs mean? 
- figs that most people are seeking to add to their collections?
- figs most present in many current hot discussions?
- figs with the most dedicated base and most accolades? 
- the most sought after figs based on fads, propaganda or reputation?

IMO
In the absence of a published "top 10 fig hits" based on fig sales and plays.  I suggest for this post the purpose is just for fun.  The sum total of people's own 10 favourite figs is the the current 10 hot figs?

Hi,
For me it would be : "what are the 10 figs that you would advise people to seek for".
There are underrated strains like "Longue d'aout" that really deserve more attention from the growers, IMO.

What people will look for and what they should look for, is different, and most of the time because of lack of public knowledge or lack of a source of material .

My top 10 for figs I have tasted in more than a single summer:

Black Madeira - amazing flavor and large juicy fig
Preto - very similar if not the same as Black Madeira
Violette de Bordeaux/Negronne/Nero600M - excellent flavor
Angelos Dark - early ripening and great flavor
Green Ischia - great flavor, ripens in colder weather
Malta Black - productive and good flavor
Chicago Hardy - good flavor
Brogiotto Nero - large meaty fig, good flavor
Sodus Sicilian - large fig, hardy
Excel - great flavored breba
Improved Celeste - ok flavor, but very early ripening

Hello Joe,

I have both the Sals Corleone and the Sicilian Black JR and when they started to have figs, I was really puzzled because I couldn't tell the difference between the two.  After looking and studying them, I saw just a nuance of difference between the two, but as you said, the SB is a Ringer for the Corleone and both are so good, that, though it's rainy and wet here, they are worth the trouble of keeping them sheltered when they are ripening fruit, so they won't get too much rain and split, which they will, here.  That sentence is entirely too long!  Too lazy to re-do it.  :D

I showed Herman a photo of the SB and he said it was the real thing.

noss

PS==My Corleones come from Italian Girl and Herman and they are both spot-on identical.

Thanks jdsfrance!  Wise suggestions to consider when selecting figs to grow.  I would like to add to this location location location or you may never reap the rewards you seek in figs.

Thanks Nick
added your 1st 10 fig choices to the hot list.  Dropped your 11th fig Improved Celeste sorry only 10 allowed..lol 
You have nudged Black Madeira and Preto up. 
I applied your Brogiotto Nero "like" to Barnisotte since I understand they are synonyms and Barnisotte (fico africano) is the older and better known name.  Let me know if you agree?
Also for the Violette de Bordeaux/Negronne/Nero600M gave your like to VdB  since not all agree these are the same fig.
Thanks again for providing your reasons for your choices!

Thanks Noss gave a nudge to Sicilian Black and add Sal's C.

Updated the hot figs list in the 1st post.

Thanks and keep them coming.

Can your top 10 hot fig nominees be changed? 
I say why not?  The more information on figs we learn the more it goes to shape our understanding and therefore our top 10 hot figs.

I'm anxious to taste these.

Still Tallying?...

1. Izbat an Naj
2. Qalaat al Madiq
3. Kathleen's Black
4. Napolitano Negra
5. Maltese Beauty
6. Lebanese Red Bekka
7. Chiappetta
8. Noire de Barbentane
9. Calderona
10. Panache

My top 10 are Figs I have. I have only tasted a Rouge DB(which was good) and was a couple days over ripe. My list is in no particular order.

Black Madeira-fruiting
Italian 258
Galicia Negra-fruiting
Martinenca Rimada
Peloponnisiaka Aspra
Figoin-fruiting
Col De Dame Blanc
Panache-fruiting
Rouge De Bordeaux-fruiting
Vasilika Sika-Greece-fruiting

@Don thanks for your input.  Yes still tallying!

Added your like vote to Panache.  
Added Izbat an Naj, Qalaat al Madiq, Kathleen's Black, Napolitano Negra, Maltese Beauty, Lebanese Red Bekka, Chiappetta, Noire de Barbentane and  Calderona to the list.

@Figfinatic7 thanks for your input!
Added  your like to Black Madeira, Italian 258,  Galicia Negra, Martinenca Rimada and Panache. 
Believe Rouge De Bordeaux is a synonym for Pastilliere. 
Added Peloponnisiaka Aspra, Figoin, Col De Dame Blanc and Vasilika Sika to the hot list.

Everyone's input welcome. 
Please try and add your notes as to why the particular fig is special to you and a few words to describe the fig since there are quite a few new ones.

Thanks

Pino,
I sell ripe figs exclusively to the highest rated Inn within 500 miles and the top chefs there. They like Ronde de Bordeaux the best followed by Saint Rita and Alma. I supplied them with over 100 varieties last year. They fed Col de Dame Blanch, Noir and Battaglia Green to the Queen of Spain along with assorted Spanish figs. She was very impressed. Anyway I think Battaglia Green deserves a long look as it is my favorite. It came from Folly Castle in Petersburg Virginia but as it was carried by Susan Battaglia to Paradise Nursery and named after her (unfortunate how figs get their names) it carries the handicap of a inappropriate name. It should be the Folly Castle fig as it spent at least decades there (perhaps far longer). I think CdD-B and B. Green are very close taste-wise but B. Green is far more cold hardy.Some of the figs the chefs also rated highly were Cavaliere, Blanch de Deux Saissons, Rouge de Bordeaux (dropped figs the first few years but was very productive and high quality last year), Norella (for a young tree - very good), Negronne, Kathleen's Black and Sotterly (an unknown named by Monticello as it came from the Sotterley Plantation in Maryland.
I totally agree with you about Archipel as it is excellent. 
I'm moving this year (as we speak) but I hope to ripen over 150 varieties for sale and as part of the deal I get rating feed-back from the chefs so if you want you can contact me for results.
Because of this thread there are a few varieties I'll add but results will be at least 4 years out as the first years of production are never up to potential -- in my experience anyway.

Don,
I'm moving currently but if you wait til fall I can help w/ Zing,GN and NdB.
Saying that here as having PM issues. I should get to taste 8 of the 10 you listed as ones you were curious about.

Ripe Desert King sold here for C$0.99 each.

Thanks Michael for the very interesting fig story! 
Great to know what figs consumers prefer especially for those wanting to grow figs for fresh market. 

If I read your 2 posts correctly it puts you 3 over the choose 10 limit;
Battaglia Green, Ronde de Bordeaux, Saint Rita, Alma, Cavaliere, Blanch de Deux Saissons, De la Senyora, Rouge de Bordeaux, Archipel, Negronne, Norella, Kathleen's Black and Sotterly. 

Michael, Which 3 figs do you want to lose from your top 10?  Hey maybe the 3 you drop will make it on the 2017 list..lol

Thanks Paul! 
C$0.99 each for Desert King seems like quite a lot.  Hey a market opportunity for someone.

Paul,
OK let's dump Negronne, Rouge de Bordeaux and Sotterley.
thx,
mgg

OK Michael. 
Will update although I am disappointed that you are dumping Rouge de Bordeaux(Pastilliere)..lol
Thanks

As it was excellent last year but dropped all figs the years before I am hopeful it will continue to produce - and if so it will go back on the list. I am adding another one to my orchard this year.

[QUOTE=pino]
I applied your Brogiotto Nero "like" to Barnisotte since I understand they are synonyms and Barnisotte (fico africano) is the older and better known name.  Let me know if you agree?
[/QUOTE]

Hi Pino, Brogiotto Nero and Barnisotte are different varieties:

Barnisotte:
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYRMy8CkaEI[/video]

Brogiotto Nero:
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE4E79wHruo[/video]

@Nick - thanks for the correction! 

This how we advance our knowledge of figs. 

By the way what a great youtube channel you have! 
I have viewed many of your videos before but missed these 2.
Gotta ask what about Bourjasotte Noir is it related to Brogiotto Nero?

Thanks

p.s. I will update the hot list accordingly.

Pino I have heard that Brogiotto Nero and Bourjasotte Noir are the same fig.  Looking at pictures of BNs online, they have the same characteristic squat shape and light stripes when stagnant, so yes I believe they are likely the same fig.

Thanks Nick! 
Bourjasotte Noir/Brogiotto Nero look great and look like productive figs!  Surprised we don't hear more about them on this side of the big pond. 

Pino,
I only listed 2 on my initial post...

Here are 8 more that I think are "HOT".

Ponte Tresa
Genovese Nero (the real one)
Maltese Falcon
Col de Dame Blanca/Negra
Pastelliere (sp?)
Martinenca Rimada
a healthy Black Ischia
a healthy Figo Preto or Black Madiera

Thanks Ed, Great fig choices!

Presents me with a little problem though. 
On the list we have Figo Preto and Black Madeira as separate figs so who gets your like vote?

Many respected members have said they are the same fig. 
But I am finding out the more figs I get the more I find that some people say are the same are usually very similar but different cultivars that arose.
Preto and BM discussion is a separate topic best left for others more knowledgeable with these 2 figs.

Updated the hot figs list with Ed's choices. 
Only 10 choices each so gave Ed's fig preto/black madeira vote to fig preto.  Can change depending on Ed's confirmation. 

Also curious whether the Maltese figs beauty and falcon are the same?

Thanks 

Maltese Beauty and Falcon are different. 

Bump!

Any more input for your top hot figs? 

Ponte Tresa
Italian 258
Genovese Nero
Preto
Ischia Black
Noire de Barbentane
Col de Dame (any)
Cavaliere
Lampeira Preta
Galicia Negra

Thanks Gary, Excellent choice of figs! 

Added your Lampeira Preta to the hot figs 2016 list and updated the like count on the other figs. 
97 Fig cultivars recommended already.
Are there more that should be added?  Don't be shy your vote counts.  

Pino I just looked at your pdf doc of the "Top 10 Hot Figs 2016".  What a great resource.  I so appreciate everyone's input and your labor to include all the comments.  What a great resource for those of us just getting acquainted with these remarkable fig variations.  Thank you for your labor of love here.  Happy figging, Jodi

Hey Pino,

I'm new to figs so no real input from me expect for a big thank you as this exceedingly helpful for a noob like me.

Thanks again!!

Sam