I just wanted to write and say, this fig is absolutely delicious, this is really the first season tasting these in their full glory, after being able to allow them to ripen in the hot sun for a couple days, unbelievable fantastic taste, I know I have a few of my own personnal favorites, but after just tasting this, this exceeds even my favorites for this year, the fruit was even larger than before, Pure black with white freckles, and soo dark blood red inside.  I recommend this tree to anyone who doesn't have it.  The flavor just burst in my mouth.  I love it................................Ciao

Maggie,I agree,I also rated my Violette Number one in 2007,and now again in 2010.
But in 2008,when cold rainy Sommer it was bad,splitting totally and souring.
In 2009 it was average,in another cold rainy Sommer.
So yes it can be best in conductive hot dry Sommer and bad in rainy Sommer.
A Gardener outside ideal fig climate should not keep only one fig,and that one be Violette but another one that is constantly good,every Sommer,and then of course Violette de Bordeaux,just in case a good Somer is Coming.
In 2008 and 2009,many cultivars here were better than Violette:
From Top of my head:Malta Black,Tacoma Violett,Atreano,Marseilles vs black,Gino fig,Maltese Falcon,Celeste,Blue Celeste,Black Jack,Mission,and Many others,i can't remember,all.

Oh Maggie yes a wonderful fig.

OMG!!! I am also tasting some Superb Negronne Figs this summer.I wonder if I could grow this variety in the ground here in zone 6 (northern NJ)?If protected very well of course.
                       Anthony

OMG!!! I am also tasting some Superb Negronne Figs this summer.I wonder if I could grow this variety in the ground here in zone 6 (northern NJ)?If protected very well of course.
                       Anthony

Mine is doing ok inground with a little help from me ,of course.
Antonio,I am sure you can do it.

Hi Maggie,

How does it taste unbelievable fantastic taste?  Can you compare it to a Celeste and say how it might be better.  Does it taste like a fig, or a some other fruit?

Thanks,

noss

In My Opinion,(i do not want to interfere),Because the question was not posted to me,yet,it is like this:
A properly ripe Celeste taste fantastic in it's own way.
A Properly ripe Violette de B,Taste fantastic in it's own way too,and totally different,from one another.

Maggie & Vivian, mine has been fantastic this year here in SE Texas. The flavor tastes like a fig, but it has a very complex rich flavor with some berrylike undertones that linger on your palate. I like the texture also. Very dense and good quality---just wonderful. My favorite fig so far. Think I'll yank some of these less desirable ones and plant more. It's that good.

Ciao Vivian,  Herman and Tim said it best, couldn't agree more. I just started to root today a few more of these for to have more of this variety for personal eating.  Ciao

Thanks Herman & Tim.  That's what I was thinking of when I asked.  It did help to refine the description of the flavor.

Perhaps there really is no accurate description for some figs--ya just have to taste them for yourself and see.

I so love a fig flavor that I'm not sure I'll like a berry flavor, or one that tastes like strawberry, but I can't imagine it and will have to taste it and that's something to look forward to.

Celeste, to me, has a fig taste and I love that taste.  I've never tasted any figs but the Celeste and BT and really like both very much.  At least the BTs at my grandparents' home in VA.  I've not had them anywhere else, so really it's the Celestes that I love, but since I've not tasted any other figs, I have not idea how those others could taste.  :)  I've now got several young, black fig trees and hope they will give me some figs to taste next year.  Same goes with the yellow figs, with the Smith and Champagne.

I pray that Eddie Romero will be up and running well by next season, first because he's a precious person and next, because he has a fig orchard with all kinds of fig trees to taste the fruit from.  I wish him health and strength and many more years to tend his orchard.  :)

noss

With all of these rave reviews, I'm really looking forward to seeing my 2010 VdB cutting grow large enough to produce fruit. Does this variety tend to be pretty productive? How does the fruit quality compare to Black Madeira?

Hey guys and gals! I totally agree!   I let my VdB and Negronne fully ripen on the tree and they were totally awesome!  I started getting deep into figs about 2 years ago and this is the first year my 2 and 3 year old trees have produced an abundance of fruit.  My wife is my taste tester and says Ronde de Bourdeaux is the sweetest with Black Madeira coming a tight second.  But in my opinion I think the best this year in the dark catagory are:  VdB, Black Madeira, Negronne, RdB, Malta Black, Gino's, Pannans Purple, Blue Celeste, Sal's, Martin's Unknown, Brunswick.

I've got a couple of Weeping Figs getting ripe now....not sure how they are going to taste. The same is true with Italian 258 and URC 187-25 but I don't think these are dark figs. 

Noss, I totally agree with you!  I love the taste of Celeste.  I  got several Celeste trees that produce some awesome figs including O'Rouke.  My O'Rouke and Celeste figs taste like sugar!  All of my friends want this tree when they taste the fruit.  My O'Rouke has out grown its 5 gallon pot and some of the figs from the second crop dropped.  However, the fruit on my O'Rouke is larger than my Celeste and the color is more purple than red like my Celeste.  So this Fall I plan on planting it in the ground.  I'll post some pictures of these figs.  Its very time consuming for me to reduce my pictures and have not had a chance to do that.

How bout those figs!!!!  Cheers,

Hi Dennis, If you don't mind me asking what is the differences from your VDB and your Negronne and where did you get them (ex.sources)?
                         Stay Well,
                              Anthony

Dennis,

I second Anthony's request...and will add "Where did you get your O'Rourke from?"

JD

I got my Negronne from One Green World and I got my VdB from EL.  The figs on my Negronne a larger than those on my VdB.  And my Negronne ripened faster than  my VdB. 

As for my O'Rourke,  I got mine from Dalton Durion.

Here are some fruits ov Violette de B,and Aubique Petite
Third pix is Violette de Bordeaux.
The Aubique Petite are a little bit larger,in size and longer in neck.
Both taste just as goodflavor is the same I would say excellent.
The Aubique P,got ripe about a week sooner than Violette,but it could be that it is because it grew in a stronger plant faster,as both are4 yrs old+

Hi Vasile, Thanks for sharing. I wanted to ask you if you had a Vista Mission and how would you compare that variety to Petite Abiqua and VDB.
                Stay Well,
                    Anthony

Yes:Vista is More productive about the same taste,and it has a larger eye wich create more problems for us here in NE and south with respect to souring and splitting if getting ripe while raining.
Definatelly different compared to the 2 above ,probably better than Them,in All climates where the Sommer is dry,and desert like, but not here.

I want this fig tree! The Violette de Bordeaux. Can anyone share a cutting? I have to keep it in a pot, bring inside in Oct. due to cold winters here in eastern WA state. I understand it's a small tree. Any ideas? Thanks for any input. Sylvia

FWIW, dropping in to ask for cuttings on your first post is considered to be "bad form" to some people.

If you want fruit sooner, I would buy a tree online from a nursery near to you.  Violette de Bordeaux can be bought at several places, Edible Landscaping is one of many.  http://www.ediblelandscaping.com/plants.php?func=view&id=98

Welcome to the forum.

Edible landscape is a good source for a plant. Cuttings can be obtained here through trade or generosity. Even on eBay more likely at towards end of fall.

I agree with Maggie %100. VDB is the best tasting dark colored fig in my collection then followed by Black Tuscan. 

What  is the cold and heat tolerance of VDB?

Can it survive in-ground in zone 7B?

So far my plant in a darker colored ceramic pot has held up to a couple of weeks of near 100F temperatures. Can it handle 110F in-ground?

It will survive better in ground than in pot,if confronted with 110F.
To survive and "thrive" you need to plant it in such a spot around the house as to have sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon.
Also place a lot of mulch under tree.

nana7b,

My VdB was a baby last year and this year, it's put out leaves, but not a sign of any figs anywhere.  Is the tree a late-fruiter?  It's in a pot.

noss

It is very good:

[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/loslunasfarms/Violette%20de%20Bordeux-Fred%20Born%20Collection/DSC00046.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/loslunasfarms/Violette%20de%20Bordeux-Fred%20Born%20Collection/DSC00048.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/loslunasfarms/Violette%20de%20Bordeux-Fred%20Born%20Collection/DSC00091.jpg[/IMG]

Agree that it is a top tasting fig. Next time eating a VDB fig....eat the inside meat and pulp. Then eat just the skin by itself and notice the flavor of just the skin on this great tasting fig.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Noss,

My VDB is currently loaded with figs. I am in zone 6, so not a late fruiting variety. My guess is that you may still see a few figs develop on your young tree. Once it matures though, it is very productive. I also have a young Vista, which you may have read is closely related to VDB. It is maybe a year or so old, not sure as it was given to me by another fig grower. No figs on that one yet.

Barry

Barry:I am sure your Violette is in pot.
It is  a little late when planted inground,here in Zone 6.
When in ground the tree retard it's fruiting and leaf buds,intentionally as a response to cold winter ,in order to survive.
I have 2 old inground trees,and they started forming embryos, one week ago only, later than other cultivars,that have fruits as large as small plums at this point.
Yet,it is enough early,that will ripe just fine at about September 1st.

Herman,

You are correct, my VDB is in a pot with figs that are well on their way, probably will ripen by early August. maybe even July. It also has a couple brebas on it that will likely ripen in about a week or so. I didn't think a potted tree had that much of an advantage in ripening early, but it seems there is a considerable difference.

But Herman, won't the latitude affect the ripening? Zone 6 could be as far south as Cincinnati, OH, where I am, for example, or it could be as far north as the New England area, where you are if I remember correctly?

Wouldn't a more southern latitude zone 6 ripen figs faster than a northern latitude zone 6?

I'm at 39.1° N.

In your opinion, should I even try to put VdB in the ground in zone 6 at 39.1° N?