This tree is 4 years old and these are the first edible brebas. The ones last year didn't develop well. The taste is medium sweet honey taste, slight figgy taste, not rich..It is a San Pedro type similar to Desert King (which I don't have). Well worth growing to get figs this early in the year. It does make main crop figs that shrivel after they get about half size(no wasps here). I'm going to trim this tree down as soon as these brebas are finished so, hopefully, I'll have many more next year.

I forgot to say that the pulp has a very slight strawberry tinge. The tree has one, three and five lobed leaves. The 5 lobed ones are predominant on the newer growth.

Way to go Tim!  Will the main crop of fig turn yellow in color or stay green?

Thanks Dennis, yes the main crop stays green for a while, shrivel & fall off( can't remember if they yellow or not). I said they fall at about half size, which is a guess based on the size of the breba, which aren't particularly large. This may all change as the tree matures, I just don't know. Anyone seen an actual main crop fig or maybe have a picture?

Sassy,

I have suspected that it was a breba only fig. I have seen a few brebas, even though I prune heavily. Have not seen a main crop fig form, since I have had it (3-4 years).

Thanks John!

Is there any update on this fig regarding taste or productivity with this fig? I have some just rooted that came in a cutting 'group order'. I like the early aspects of fruiting, but am not sure how much effort I want to put into growing them up. There are so many others that seem to have more promise.

So little time, so many figs.

edit:  I just realized that this thread was resurrected from last year. But here goes anyway.
"gene"

Tim I was just about to ask you about your tree. A few days ago I found a fig that was softening on the tree I got from you. Yesterday morning as I made my rounds I noticed it was missing. I looked around and found it on the ground slightly split. We had an inch of rain the night before. I set it on the counter and later in the day Noss and her husband dropped in for lunch and noss and I shared the fig. It was not totally ripe but it had a nice figgy flavor. I now have two more in the ripening stage, but it's raining as I type. I hope it doesn't affect them as I'd like to get a good taste. Here are a couple of pictures of the ones left on the tree. One is spliting at the eye a little and the other is not.

[IMG]http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff295/PawPawgene/figs/Normans%20Yellow/normansyellow.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff295/PawPawgene/figs/Normans%20Yellow/normansyellow1.jpg[/IMG]

Again, bumping an old thread...

I just found a small ripe one Norman's yellow yesterday... and ate it. The best I can say is it was moist - and totally insipid after eating some peak, hearty missions a few days ago.

I'll keep the Norman's yellow around for another year I suppose, but there are so many other figs that would be more worth my time and effort. I do know I would not give it to anyone lest they think this is what a good fig is supposed to taste like. It either brings itself up to a 7 (out of 10) in taste, or it's headed for extinction.

Gina, you might offer it to someone in  the frigid north who can't get many other figs.  I'm sure it will be good dried or in a jam.

That's true, a person might be able to make jam from it. But why settle for 'mediocre' when 'excellent' exists and is readily available? Right now it's in a 5 gallon pot. Ignoring time and effort, assuming it could be bare-rooted and trimmed down, the postage someone would have to pay would not be worth the fig they would be getting. Norman's Yellow just isn't worth it.

It used to horrify me too when a fig veteran sent an under-performing tree to fig heaven. It no longer does. Sadly some varieties simply are not worth the hassle.

I have started using the not so good figs as "gifts" to those of dubious gardening skill or intent.
Have had too many of my gifts get left on the porch over winter (!!!!????) even though when given it was made clear that the plants had to be protected from winters cold. o r left out for a springs ' night  frost after leafing out in spring..." I kept meaning to bring it into the garage. they look like they might be alive. they should be ok, its warm on the porch..."   I just shake my head.
Anyways, if someone that is interested in growing figs, gets the dog to survive over a winter, he or she has passed the test, and I am more than willing to share any of my better varieties.

I think we need all types of figs, good and then again not so good. Think about it,,,, if we didnt have inferior tasting figs then we'd never know what a great fig was.

Some figs get better in time. I'd say give it 2 more years.

Pitangadiego, if you have wasps and the main crop doesn't form does that mean it will be Breba only no matter the conditions?