Encanto Farms Nursery > Categories > Ronde de Bordeaux earliest main crop?

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Gwenn

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Posts: 29

Here in France, Ronde de Bordeaux is said to be one of the earliest main crop, maturing in early august, but that's not what I see! right now, main figs are bigger on my Osborne prolific, Dorée and Grise de Saint Jean!!
This spring was the warmest and sunniest on record in Brittany, the weather was excellent, so my trees started to grow late march. Now the summer is quite cool and grey.
Here are some pics taken today of my newly planted figs

Ronde de Bordeaux planted three years ago, with small main figs

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Grise de Saint Jean planted last march

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Dorée planted in march 2010

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Osborne prolific planted in march 2010 is the most earlier, very promising!!

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Desert King planted last march is growing very fast, I hope to have a good breba crop next year

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Herman2

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Posts: 2,625

Yes you are right about Ronde de Bordeaux,size of fruits at this point.
Yet what it is important ,is that it can do with less Summer heat,than others and still ripe properly.
Many other cultivars will never get ripe properly at all.in cool climates.
Grise de Saint Jean is one of those.
 
Gwenn

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Posts: 29

Hello Herman2
So little hope to get anything then! because RDB main figs didn't mature last fall here....
Well anyway I concentrate only on San Pedro types figs or good brebas figs makers like Grise de St Jean, Lampeira or King.
BeninMA

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Posts: 31

Gwenn,
Thanks for sharing.  I'll be interested to see how you make out with Lampeira
BeninMA

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Posts: 31

Have you considered trying Brevas de Galicia?  Galicia has a climate similar to yours.
Gwenn

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Posts: 29

Hi BeninMA
I never heard of brevas de Galicia, how it is like? Sounds interesting though Galicia is warmer than here
BeninMA

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Posts: 31

I'm new to figs myself, but I came across the variety when looking into Portuguese varieties.  As the name suggests, it's supposed to put out good Brebas.  It's listed here:  http://www.treesofjoy.com/myfigs.htm  I'd also be curious to know more about it.
Bass

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Posts: 2,428

Gwenn, Brevas from Galicia are good tasting and usually ripen in June in Galicia. They're not sold commercially. 

I have noticed that you are planting them out in the field, do you have a warmer spot closer to a wall to benefit from the radiant heat? You other option is to grow them in containers, figs in containers usually produce earlier than those in the ground. 
Gwenn

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Posts: 29

Hi Bass,
No I don't have a wall and I don't want to keep the fig trees in pot except for a samll variety. My "field" is well protected from the cold wind and face south east, so it gets warmish when the sun is there.
Do you think RDB will evolute to "settle" to my climate and eventually mature its fruits or it won't?
Bass

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Posts: 2,428

Ronde de Bordeaux is an early variety for sure, but just like any figs it requires heat. My RdB shows the same size figs that you have, they are usually ripe for me in mid August. Some of the other very early variety is Blanche de Argentuile, Becane (earlier than Ronde de Bordeaux), Herman's Florea. These produce early main crop. 
Gwenn

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Posts: 29

Thanks, I have (in pot) Blanche d'Argenteuil and Bécane. They 'll go in ground next spring.
robertharper

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Posts: 369

Gwenn, thanks for posting the pictures.


Bass, thanks for jumping in.

I'm I correct in starting to believe that the description of Ronde de Bordeaux was written a long time ago. Before varieties like Florea, Sal's EL, Marseilles Black VS, and a host of other American figs, that were found in the last 50 years?

I purchased my Ronde de Bordeaux because I had read in so many different places that it was a very early ripening fig. But, I find that it is not as early as the ones above. Plus, this is the the second in ground year for mine, and it shows no signs of starting to produce fruit.Where as the above figs and Hardy Hartford start producing a good crop of figs the first in ground year.

Bass, are you saying that your Ronde de Bordeaux ripens it's main crop figs, Mid August, or it's breba crop in mid August?

Bass, how old was your Ronde de Bordeaux before it started producing fruit? and what month does it start to ripen main crop fruit at your location?

Bob
Bass

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Bob,
Ronde de Bordeaux has only one crop. The main crop ripened early August last year it was in ground. I don't remember exact date. It produced a year after planting out. It has great qualities, besides it's early ripening, it is a vigorous grower for me, Cold hardy, and Excellent tasting fig, more resistant to splitting in wet coditions than others. Florea was very early for me, but I didn't like its flavor much.

robertharper

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Posts: 369

Bass, thanks for the additional information on Ronde de Bordeaux. 


I still like the information I'm reading about Ronde de Bordeaux, and will be looking forward to mine starting to bear. Not sure why mine is taking so long to start bearing. 

Your Black Bethlehem  reminds me of Ronde de Bordeaux. Can you describe the difference and the similarities between the Black Bethlehem and Ronde de Bordeaux?

Thanks.

Bob 
satellitehead

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Posts: 3,687

I know it was directed at Bass, but I have both so thought I'd chip in an assist. 

I can't speak to the fruit, neither have fruited for me (to maturity), but the leaf shape is one huge difference.  RdB is more skinny-finger-like on the leaves, it's very stark, almost looking like an asterisk shaped leaf.

BB has more of a five-lobe leaf similar to Hardy Chicago (only without the ultra-large center lobe)
robertharper

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Posts: 369

Not a problem you chipping in.


The more people submitting information the better for all of us.

How did you make out with the cuttings I sent to you?

Bob
Gwenn

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Posts: 29

My RDB also took three years to start bearing!
I search on F4F about Florea and I 'm very surprised how early this fig is!! I would like to try it! my summer can be quite dry may the taste will be ok.
is there any way to have some cuttings?
loslunasfarms

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Posts: 380

Gwenn, please send me a message via fig forum.