Socorro Black. I received a huge log from a forum member on 2 February 2010. Today...finally...it was time. Socorro Black is a very good fig. These two were dead ripe, sweet with a jam-like consistency, tight eye, good tasting skin, dark rich berry flavor with a hint of a crunch. It is an 8B winner this year. [more about Socorro Black]

Lovely photos Jimmie, Plant has a nice shape already and its always a thrill to eat those first figs specially when they taste good.

Very nice photography.  Sounds like a great fig.

Awesome looking fig JD! Good job!

Thanks. Socorro Black fig fun for other forum members is coming soon. The layers I promised have been cut, potted, and are doing well. Once they go dormant, get ready for delivery.

The mother tree died back this year from being a 1 story tree. We had a huge unusual arctic snap. Glad it did well for you!

Thanks Jose! It is one of my favorites this season along with Camuna Small Black, LSU Improved Celeste, Black Bethlehem, Hardy Chicago, and LSU Scott's Black. If the weather follows the forecast, then we will be fortunate to have a few more Socorro Black to ripen over the next two weeks.

Wow. A few more from this tree. Very good late fig. Most surprising of 2011. There are a handful of green figs that may ripen.

wow, looks yummy!

Thanks Little John.
Socorro Black is a 'cool weather' fig for 8B. It started budding on 23 July and the first fruit ripened on 10/28. Since then, about eleven figs have ripened and each one was very good.

Socorro Black 2012 (sounds like a brand of vodka). The main crop is coming along nicely. The wood hardens quickly on this particular tree.

JD, not sure if it's your photo taking skill or the actual fig, but Socorro Blk looks better every time I look at it.

Pete

Very impressive - both the figs and the photos. :)

Anybody here ever visit with Lloyd Kreitzer - landofenfigment.com - in Albuquerque? He's collected figs from much of the New Mexico area and has a wealth of knowledge. Stories of people whose grandmothers came over wearing long sleeves.

The potted Socorro Black shown in these photos is doing great. As of today it has the prospect of producing an decent crop of figs.

Meanwhile, in mid-spring, I planted into the ground a rooted layer (from 2011) that had been in a three gallon pot. It has grown a few new branches, added six inches, and put out more than ten but less than twenty fruits that each grew to almost golf ball size. To my surprise, it has dropped all but one fig. In hindsight, I suppose I could have removed all if its fruit. No fertilize and watered only by rain and indirectly by a sprinkler system a couple of times per week. I am not sure what happened.

JD,

can you tell me more about the growth behavior of the Socorro Black? does it grow rather fast, or is it slow like some other figs?

i have rooted your Socorro Black, and it's in 1 gal pot right now. and i see a bud opening, but it's very small bud. it's been like that for awhile. just wondering if this fig needs lot of patience.

Pete,

It is a moderate grower for my 8B backyard. It grows slower than LSU Purple, LSU Improved Celeste, LSU Scott's Black, LSU Golden Celeste, and MVSB but faster than Stallion, Black Bethlehem, Bealle, Celeste, Smith, Abebereira, Black Madeira, GM#1, Atreano, RdB, VdB, and others growing here.

On 2 February 2010, I started with the log shown in the following image. On 28 October 2011, I had the first fruits posted in this thread.

It has been no more than six weeks since you received the green cuttings, right? Have patience. I know that it was worth the wait here in this climate. It is a very good fig. Thanks to Jose for introducing it.

yes, this fig look very nice. i'll wait, and hopefully it will grow well to give figs.

Socorro Black was good last year. It was the best of those that fruited. This is its second season producing fruits that we could eat. I was concerned about the size of the eye - medium compared to the others that have done well here - but Socorro Black does not split, has not soured, and has not yet been affected by the heat, humidity, and rain because the eye appears to be sealed by honey. Damn. It is really good. I think they can be even better because these were harvested earlier than I prefer and after a heavy rain.

For comparison, I think it is better than any other fig I have tasted this season (Edit. I think it is better because Smith, Fico Preto, Gino's, Black Madeira, Camuna Small Black, Chris' Purple Portuguese, LSU Scott's Black, Black Ischia, Dauphine, LSU Late Black, and JH Adriatic have the potential ripen this season). It is definitely the most productive. For the six that we have had, the !@@#(*&^#*^%#!( mockingbirds have had about 25. The first image (047) is what was left after I scared one (mockingbird) away.

That is one juicy looking fig, Jimmie. Your report is much appreciated. I will give my little plant more attention, now.

Looks amazing.

Just when I thought I had enough fig trees a beautiful fig appears,
I will ad this one to my want list.  [ Beautiful pictures)
Vito

Stunning

JD, how did Socorro black do for you this year?

I will be adding it to my wish list...the pictures look great
Mark

Looks amazing! You have done an awesome job! Thanks for sharing the pics!

the centre is so red.  must taste like jam

photo for a magazine

Jose,

An offspring is in the ground and the Mother tree (from the log) is in a large pot. The offspring is still about one year six months old and produced a few figs this year that were tasty. The three year old Mother tree is the one tree I would grab if I had only one to choose.

• Taste. Excellent as usual. Dark rich berry jam-like with a slight crunch.
• Productivity. Outstanding. 50+ figs. Mocking birds enjoyed 90% of them. I traveled for work quite a bit this summer and missed the growing season. I know the birds will be back next year because they have not left.
  
• Crops. Two main. July and October/November. It would likely make a third main crop if planted in South Florida. I am testing my theory.
  
• Distribution. I have shared cuttings and layers with fig friends and I will continue to do so again once I prune.
  

Jd, looks amazing! Thanks for the pictures and description! Looking forward to updates on this variant!

Oh my gosh! The fig picture in post No.19 looks so scrumptious, mouth-watering delicious!! I wonder how this fig type would work in Maryland? Wow! Thanks for sharing you are bounty.

Hello JD, Have you compared the leaf shape with black madeira? To me the fruit looks very simular. The shape and insides are a perfect match. The skin colors have been known to have slight difference in climate and soil conditions. I would love to be able to grow here in New Jersey, to see if it would ripen by season end.

If anyone has some cuttings to sell or trade, please pm.



luke

Wow!  That is gorgeous!! Looks like a scoop of jam in there. I wonder how it would do in the wet and cooler northwest?  Thanks for sharing.
Sarah

Good comparison with Black Madiera, but I have both (lots of Socorro Black) and the BM is not nearly as hardy and I haven't managed to ripen a fig from the BM.

I would love to try it in southwest Florida!
As for the birds, I have had my problems with them and nothing really worked to scare them.
Now I got three cats and they stay away!
Sal
Z 10b

To my fig friends who have Socorro Black, please start a thread, add to this one, or send me a PM or email to share how it is growing where you are.

Luke,

I agree with Jose.

I have Black Madeira from UCD in the ground and in a pot. I also have another Black Madeira in a pot from a non-UCD source. Although it has fruited (and has fruit right now), BM has ripened exactly one fig in three plus years and that one was inedible. The fruit presents itself differently, the fruit shape is similar but Socorro Black has a concavity on the top that I have not noticed with Black Madeira. Finally, the pulp of Socorro Black (here in Florida) has a cavity that I have not yet noticed with Black Madeira.

As I type this, there is one Black Madeira that is trying to ripen. If the birds do not get it, I will. Unfortunately, I can almost guarantee that it will be tasteless and bland because there is not enough heat.

Hi Jimmie,

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to root the Black Socorro cuttings you generously provided, so no info on how it is growing across town.

My UCD BM, true to form is on one long continuous life-support journey with  it's little nub of a head and the same two leaves. Maybe by the time I'm 80, I'll see a fruit or two....or not.

Frank

JD,

my two cuttings have rooted. however, they are rather slow growing. RdB i rooted at the same time is over a foot long. the larger of SB cuttings has about 2" of growth and the smaller one just put out a leaf few months ago. my UCD BM is actually growing very well. they are all in 1 gal continer so the roots are restricted. i'll be moving all to 5 gal in the spring and pumping fertilizer to promote further growth.

Frank, are you 79? :)

JD and Jose, Have you compared the leaves? Reason for asking is, wondering if this could be healthy Black Madeira. With healthy version, things could be slightly different. But major thing would be, it would grow much faster and better. All of the other BM are infected badly and struggle to survive in not perfect conditions. Is the leaf even somewhat closely resemble. Does anyone have pictures to compare the two.


luke

Negative Luke. I have not compared the leaves. Will do once Spring springs.

JD, i was just digging thru the forum and came across these again. I have had not had the chance to compare the leaves. My Socorro Black so far has been a great fig and the mother tree was nearly 2 stories tall until an really bad arctic storm caused it to die back about a year ago. The storm even killed our rosemary bushes. Anyways, hope you are all well. Im hoping to grow an orchard of this variety at some point.. A guy can dream!

Jose,
I looked at the leaves recently but not to compare. Thank for the reminder.

Luke,
I am confident that they are different. I have Black Madeira from UCDavis and from a non UCDavis source. Black Madeira struggles to grow here even when well watered, neglected, potted, grounded, fertilized or some combination of the aforementioned. It does not like heat, humidity and rain. Socorro Black is better suited for life in 8B.