A month ago, Bob, "rcantor" sent me a one gallon LSU Gold.  I didn't repot it.  I figured it had enough shock on it's trip to California from Oregon, so I set the pot in the shade under my giganto potted (bad lady, roots left their potted home and are in-ground...Shhhh) VdB.  In the shelter of the lady Violette (and a daily sprinkling from the lawn sprinklers, LSU Gold has doubled it's size, and it's roots are not in-ground.  The leaves are Humongo!! 

My LSU gold is a baby, but a big one!!  Don't expect figs this year, but would like to know what to expect next year.  She will get re-potted when she goes dormant.

Bob also sent me 3 others, and they are doing very well under the shade of VdB, but not showing the amazing growth of the LSU Gold.

What is the taste?  Figgy?  Pineapple and caramel?  And color of figs when ripe?  I am thinking gold? 

Thanks ahead of time for your info!

Suzi

I care for an LSU Gold that I got from Almost Eden in a four inch pot. It had about 4" of growth off the rooted cutting. Got it in late summer of 2009, kept it inside that winter and set it out spring of 2010. It is now around 12' high. I think this clone is a fast grower. The second year in the ground (last summer) it made 8 main crop figs. This year it made 6 large brebas. They weren't as good as the main crop. It was really juicy and sweet with a pleasant figgy with melon tones flavor. This year, it has over 30 large fruits, most of which are approaching the 'resting' size that they hold for so long before they resume growing and ripen.
The fruits, breba and main crop were somewhat flattened, close to spherical and were much larger than a golfball, almost tennis ball size. They ripen yellow on the outside, and a light caramel to clear on the inside. I liked the taste of the main crop last year, but wasn't too happy with the brebas this year so far.

Suzi,

You should do a search of the forum to look up what members have said about this variety.

I've grown it and find that it is sweet but kind of bland.  Other people love it.  I guess it comes down to personal preference.

It is a nice tasting fruit, but needs heat to develop flavor. Joe is right, it can be bland, without enough heat,

TY.  Heat it truly has here!  It's 2' tall now, and a month ago 1' tall.  I'm thinking it loves the heat!  I'll take a picture soon to show you.  I move the 4 1 gallon trees rcantor sent me on a weekly schedule, so they don't root into the ground like bad, bad girl VdB
Suzi

WAIT!  Frozen Joe is in Phoenix, and that is not enough heat?  I can't beat the heat of Phoenix, AZ!!  We are on equal ground.  Same zone!  Mine is in the shade...  Maybe it loves shady heat?

I do know that my poor, sad little Panachee, 4 years old with only 5 leaves, after taking the advice of Jon, is now putting out extreme growth in the shade! 

It's probably too hot here for most figs, but VdB rules!  The girl towers and loves the sun!  The babies are under her wings, and Panachee is under the canopy of the vineyard.  I think figs like shade in the heat!  Oh my!  VdB Figs are delish!!

Suzi

Suzi, I received a 1-gallon LSU Gold from texascockatoos. It went right into the ground (Feb) and the top was about 6 inches above the mulch. It's now a single trunk nearly five feet tall (no pruning or pinching), with huge leaves like you describe, and several branches starting. It hasn't shown any sign of stress from the heat, although I fill its basin every couple of days. No fruit yet, but looking forward to next year. These shots are from more than three weeks ago.

Joe, your comment about "bland" is a little worrisome, since if anybody has enough heat to bring out the flavor, it ought to be you. How old is your tree? Could it be another of those varieties that improves with age?

So here is what I'm talking about...  Amazing growth in only one month!
Suzi

Suzi,

Dan said that he often lets the LSU G figs sit out on the countertop for awhile and they sort of give off some of that water of theirs, concentrating the flavor some and they taste better after that.  I've not yet had a truly ripe LSU G fig yet, but would like to.

I'm not sure this tree doesn't need five years to start getting better fruit like the LSU Purple does.

noss

Got it Noss!  Maybe these are the ones you BBQ to reduce the liquid, and bring out the joy?

Suzi

Just in case yours happens to die. I am kidding.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LSU-Gold-Live-Fig-Tree-/261070076371?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc8fd39d3#ht_500wt_1287

This has to be one of the most ridiculous prices I have seen in a while. I bought mine in a 3 gallon pot from EL for $30.

Dominick!  That is so crazy!  I'm going to show it to hubby when he wakes up!  It might just increase his appreciation for my fig passion!

Suzi

Hi guys.  Sorry if my comment threw anyone off.  I grew LSU Gold in a container for a couple of summers when I lived in Massachusetts.  It made sweet juicy figs there that were kind of bland (probably what Jon had to say about low heat).  Since I've been in Arizona I've had the LSU Gold tree in the ground and it just hasn't been that healthy looking or done that well for me here.  That probably has more to say about the spot I planted it in or my individual plant than it does about the variety in general.  That said, after its main crop started to ripen in June this year I actually have stopped watering it and plan to let "nature run its course" because I just don't like this variety that much.  But that is just me and my experience with one plant from this variety.  On the plus side it has large fruit that are sweet.  And the main crop ripens pretty early.  Taste wise I'm just not crazy about it.  But Suzi you should grow yours and and see what you think of it.  Please let us all know what you think when you get to taste its fruit.  Best of luck with this one for you and I hope you do better with it than I did.

Hello everyone,I have a LSU Gold planted in ground ,its a very fast grower,my tree is 2 years old and is about 8 feet tall,it produced many fids this year and still is producing,for my money its a great fig,very large in size and very sweet,great tasting also.

Ty CAJUNB!

I got good vibes from this LSU Gold from rcantor!  1) he needed the cash. 2) I needed the tree. 3) Very healthy tree. 4) It seems to have adopted us!

I just moved it after much water to a full sun spot.  NOW the test begins!

Suzi

Have LSU GOLD around the corner from me.  When I got my cutttings the fruit was super ripe and I liked the flavor, albeit a little lite in the figgy dept.  I used some of these in a fig bread and was somewhat disappointed in the lack of figginess.  Maybe dried would have been better for this recipe.

This tree was covered with bees and wasps drawn to the super ripe fruit.  I was able get cuttings but, here in Texas, stinging insects are a problem.  Worst I have seen was on this tree.

I hope my cuttings take as this is the first light fig in my garden.

Dominic I was just looking at ebay and the owner of the ad you showed on here has another ad up ,,,, funny how they say the tree offered in the picture is the actual tree you'll be getting,,,, it's the same picture!!

Here is a video I did on the breba LSU Gold on June 23rd.  The main crop is making progress.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syz3svr0vII[/video]

Man, what a tease!

Wow!  Am I every glad now I inquired about what you could tell me about LSU Gold, and I'm really glad I have one!  YAY!  Great Video!
Thanks!
Suzi

Here is a photo from 2006 that my LSU Gold fig tree produced. I love my container grown tree. I had it a long time, root pruned every three to four years. I hope you can guage it's size by the music CD I have it laying on top in the photo. Some seasons it produces very juciy fruit and other they tend  to be a bit drier. I plan on keeping it until for a long time yet. Over the years I have passsed around many cuttings from my tree.
I had posted this same photoi years ago on this forum that is why it is a scanned copy of the orignal photo.
Regards
Lou

Glad to see it's prospering but they all were overdue for larger pots when I sent them to you.  I'd throw them in 3-5 gal pots, especially if they'll be in full sun.  As long as you're using a fast draining mix (and I know you are) a big pot shouldn't be a problem.

To bad I can't take a picture of how sweet this LSU Gold fig was. Very happy to have this tree in my garden! I kid you not it was big enough for two people to enjoy eating. Hope you guys like the pictures.

Mine was in ground and I just replaced it this year.  Large figs, but bland for my zone.

I'm looking forward to my first tastes of LSU Gold this year.  It struggled in it's spot in ground for 2 years, but seems to have found it's joy.  It's growing big and is loaded with figlets, so fingers crossed it will love my zone!

Suzi

Suzi, it should be an excellent tasting fig in your climate.  Mine took years before they were sweet but like others stated it needs a lot of heat in order to be sweet.  And as the tree ages, the better the figs get!