those who are growing Black Madeira and grew it for few yrs... what among that you are growing is better than Black Madeira?

Two Black Madeiras ;-)
Sorry, you asked a serious question, but I don't grow it and haven't been growing it for years.  I just couldn't resist.
Jim

Negronne

Hahaha..I had a good laugh ...a good start for the day. I haven't tasted BM yet. I lost two cuttings and the last cutting that I have wouldn't break buds after almost three months.. Norhayati

For me, Colar, but we will have to see if my opinion changes this year stays the same.

My two year in-ground Hardy Chicago was far superior to my four year old in pot Black Madeira.

I don't have Black Madeira (would like to) but it looks like a lot depends on the climate zone it is being grown in. 
Seems the Californians rave about Black Madeira where the northerners seem happy with their HC, Sal's and MBVS? 

it can be done. martin is in chicago, and it beats HC in his yard. and his is container grown. i have long hot summer here... if we have usual summer, BM should ripen properly.

jon, martin, and others believe BM is one of the best, if not the best fig in the world. Violeta that francisco grews beats out most figs other than one smyrna fig, and Violeta is similar if not same as BM.

if Colar is as good or better than BM, it's a fig to look for next.

There was an episode of Seinfeld where Kramer lost his ability to smell and taste just when the MacIntosh peaches started to ripen. He had been waiting for them all year. Black Madeiras are much the same, worth waiting for their rich unique taste. Sorry was MacKinaw--an imaginary peach from Oregon that was only ripe for 2 weeks a year.

McIntosh apples. Peaches??

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Black Madeira is an excellent fig.  Barnisotte is excellent too.  Hardy Chicago and similar Hardy Chicago types are also excellent.

Sweetcrisp blueberries!

Everytime I turn around I keep hearing Hardy Chicago as being excellent. Is it a good fig for the Gulf Coast? If so, I will add that to my list....thats the last one!

IT'S ALL IN LEVEL OF RIPENESS!
Figs like the sun, long summer heat and time... give it to any fig and it will become the BEST fig you have ever tasted. Now add wasps on top of it all and you got a piece of heaven in your hands, feed it to your best friend :)
As I always say, There is no such thang as bad fig

Pete, Inchario Preto is the fig I believe you are referring to in the comments about Francisco.  Hoping to taste that one myself one day.

[QUOTE=FrozenJoe]Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....Barnisotte is excellent too. .....[/QUOTE] I'm looking forward to our Barnisotte Noir having fruit.

Brown Turkey.

Ital 258

Simply, IMHO the best fig doesn't exist.
What is the most beautiful woman (or man) in the world? The tastiest food? the...
One person, one opinion.
I long ago gave up on finding the best fig based on the opinions of others.
Of course, I appreciated a lot this kind of topic and it helps a lot, but I have concluded that the best fig I will find tasting it myself. And it will be the best fig for me, but very probably, not for my wife (it is true!).

Coming back for your question, unfortunately I have not tasted Black Madeira yet. I can't opine.
After several years tasting figs, new varieties still continue to surprise me, I continue my search.

By the way, the best fig for me so far is a well ripened (it is not easy in my climate) Coll de Dama.

given the fact that all the fig one person has is growing in same location, and same climate, few has to stand out. i definitely agree that CdD is one of the best. there is no doubt about that one. Black Madeira put on good number of figs last yr, but we had cool summer with ton of rain for me to have it ripen properly. this yr, i hope that will change. 

Harvey,
Francisco said the Violeta is the same as the Black Madiera and is their local name for the fig.

yes. Violeta seems to be similar if not the same as BM. however, we also think Figo Preto might be similar if not same as BM. growing FP in my area, it seems to be different from BM. will find out in future if Violet and BM are same or not. only way to do that is to grow them side by side and see how they grow and compare the figs. 

I agree Axier, I was about to get rid of panachee last year but my girlfriend thought it was her favorite so I have been unable to get rid of it so far.  Makes decent jam though.

Panachee is cute. you sure it wasn't the look she was more interested in? 

Yep, I just cut them up and ask what she thinks, it reminds her more of tropical fruit (i can't remember which one, I remember what it looks like but can't recall the name.  It sort of looks like a large plum and is very sweet in the phillipines)

mangosteen? 

So far, every fig that I grow has been better, I've been growing Black Madeira for four years and haven't had a ripe one yet, maybe this year? Vito

vito, 

you are in zone 4... BM needs lot of heat and sun.. in long hot summer. martin, i think, is in zone 5 or something, maybe 6. but what he does is he shuffles his fig as soon as possible and give it as much heat as he can possibly give to the tree. he has amazing results. he also pinches which forces figs to come early and therefore, can ripe before the end of the season. it's lot of work but it can be done providing the weather is not sub-optimal like last yr. 

The mangosteen was good even out of season there, I ate a kilo in about 15 minutes but it was something like kamatise I think but it's been a few years.

Picked up a small Black Madiera and Preto, hopefully they fruit and I can add to this discussion. Hopefully Jon does the Fig Fiesta part II this year. Need to see what to add to my growing collection.

Pete,

What you said is right ! As far as I am concerned and IMHO, these top BM, aka Violeta, aka San Vincent .

Armando,
These could well be at close reach for you once your grounds were created by Mother Nature to grow and multiply these wonderful  fruit.. Believe me, your a lucky man!!
Sometime you will agree with me

Francisco
(if need be I may show some Violetas on a new thread... you say)

         

We need Martain to try an Inchario Branco.  But he'll need to get the wasp or hand pollinate if he's to grow it himself. :)

god... those are just amazing... even the best ripen figs in my location doesn't come close. only common figs that look even close are martin's BM, RdB, Pastiliere and others. hence my other post...

Black Maderia has a teaspoon of thick rich honey in its cavity.  The skin and honey combined gives it a long lingering taste on your palate.  The flavor is unique!  Smith is pretty close in taste to BM. 

Below are figs that are (like Black Maderia) very sweet, strong rich flavor and its taste lingers on your palate.  If I had to judge and compare Black Maderia in the common fig category.  I would say this:

Yellow fig -  Peter's Honey and Excel (can't eat but 2 or 3 of these at one time.  They are that rich!
Brown common fig - Toni's Brown Italian
Purple common fig - Pastilere (the juiciest fig ever!), Italian 258
Black common fig -  Nero, Barnisotte, Beall
Green common fig - De La Senyora, JH Adriatic, Ventura, Strawberry
Multi-ugly common fig - Smith, Col de Dam Grise

 
------------------------------------------------
Smyrna types?  Black category?  Zidi....hands down!  I wish you guys could taste Zidi.  It is so large, so sweet, so rich!  It will make you cry with just one BITE!
---------------------------------
Here's a category that will have you thinking!   Caprified common figs....in comparison to BM.  Guess what fig it would be? 

Purple caprified common fig - California Brown Turkey & Brown Turkey
Black caprified common fig - Mission, Barnisotte
Green caprified common fig - Adriatic

dennis,

does your Pastiliere drop? is it from USDA/UCD?

Dennis is absolutely right

Violeta (BM, StVinc..) are rich syrupy fruit. Through the ripening process and even before the skin shows any cracking, still in its branch,  it starts juicing out a generous ,thick,  long tear of honey, first Chrystal clear then when correctly ripe, shaded strawberry..

But, but... talking of juices and teaspoons of it, what to say of the Common Bebera Branca  ? here you need to go higher up and measure with much bigger spoons ?!... this is again a Common not a Breba.
In their best years this very sweet and flavored fig may go beyond 7 oz, averaging 5.5 oz.

No need to tell you the main reason for these figs to show these characteristics

Have Pastiliere and Zidi in the works and with a bit of luck could show them later in the season

Francisco          

Francisco is my new friend...LOL  Great Lookin Figs.  I am looking now for Violeta....LOL    If I keep this up, I will be working on figs 40hrs a week, with no pay....LOL

francisco,

BM drips honey like that here along with Paradiso Gene. by the time they are ripe, red color honey. tho... caprification would definitely help. i need fig wasps. lol

armando,

your wish might come faster than you expect... but first, not sure if they are same as francisco's Violeta, but saw it listed at USDA/UCD holding list. 

in couple of yrs, i'm very sure Violeta will be more accessible... in limited number.

Francisco, Question. Your last two post contained photos, is each one a picture of Violeta? Great photos.

I am going to name my first born Francisco....LOL    On the UC Davis Cuttings , I am going to take that more seriously, they give out some really healthy cuttings. I was avoiding cuttings for awhile after the Gnat infestation....????

Pete, my 2 large Pastileres came from Rain Tree Nursey years ago. The first few years, it did drop all its figs. Then 2 yrs ago I got one half ripe fig. Last year.....BOOM no figs dropped. I am in love with this fig. I ordered 4 more last year from RT! I'm pretty sure my large Paradiso is the Gene strain. I can't remember but it does have those bronze spots. I did not winterize it last year, but I should have. It's in pretty bad shape. Time will tell.

jd,

post #35. top two are Violeta, bottom three are Beb. Branca. i think...

dennis,

my baud's Pastiliere grows fast, and it drinks water like it's going out of fashion. i remember 2012 had good amount of rain, and last yr was raining all yr long. maybe Pastiliere likes being on the wet side?

Thank you ALL for your comments

Pete,

I love to see some varieties by the time they ripen, show more or less abundant honey.
Violeta in this regard is a good example


Armando ,

One should never loose hope ! and I feel  honored if you decide to  name your new born Francisco.
Gnats for some reason were particularly present even here.
Cinnamon, moth balls and a wise layer of dry soil on the pot tops, did control them
As for Violeta, there are other figs around with same name but totally different cultivars.
In Portugal, Violeta is rapidky moving into extintion

JD,

Thank you
Pete is right, the first two top pics are Violeta...the lower three are Bebera Branca

Francisco

BT
why not?

can't say BT is as good as or better than BM. all the BT i had sucked. 

I've started some California Brown Turkey and was encouraged by reading Dennis's thread yesterday giving praise to this variety tasted at Wolfskill.  Don't know that it will be competing in flavor with Black Madeira but it's supposed to be very productive also, so worth trying.  Especially since I have a good supply of wasps here.

harvey, 

with fig wasps, you have definite advantage over the guys in the east.. i'm sure BT will be great there once caprificated. common figs are great here, but from everything i heard, they will be even greater once caprificated. 

There is no absolute answer to such question.
What good is Black Madeira for me if I could not ripen a single fruit in the last 5~6 years. My Vista gives me good tasting, good looking ripe figs decently on time so it is a lot more to me than my Black Madeira. I am keeping BM hoping there will be some year with decent warm spring, real summer and then warm fall giving a good chance to Black Madeira to ripen here (otherwise then I will have one less variety).

i do agree that there is no "absolute" answer. and i fully understand that in some area, BM or some other figs might not ripen properly. even if they are good figs, they are of no use if they will not ripen for one to taste. but in most area, they can be ripen properly with some help. and if they do ripen properly, how do they compare? 

everything is relative (no.. i'm not talking about west virginia.. J/K!!! it's jack and coke talking).