I bought my O'Rourke tree from the Edible Landscaping in early May 2014. It came in a 4 inch pot. I planted it in the ground in mid June 2014. The taste from this fig was similar to a fig from Celeste. But it was not very sweet.
Thanks for watching.

Best,
Tam 

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Isn't 'O'Rourke' a 'Celeste' hybrid from the LSU breeding program?  I think I see some 'Celeste' in the leaves.

Tam-  Young trees will get far better with a little age.


Frank


Check out the schorlarly articles in "Hort Science" re: O'Rourke figs.

I think it is a very pretty fig!  I am jealous that you got a fig of any kind on a first year tree.  My Italian Honey fig is big and healthy but no figs.  Maybe next year, it's 4th birthday.

I'm just impressed with the fact that you already got a fig from a tree that was purchased in May and was in only a 4" pot. That is amazing.

Tam,
Thanks for sharing the photos and info.
I purchased one earlier this year and will probably harvest a couple figs by early September. I will post a few pictures in this topic.

I had already realized that it was not an O'Rourke (by the leaves and developing fig) but an improved Celeste (a possible LSU Hybrid) that was probably renamed O'Rourke by a vendor when LSU released the true O'Rourke, just as many "O'Rourke" cultivars in circulation have proven to be.

BTW, this is a picture of the dominant O'Rourke leaf and a fig on my tree.
.

Tam nice looking fig for that fast. Thanks for sharing

Thanks everyone. This fig was third fig that this tree produced. The first one was badly splitted, I put it in a trash.  the second one was less sweeter then this one because I picked it a few days earlier. The second fig also had large eye. Yes, the leaves of this tree look similar to celeste's. Thanks for all the comments.

Best,
Tam

Tam those don't look like a typical O'Rourke leaf and that hollow center might be another clue. My leaves are mostly 5 lobed and the fig has a solid center. My figs are very sweet but taste different than Celeste. Just saying.
"gene"

Tam,

I got cuttings of the real O'Rourke from my good friend Dan Abadie in South Louisiana and I have one nice sized tree. I shared a couple with my friends.
I will send you a couple cuttings in the Fall. This way you will know for sure you have the real deal.

[QUOTE=rafed]Tam,

I got cuttings of the real O'Rourke from my good friend Dan Abadie in South Louisiana and I have one nice sized tree. I shared a couple with my friends.
I will send you a couple cuttings in the Fall. This way you will know for sure you have the real deal.[/QUOTE]

Hi! Rafed,

How are you? How is your truck now? That is very nice of you. I will send you a private message in this fall. Thanks for sharing.

Best,
Tam

[QUOTE=genecolin]Tam those don't look like a typical O'Rourke leaf and that hollow center might be another clue. My leaves are mostly 5 lobed and the fig has a solid center. My figs are very sweet but taste different than Celeste. Just saying.
"gene"[/QUOTE]

Hi! Gene, 

Thanks for your comment. Do your O'Rourke's figs taste better than the figs from Improved Celeste? Thanks for sharing.

Best,
Tam

Tam,
Here are pictures of my O"Rourke. It was purchased as an  LSU Tiger from Petals from the Past. The leaves and figs are an actual match for the true LSU O'Rourke, but it actually has no provenance.
 .

IMO, the O'Rourke has a unique flavor, its not as sweet as a regular Celeste, but is sweeter that the improved Celeste and has a rich complex taste, like real maple syrup. <It also has a tight or very small eye.>

<edit>

Pete: Your tree is healthy. The leaf shapes of my tree are not like yours. Thanks for sharing. 

Best,
Tam

 I do find the O'Rourke mysteries very interesting.The tree I purchased from EL is most definitely some sort of Improved Celeste as I have already harvested 3 figs from it and they don't look anything like O'Rourke figs nor match the taste profile. At this point it is starting to put out 3 lobed leaves with thumbs but nothing like the dominant leaf pattern for true O'Rourke.

Tam,
I harvested 2 figs from the O'Rourke EL, they looked similar to the figs pictured in your OP.
The figs were bland without any real flavor, they also had similar open eyes.

Pete: Thanks for your information in the Edible Landscaping O'Rourke. I will dig it up and plant a different variety at that spot. Thanks for your sharing.

Best,
Tam