It took a few days, but I’ve now got some samples. I thought they were pretty good, but am still not a huge fig fan. My wife, who even likes figs from the store, liked them a lot. She also said that they were better than my Hardy Chicago (first ripened a day or so ago). Though she did say that the HC was better than the ones from the store, which have a bit of off flavor (maybe picked too early, unlike the HC, which I think I got right).
They are definitely bigger than my Hardy Chicago. Moister too, though the last day of rain probably helped that.
It looks like they have a pretty open eye- I’m not sure if he runs into issues because of it.
Anyone have any ideas about what the variety is? I spoke to my friend and he said that his father and the fig both came from Minturno, which is in between Rome and Naples on the West coast of Italy.
I asked if there was a lot more fruit hanging, and was told that there was, but that it may not ripen. When I mentioned the tip that other forum-members passed along recently (cut off leaves which shade the fruit to get sun exposure and speed ripening), my friend laughed and said that his father was cutting the tops off the other day, saying that the fruit “needed to see.” I think it is neat when old wisdom matches up to modern strategies.