Mercedes Gem: 8.5/10. This one has the ability to ripen in cooler weather. A nice jammy flavorful fig. Can’t keep thanking Danny Gentile, owner of FigBid, enough for this one. I gifted a tree, have one in an 8-gallon pot and one in a 1-gallon pot, destined for in-ground next year.
Negra d’Agde: 6.5/10. I let this one hang on the tree for a week. It was shriveled, but the flavor was just above average. I hope this gets better with age.
Ronde de Bordeaux: Not rating this particular one fig at this time because I had to pick it very unripe, due to the cold weather coming down this week. Unfair to make any comparison.
Looking great, @Marco! Especially that green one. You’re right though, figs won’t develop to their full potential at this time of the year in the northeast. It’d be great to have a greenhouse to extend the season.
@SMC_zone6 The Mercedes Gem is a keeper. It’s a mid-sized Adriatic (40-60g). I was told it’s somewhat similar to Unk Prosciutto (I don’t have this one). To me it tastes and feels texture-wise like a cross between a White Madeira #1 and a Coll de Dama Blanca.
A last few figs for me this year. I-258. These were really pretty good despite ripening in wildly suboptimal conditions (on my sunny but cold sun porch, followed by my darker but warmer dining room).
I apologize for reviving an old thread. A few comments in this thread were brought to my attention and I felt compelled to provide additional information.
@SMC_zone6 Regarding Nerino, that’s what it’s referred to by Figues du Monde. In the same way, Fico Secco is what it’s referred to at Pomona Gardens. I’ve yet to see any noticeable differences between them yet both are very similar if not the exact same fig as Moro de Caneva. Additionally, Moro de Caneva should actually be referred to as Figo Moro da Caneva. This is what the commercial grower of this variety in Caneva Italy describes it as. I spoke with him and I assure you there was no shouting match. @Marco He seems like a very nice gentleman. Both Fico Secco and Nerino should maintain their given names when sold and traded to avoid any confusion down the line if they are in some way proven to have epigenetic differences or differences due to mutation.
@rsivulka I assure you Longue d’Aout had a cotton candy sugar flavor last year. There was a drought and with dryer soil conditions, I’ve noticed over the years an increase in flavors that were not there otherwise. I have a plot that consistently produces better-tasting figs due its different soil composition and better drainage. From one example in that plot, Campaniere had a mineral/earthy flavor that I have not picked up in my many other trees growing in the ground or in containers. Additionally, the flavor of figs is improved slightly the longer they are growing in the ground and survive the winter. Either of these theories could describe why I detected that sugar flavor. If that’s not true this season, I will note that in either a video or on my blog.
Regarding Texas BA-1 and Smith, I did detect slight differences between the fruits last season. I don’t think the differences are major, however, and my observations could be skewed due to comparing fruits from potted Smith trees to the fruits from a Texas BA-1 tree that’s planted in the ground. Two growers who have been growing them side by side for 10 or more years in the South swear that they are different. I’m going to agree with their stance until I can prove it otherwise to myself.
@ramv One other major difference I have noticed is Texas BA-1’s ability to lignify properly to prepare better for the winter. Whether this is due to a genetic component, hormones, a lack of pruning, or some other reason, my Texas BA-1 has survived at my location for 3 winters straight with minimal tip damage. I don’t recall the exact lows from each season (they are documented somewhere), but I know it’s been subjected to temperatures between 6-10F multiple times. Edible Landscaping in VA claims that it’s hardy to 7B when protected from the wind. However, no one that I know of has reported similar hardiness in regards to Smith, and I can also include my own Smith tree that’s planted in the ground.
I am hopeful that this level of hardiness can be reproduced in Smith. I aim to plant more Smith trees in the ground and change my approach to winter protection specifically for my Smith tree to see if I can get Smith to slow down hormonally and therefore lignify the way it does consistently in containers and the way my Texas BA-1 tree does.
@ross The Italian consortium that is filing to protect the Figo Moro da Caneva includes 50 growers in northern Italy. More information may be found here: https://www.figomoro.it/
In Lou’s latest video, he mentions how he didn’t protect his baby Smith last winter in his 7A NJ location and it survived no problem. See at 2 minute mark: FIRST IN GROUND UPDATE! 6/22/23 GIMME FIGS!!! - YouTube. Later he says that it got down to 8 F for one night.
