View Full Version : The sweetest tasting figs?
BananaLee
10-11-2009, 03:14 PM
Hi guys! I'm looking for a fig tree. I ate one from a tree (it was green and about an inch) and it is one of the best fruits I ever had (second to bananas of course!) I want to know what is the sweetest tasting figs. Thanx! God Bless! BananaLee:waving:
turtile
10-11-2009, 03:21 PM
I've had Celeste, Brown Turkey, and Italian White. Celeste had the sweetest taste but I like the flavor of the Italian White the best. My Italian White Fig also survived the 5F low this year even though it is little over a foot tall. It also bears tons of fruit and is a fast grower.
sunfish
10-11-2009, 04:03 PM
Check out pitangadiego's website figs4fun.com/Varieties.html
Dalmatiansoap
10-11-2009, 04:21 PM
The BEST tasting figs are ones that are half dryed on three. Whan I compare our varietys smallest taste better.
U just have to imagine liquer made from figs:nanadrink:
U cannot buy that in any store:ha::ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:
Richard
10-11-2009, 06:02 PM
Hi guys! I'm looking for a fig tree. I ate one from a tree (it was green and about an inch) and it is one of the best fruits I ever had (second to bananas of course!) I want to know what is the sweetest tasting figs. Thanx! God Bless! BananaLee:waving:
Figs come in several different flavor categories. Discussing which is the "best" or the "sweetest" does not make sense if you don't like the flavor category its in!
Category - Examples
"Heavy Fig" - Mission, Violette de Bordeaux
"Strawberry" - Barnisotte aka Nero, Panachee
"Honey" - Deanna, Excel, Kadota aka Dottato
etc.
planetrj
10-12-2009, 01:53 AM
A couple of my favorite 'white' (green) figs are Kadota, Honey, and Celestial.
These are all very sweet.
Richard
10-12-2009, 03:27 PM
Many green figs are in the "honey" flavor category, but a significant number of them are "strawberry" (subacid) flavor too.
planetrj
10-12-2009, 05:19 PM
Here's a great reference chart (http://www.ocfruit.com/files/Fig_Chart.htm) that can help identify a few, but there's always good info at the CRFG database as well.
Fig Chart (http://www.ocfruit.com/files/Fig_Chart.htm)
BananaLee
10-12-2009, 05:55 PM
The fig tree had pretty abundant fruit and the bark seemed kinda brownish colored in the shade. Do all ficus caricas' have the same look?
supermario
10-12-2009, 06:20 PM
I have a celeste fig tree. It produces small to medium sized fruits that are very sweet. They turn a deep red color upon ripening.
Here is a bad photo of my little tree:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/CelesteFigs10-1-2009.jpg
planetrj
10-12-2009, 07:21 PM
That's a very nice photo of your tree. The most common difference you can see by the naked eye is the foliage difference. Mission Figs have a very ornate and 'snowflake' style leaf, somewhat like a complex Aralia leaf, whereas my Kadota and White Genoa have a very full simple leaf that looks more like a Maple Leaf. The textures also vary, with a very rigid prickly texture to a soft, velvety texture.
moonboy87
10-13-2009, 05:16 AM
Definitely love white genoa as far as flavor is concerned, but they only hold up flavor-wise for me when they are right off of the tree, or immediately made into a white-wine based fig compote (zomg Albarino based was the best I've done yet!)
As far as foliage is concerned though, mission figs are beautiful and delicious when they have been dried in addition to being delicious fresh. It's leaves are what I think to be the classic look, and by far my favorite leaf style comes from the brunswick! What a cool leaf shape!
Richard
10-13-2009, 10:27 AM
Definitely love white genoa as far as flavor is concerned, but they only hold up flavor-wise for me when they are right off of the tree ...
That's my experience with most thin-skinned figs. The Janice-Kadota is one of my favorites, but I understand the taste is not so good in the humid deep South.
supermario
10-13-2009, 01:14 PM
That's my experience with most thin-skinned figs. The Janice-Kadota is one of my favorites, but I understand the taste is not so good in the humid deep South.
I believe there are only a handful recommended for planting here. Celeste, Brown Turkey, and LSU Purple are the first to come to mind. Im sure there are 4-5 others.
I recently purchased a small brown turkey fig from the local home depot. They looked terrible, so I offered to take a plant for $1. :) I repotted it and the little guy looks better, but I wonder if it actually is brown turkey given HD's notoriety for putting the wrong label on things.
Richard
10-13-2009, 01:16 PM
Try Violette de Bordeaux.
supermario
10-13-2009, 01:52 PM
Try Violette de Bordeaux.
Will do. I sent encanto farms an email.
Is it true that you shouldn't plant a fig tree near your home?
I ask because I read in a forum that a woman's fig tree damanged the foundation of her home... yet I've read on the UF website that you should plant them near a structure because "the roots penetrate beneath the structure where nematode populations are lower".
sunfish
10-13-2009, 04:23 PM
Richard this is the one I got from you?
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=24935&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=24935&ppuser=2868)
White Genoa
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=24937&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=24937&ppuser=2868)
Richard
10-13-2009, 11:09 PM
Is it true that you shouldn't plant a fig tree near your home?
Species of the genus Ficus have invasive roots.
Richard this is the one I got from you? ... White Genoa
Nope. It was probably Osborne Prolific.
moonboy87
10-13-2009, 11:57 PM
White Genoa
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=24937&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=24937&ppuser=2868)
Mmmmmmmm Figs. ^_^
supermario
10-14-2009, 07:15 AM
Jon at Encanto Farms informed me of the problem with shipping figs to Florida. I thought it was limited to Citrus, but apparently it's all fruits. It looks like no Violette de Bordeaux for me. :(
Here are some better photos of my fig tree:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/celestefigtree002.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/celestefigtree003.jpg
Ripe fruit. :)
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/celestefigtree004.jpg
Richard
10-14-2009, 09:36 AM
A nursery stock certificate is sufficient to ship bareroot fig trees or fig scion wood into Florida. A plant potted in soil would require a phytosanitary certificate. If this is something Jon can't do, then I will have plant stock in the Spring.
Summary of Plant Regulations, Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection, DPI - FDACS (http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/plantinsp/pi_reg_summary.html)
supermario
10-14-2009, 11:48 AM
A nursery stock certificate is sufficient to ship bareroot fig trees or fig scion wood into Florida. A plant potted in soil would require a phytosanitary certificate. If this is something Jon can't do, then I will have plant stock in the Spring.
Summary of Plant Regulations, Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection, DPI - FDACS (http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/plantinsp/pi_reg_summary.html)
Thanks for the info Richard.
Jon mentioned he had one in a 2 gallon container. He did not mention bare root plants or cuttings. Remind me around springtime and I will take one off your hands.
Forgot to ask.. does Violette de Bordeaux grow well in potts?
Richard
10-14-2009, 05:51 PM
... Forgot to ask.. does Violette de Bordeaux grow well in potts?
It has a history of doing well in pots: Figs (http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/column/PTP_2009_09_Figs.htm)
BananaLee
10-19-2009, 05:29 PM
What are the most tropical looking or do they all look the same?
BananaLee
12-28-2009, 08:25 PM
The fig I tasted was about an inch in diameter and greenish yellow and extremely sweet!! :) I think it's 'kadota' PlantFiles: Detailed information on Common Fig, Edible Fig, Higo Ficus carica 'Kadota' (http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/78290/) variety. Or do all figs taste good when greenish yellow?
Abnshrek
12-28-2009, 09:45 PM
Is there a fig that actually tastes as crappy as a fig newton? (my figs taste delicious)
Richard
12-28-2009, 09:49 PM
The fig I tasted was about an inch in diameter and greenish yellow and extremely sweet!! :) I think it's 'kadota' variety. Or do all figs taste good when greenish yellow?
Kadota (aka Dottato) is the most common agricultural Fig in the world. It is classified as a "honey fig" for its taste. One of the best tasting members of this group is "Excel".
Several varieties of figs are never in a greenish-yellow phase, but still have incredible tastes. Like all fruits, sweetness is not the only objective in flavor.
Lagniappe
12-29-2009, 02:11 AM
Dottahto - Dottayto....can any of you ship "Excel" scions to Louisiana????
kemistry
12-29-2009, 03:48 AM
humm, i have never tasted a fig fruit before, now this thread is making me curious :ha::woohoonaner::02:
Lagniappe
12-29-2009, 03:59 AM
I tasted my first fig this year. I've seen them on trees for more than 30 years, but didn't want to try one because I was served 'fig preserves' at my grandmothers house at a young age and they were horrible. (To a young boy)
I can hardly believe that I waited so long to eat them! Figs are the greatest imo.
kemistry
12-29-2009, 04:16 AM
i grew up with fig trees around but i dont think they were the edible kind. In fact I didnt realize that edible figs existed until this summer and now this thread is making me very curious :o).
Dalmatiansoap
12-29-2009, 04:41 AM
Figs are great frut! Sweetest?
Dryed ones are my favourite for sure ;)
:woohoonaner:
supermario
12-29-2009, 09:08 AM
I LOVE figs. Alot of people I know are limited to the experience of eating fig newtons(which as mentioned earlier, taste TERRIBLE). Fresh figs are a delicious snack.. and I've heard that they can be grown almost anywhere in the world! The only drawbacks are that fresh figs do not seem to stay fresh very long and that my varieties taste their best when allowed to ripen on the tree. The latter is a problem because animals and insects know that as well!
I've never tried 'preserves', but I tried fig jam once.. at LaGuardia Int'l airport in New York, I ate at a small restaurant called "volo vino" or "vino volo".. can't remember.. Anyways, I had a sandwich that consisted of prosciutto, cheese, and fig jam. AMAZING!
BananaLee
12-29-2009, 09:16 AM
My grandpas Italian neighbors had a huge fig tree. He said it was their pride and joy! :)
A sandwich with fig jam sounds awesome!!! I can never pass on a fig! ;)
Patty in Wisc
01-04-2010, 10:29 PM
I've been growing figs for about 7 years or more -- of course in pots. They are dormant now in my 58* sunroom & covered w/ sheets. Brown Turkey, Osborne Prolific, White Genoa, Italian Honey & (can't think of it). I gotta say O. Prolific (purple) is my fav followed by It Honey which ripens to a lite green. I get some O.Prolific that are 3 inches long & weigh almost 4 oz!!
My Grandma used to eat fig newtons cuz they reminded her of fresh figs in Europe, but I did not like them. I love fresh figs but I bet I'll love some dried ones as well. I just eat them fresh off tree as they ripen LOL.
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