North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Hilborn.E@epamail.epa.gov]

 

August 21, 2010.

 

Exploring figs in the southeast

 

I have the following varieties (nursery source): Brown Turkey, Celeste (Stark Bros); Lattarulla (Wayside Gardens); Chicago Hardy, Petite Negronne (Edible Landscaping); LSU Gold (Hidden Springs Nursery); Celeste-type (gift from eastern NC).

 

This has been a disappointing fig year overall, the fruit quality was terrible. Although the season started a week early, it was shortened by over 2.5 weeks. We have had a VERY warm year; the heat started early and it has been consistently hot just about every day. Rainfall has been about normal.

 

My tried and true main cropper, the Brown Turkey, suffered greatly from the average amounts of rainfall we received this year. Apparently any rain in August is not good for figs. Most fruit rotted on the tree or was devoured by insects despite daily picking.  My Lattarula was even worse- the fruit soured even with an apparently closed eye and before the fruit really ripened (using softness and color change as a guide). My Brown Turkey and Lattarula have stopped bearing, while normally I can pick some fruit into the second week of September.

 

I was rewarded by a small breba crop from my LSU Gold and my Petite Negronne, both are very young trees, and are producing fruit for the first time. Both of these trees have a small, immature main crop developing.

 

My Chicago Hardy has been the star performer this year, it has suffered little from the rain and is giving a decent crop over a long period. The flavor is subpar due to the August rains, somewhat watery.  My Celeste is not fruiting very much, and the small amount of fruit suffers from rot.  It has lots of vegetative growth, is not over fertilized, but may need to be opened up by pruning. The Celeste has never produced much, it does not get good late day sun, so the site may be contributing to poor performance.

 

The Celeste-type is too young to bear, but growing well.

 

 

 

Update - September 28, 2010

 

We have experienced a very dry and hot September. No rain for weeks, temperatures frequently above 90 and drying winds.  Apparently figs (unlike people, wildlife and every other plant I grow) like this type of abuse.  My figs are producing a late apparently second main crop. In early September after my disappointing season, I noticed that tiny figs were appearing on many trees. I have never seen so much fruit forming on any of my figs so late into September. It will be interesting to see if they can ripen here.

 

My Brown Turkey, generally disappointing this year, continues to disappoint with just a few fruits. The flavor is not as good as the best of the August crop, although there is less spoilage due to the dry weather.

 

The Lattarula is just starting to set a few fruits.

 

The surprises were the Chicago Hardy, the Celeste and the LSU Gold.  The Chicago Hardy set its largest crop of the year, after a small breba crop in June, a decent main crop in August and now- lots of fruit forming and ripening again!  The Celeste is finally bearing a decent crop, and it now provides the best flavored of my brown figs.  They are like crystallized sugar when fully ripe. Amazing! To think I came so close to replacing it this year after seasons of disappointment.  The LSU Gold is young, but is producing a few amazing fruits.  They taste much better than my Lattarulas when fully ripe, and I can enjoy sweet fruit before they appear rotten which is a bonus. With the Lattarulas I have had the choice of subpar flavor and a nice appearance  OR good flavor in a meltingly soft fruit that I would not serve to a guest.

 

Anyway, strange year… I am taking away the message that it is good to have many varieties as so far, I cannot predict which will excel during any given year.

 

Betsy Hilborn

7a NC