Southern figs hype goal for the year 2020

[LouisianaMojo]

Good morning everyone after looking over some of the auction sites this morning and reading descriptions we have decided to try to put some Spotlight on some of these hyped up figs.

We do pay attention to your wishlist and we have seen some of the most new exotic figs on your list and we've seen a lot of those go away off the wish list. So we are assuming that some people have made purchases I have a lot of these hyped up varieties.

So we're wanting to get together with some of the more extraordinary exotic tasting varieties that have been advertised such as honey plum, orange candy, brown sugar, etc. A lot of these exotic flavor descriptions come from a few people as like number one dumb man.

We grow the Honey plum and The Bourbon, and a few others by this one person that discovered these varieties. And none of these have lived up to the hype as to date. We are wanting to know what varieties have been purchased by our members so that we can track this going forward this year.

If you purchase cuttings and also small trees here last year they should be able to start producing some figs, and we are looking for everyone's survey on the flavors of these exotic varieties and just not mine to come to the conclusion hype or no hype.

So please list the varieties that you are growing and participate in the survey so we may let new fig enthusiasts know what varieties are nothing but hyped ! ! !

[AtlantaFig]

I bought Honey Plum directly from the seller last summer. He emailed me about the variety and I bought it. Since then no growth at all. Now the small tree is dying or almost dead.

[Ashley]

Thank you for the post JD and Ebenezer for sharing your experience.  I like the idea of vetting the hyped varieties.  I am hoping to purchase a Colonel Littman’s Black Cross later this year and have it for next year.   It is from my geographic area so hopefully it will be good as hyped. 

[LaFigGwr2019]

Thank you for the post JD and Ebenezer for sharing your experience.  I like the idea of vetting the hyped varieties.  I am hoping to purchase a Colonel Littman’s Black Cross later this year and have it for next year.   It is from my geographic area so hopefully it will be good as hyped.

I wish you the best of luck with that.  That fig looks amazing. 

[cinhulsen]

Most of my mid summer figs taste like bourbon (and vinegar) because June bugs, fruit flies, birds, and what not have gotten to them before I do.  My advice to the novice , whether the topic is beans, tomatoes, peaches or ....figs , has always been to stick with the tried and true varieties for your main crop.  Folks, you don't have to reinvent the wheel.  But ....be ever open to innovation and be ready to try new varieties. Just don't spend your inheritance on them  ....because as we all know , the new variety, whether bean, tomato or fig..may not live up to the hype or even be maladapted for you climate and just die.  ....I have been there, done that...and now I have spoken.  Take ye note thereof.

[WTBgardener]

Being new to the fig growing community, it is crazy what some of these verities fetch on auction sites. I have taken the dive and bought a few verities from a local nursery, even those seems expensive. I've only bought one set of cuttings from an auction site, they were 15 bucks no shipping for 5 cuttings. All have since rooting and are starting to put on leafs. I dont think I will be buying any more trees from a nursery and only try to source cuttings. Seems way more cost effective.

[figWillie]

Thanks, JD. I'll update my trees once the time comes. This is exactly what the fig world needs. Some honest evaluation.

[taylorbk]

I have just eaten my first Robert's Golden Rainbow. It was large yellow and soft and moderately sweet but watery. Overall it is on my so so list. I have more coming ripe and will try to let them hang longer. Black Jack was brownish and moderately sweet but also watery so I have to give that a so so as well. If I was in a famine and that was all I had I would be glad for it. Now for some of the winners I have had I have to put Melenzia, Fasa de Ovella, LSU Champagne, a unknown Black Italian, and at the top would be a Bordisotte Negra (non-rimada) that may be a Black Madeira by mistake. It was the best by far. I have found I also like Texas Everbearing, that was a surprise, and Vista. I have a Honey Plum with a fig or two but have not tasted it yet.