Violette de Bordeaux - any fans???

Oh no!...I planted a Fuyu last year....getting fruit buds this year....can't put a GH around that....definitely considering a dog or cat that was raised on squirrel meat....
So the squirrels would cut the green Fuyu Persimmons off the limb and carry it up into one of the Oak trees. Once there they would eat the Persimmon in such a way so when they dropped what they didn't want it looked like a small Granny Smith Apple Core that was discarded.
 
I bought two types of Vdb. The first type was a cutting that looked puny and pathetic as a rooted cutting, and after putting it in a 6gallon pot, over the summer it grew amazingly, three main branches from the core about 2.5 feet, each branch gave me about 10-12 figs. The fruits on this were medium to small but significant oval/eggplant shape, and not very syrupy or juicy when ripe, but I enjoyed them. The second was an actual Vdb tree I had bought online and it was more akin to what people show on the internet. It grew maybe 5 inches total after being planted in ground in-late March last year. It gave a a couple of figs, a rounder medium shaped fig that was exactly as described and the fruit on this one I preferred over the cutting. I was just disappointed with the growth and this year its off to an okay start, it has one breba on it, and maybe 5 to 6 inches of growth on a new branch off the main trunk and limited growth on the main trunk maybe an inch or two. I don't see figlets yet forming on the new growth. I believe some people have said it's a slow grower, but I feel like others state the opposite. I'll add some pics later. I have no regrets, I am just impatient :D
 
I have a 3 yr old VDB in ground and airlayered a branch to keep in a pot last year. Just had a very sweet, figgy Breba from the potted one and it was really good. Better than any first year, first fig from main crop I've had so far (limited experience).
My in ground died back to the ground yr 1 and didn't produce any figs by late season last year . Last winter I bent and staked the branches to the ground and covered with mulch. They survived the Chicago winter beautifully and started budding out in April on most of the nodes... Then we got hot with a first that killed all the new growth. It's now sending out suckers but not sure if it'll be the same story as last year.
My potted plant is growing nicely tho.
Pic is of the breba
PXL_20260530_185452285.jpg
 
It needs to be made illegal to tease with a picked “better than any first year..I’ve had..” fruit this early and not provide the sliced view of the insides.
 
I bought two types of Vdb. The first type was a cutting that looked puny and pathetic as a rooted cutting, and after putting it in a 6gallon pot, over the summer it grew amazingly, three main branches from the core about 2.5 feet, each branch gave me about 10-12 figs. The fruits on this were medium to small but significant oval/eggplant shape, and not very syrupy or juicy when ripe, but I enjoyed them. The second was an actual Vdb tree I had bought online and it was more akin to what people show on the internet. It grew maybe 5 inches total after being planted in ground in-late March last year. It gave a a couple of figs, a rounder medium shaped fig that was exactly as described and the fruit on this one I preferred over the cutting. I was just disappointed with the growth and this year its off to an okay start, it has one breba on it, and maybe 5 to 6 inches of growth on a new branch off the main trunk and limited growth on the main trunk maybe an inch or two. I don't see figlets yet forming on the new growth. I believe some people have said it's a slow grower, but I feel like others state the opposite. I'll add some pics later. I have no regrets, I am just impatient :D
I think some of the differences that we attribute to a variety, are actually differences in individual trees. Also a tree might do great one year and not so good the next. My VdB did great last year, but this year it is not very impressive so far. I think that I should have pruned it pretty heavy last winter and it would have done much better this year. That is a lesson I learned for next year, but then some trees would do better without any pruning. I am just learning what to do with each tree. It's just my 2nd year growing.
 
@Figgin' A Has the Superstar VDB variety on this FF forum. Maybe he will drop in, and share some pictures of VDB perfection. Almost all VDB'S are excellent, but there had to be at least one Super- phenom out there... I have begged him for cuttings for years, and one year he did send me 2 cuttings... Sadly both cuttings failed on me (which is very rare). Never could get another one. I believe his Super-Phenom was a cutting that was taken fron a mother-tree that was also amazingly off the chart. Sometimes they breed true.
 
... I lied, this Vdb in ground has two breba and it does have figlets forming, maybe four to five total and the top growth is more than an inch or two. It's more like 4-5 inches. Other in ground plants like an i-258, Rdb, and Col De Dama Blanca, all have impressive growth already. Maybe 8-12 inches of growth already.

So it is still early and not bad growth, I just want the growth to continue, since last year the progress wasn't like what I experienced with my Rdb in ground, which grew 3x+. I'd like to make at least two decent cuttings and place them in pots for next year.
 

Attachments

  • vdb11.png
    vdb11.png
    1.6 MB · Views: 6
I have what I believe to be VdB. It was traded to me as Pingo de Mel. My first clue was the numerous figs turned a lovely shade of dark purple/black.😳 Gave me a bunch of tasty figs, and everything about the tree resembles what I see as VdB. I am a fan. Productive and tasty. Happy Accidents!
 
Mine gave me one excellent breba last year and around 80 figs .This year it has around 30 breba but no main crop yet . My family really likes this variety and it will stay in my collection. Solid variety and it has never split for me.
 
Last edited:
@Figgin' A Has the Superstar VDB variety on this FF forum. Maybe he will drop in, and share some pictures of VDB perfection. Almost all VDB'S are excellent, but there had to be at least one Super- phenom out there... I have begged him for cuttings for years, and one year he did send me 2 cuttings... Sadly both cuttings failed on me (which is very rare). Never could get another one. I believe his Super-Phenom was a cutting that was taken fron a mother-tree that was also amazingly off the chart. Sometimes they breed true.
For years???? :LOL: That's, of course, an exaggeration... :D You asked me for a cutting on 07-12-2024, my tree wasn't even 1 year old back then, and I suggested to remind me in October/November, and I sent you couple at the end of the same year. I don't recall any begging :LOL: It's not needed with me :D

As I mentioned to you in our conversation, I believe that fig performance is mostly abouyt how we grow them... I have many other varieties that are just as productive... I don't see my VDB as anything special... but it's been an overall great tree for sure... lots of breba this year, and they are a couple of days away from being ripe.

vdb-2.jpg


vdb-3.jpg
 
Last edited:
For years???? :LOL: That's, of course, an exaggeration... :D You asked me for a cutting on 07-12-2024, my tree wasn't even 1 year old back then, and I suggested to remind me in October/November, and I sent you couple at the end of the same year. I don't recall any begging :LOL: It's not needed with me :D

As I mentioned to you in our conversation, I believe that fig performance is mostly abouyt how we grow them... I have many other varieties that are just as productive... I don't see my VDB as anything special... but it's been an overall great tree for sure... lots of breba this year, and they are a couple of days away from being ripe.

vdb-2.jpg


vdb-3.jpg
What is not an exaggeration is that all your trees seem to always have explosive growth and productivity...."fig performance is mostly about how we grow them"....please summarize some of your game changing tips....
 
@Figgin' A I guess am a exaggerating type of personality. I apologize for this personality failure from my roots to my leafs, my friend. There was no intention of shaming you, most especially since I have been forced to take a year, or even two years off from having a hobby for financial reasons. I was actually trying to celebrate your amazing horticultural success. As noted above by @DELFIG your fig trees just look better than most others.
 
@Figgin' A I guess am a exaggerating type of personality. I apologize for this personality failure from my roots to my leafs, my friend. There was no intention of shaming you, most especially since I have been forced to take a year, or even two years off from having a hobby for financial reasons. I was actually trying to celebrate your amazing horticultural success. As noted above by @DELFIG your fig trees just look better than most others.
🤣😂. I never found you to be exaggerating I found you to be uh how should I put it “inspiring”.
 
Sufficient room for roots, compost-rich soil, consistent watering, regular fertilizing, plenty of heat and light.
The only thing I don't do is use compost mixed into the soil......according to the "Soil Guru" Gary Matsuoka compost will eventually kill your roots and should be used as a top dress only so that your roots don't eventually get choked out from oxygen.....I will trial some plants using your method....what percentage compost do you use?
 
Back
Top