Don’t be shy, name your top fig of 2024?

@"Figology"#21 the edible male fig was very interesting. It apparently had caprified, and uncaprified figs on the same tree. Both yellow, and purple. I am not sure, but that this fig may be viable outside of California. I know @"Chato9b"#70 has talked to @"GoodFriendMike"#9 about this fig.
 
Black Celeste was probably my most consistent great tasting fig of 2024.   White Greek was close behind.  Our neighbor loved it too, often reaching over the fence and picking a few when we weren't around.   :)  I-258 was also very good but I only got about half the crop to ripen without major splitting issues.
 
He did send me some photo's of some of his Capri finds. And some that we are not sure of yet. I asked him to let me know if he names the Capri. That way I can list them here. He has found some pretty neat ones. :)
 
They got considerably sweeter later in the season. Even the first figs was quite good for me. Looking forward to this one too.
 
@"Figology"#21 @"Trustyfarms"#147  [font='Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Borda Barraquer. I was successful propagating this variety last winter, and early spring. I still have it growing as a first-year tree. I have not as yet successfully ripened the few fruit growing on this first year tree. I may get to ripen a couple of these figures in the next month at the very end of the season. It may in fact blow all other of my fruit trees away. Also DSJG. WM#1 but as of now I have yet to taste them.[/font]

@"Trustyfarms"#147 my comment keeps. I propagating a successful cutting of [font='Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Borda Barraquer it has yet to fruit though it has several figs on it. They have yet to ripen for me. So I don't know if it may as yet be my favorite fig[/font][font='Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif] fruit. I will have to wait, and see.[/font]
 
@"Figology"#21 I've kept trying to answer a comment you made about @"Chato9b"#70 edible male Capri fig, and a seed crunch like caviar. I just wanted to say that this particular fig had capriified, and uncaprified fruits all on the same tree. If this is the case it may be that this tree can be grown successfully outside of California. Time will tell I I'm going to have a couple of cuttings this winter. This fig tree may be a bit complicated. I know @"GoodFriendMike"#9 , and @"Chato9b"#70 are discussing it.
 
Good point Joe, You really can't pick just one!
I love Pastilliere, of course Smith is up there.
WM#1 never disappoints.
I had one good Black Tuscan....but the rest are in stasis...just too cold not I suppose.
 
In ground 7a (I have 60+ varieties, just shy of 50 in ground).  Based on in-ground production main crop:
Best tasting - BA1 (I258 and WM#1 in pots)
Best producing - Mt. Etna similars
Best balance between incredible taste and production for an exotic/resin berry fig - RDB
Best balance between incredible taste and production for a berry/Adriatic fig - GM
Best balance between incredible taste and production for a honey fig - PH 
Best balance between taste and production for a sugar/light berry fig - Blue Celeste
Best big fig - LDA
Best “figgy” fig - Fico Seco (Moro de Caneva)

If I had to compile my preferred list for a minimized diverse and balanced collection based on all factors (my preferred taste, variety, production, season coverage, quality of figs harvested, ability to dry on the tree, winter hardiness) it would be the following and I’d protect them to maximize my odds of getting breba:

In order of ripening (all readily available):
RDB
BLUE CELESTE
RLBV
GM (for main crop and breba too)
PH (for main crop and breba  too)
LDA(for main crop and breba too)
And… I’d grow Smith and I258 in pots. 

If I could only grow 3 it would be:
RDB
GM
PH

If I could only grow 2 it would be:
RDB and PH

If I could only grow one fig it would be RDB in pot or in ground. 

Ouch!  That hurt really bad. DO NOT SHOW THIS LIST TO MY WIFE!!!
 
Over 50 in the ground in VA? Please post some pictures of this when you get a chance. I'd really like to see that... 

How do you protect that many in the ground in 7A?
 
Nice collection Brian. I sure hope you have a gigantic greenhouse otherwise winter protection is very laborious as I imagine. 

If you’re able to compare, do you notice any difference between Texas BA-1 and Smith?

If by PH you mean Peter’s Honey, it’s one of my favorites and one of only 2 in ground trees at my house.
 
I killed the only BA-1 I had so many years ago before ever ripening one. I didn't even know they were in the same genre... Please expand if you can...
 
@"TorontoJoe"#1 Trees are 2 or 3 feet apart in one or two staggered rows, depending on sun exposure. They are more like hedges. I cut branches older than 1 year down to a few nodes. I push young branches/suckers to the ground for breba and for next years crop and pin them with a candy-cane shaped stake (keeps trees small). These branches will be able to form breba and then main crop. In spring when I uncover, I only keep 2-5 trunks. I cover this with at least 4 inches of wood mulch - more like 6-8 inches. Usually I’ve added a tarp and aluminum foam over the top. Rinse and repeat. Some pictures. 
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BTW the raised bed has more than 22 trees (more like shrubs). I designed my system to be as simple as possible for winter protection. On YouTube there is a person who I took the methodology from (after experimenting with other methods):  Garden a bit differently (in Poland zone 6a/b.
My experience is it works well, keeps trees a nice size, and produces PLENTY of figs for my family and friends.

@"Figology"#21 I can’t tell any difference between Smith (in a pot) and BA-1 in ground. I would only get BA-1 because it seems to
lignify better. PH = Peter’s Honey.
 
@"DCallahan"#71 Congratulations sounds like you got some really top drawer figs growing. Most especially WM#1... I am so curious too how long have you been growing figs? What are your oldest varieties in the ground??

@"DCallahan"#71 Congratulations sounds like you got some really top drawer figs growing. Most especially WM#1... I am so curious too how long have you been growing figs? What are your oldest varieties in the ground??
 
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