Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Ordering from Trees of Joy + Puyallup Fair + Tasting Paw Paw for the first time

Ordering from Trees of Joy + Puyallup Washington State Fair + Tasting Paw Paw for the first time

In this video:
1. I ordered a Bass's favorite and Koura Black from Treesofjoy
2. We go to the Puyallup WA state fair to pig out

3. and I finally get to taste my 1st ever Paw Paw!






Wednesday, September 13, 2017

"The Fig Thief" + Tasting Natalina, Sugar 12, Sals Corleone, Sicily, and Mavra Sika Main Crop

"The Fig Thief" + Tasting Sals Corleone, Sicily, Sugar 12,  Mavra Sika Main Crop and Natalina,







I love this time of year so many figs are going through their ripening stage. Below are the figs that I had a chance to taste this week.

Natalina (9/10/17) 2yr old tree
One Crop

Taste: 7.5
Sweetness: 7.5 
Size: 3  (23.3 grams)
Productivity: 2
Total = 20

This is a good fig. Good figs to me usually fall into the 7/10 range. I got this fig on 9/2016 from RJP164 on Ebay. The one in the video I picked too early. However I let the 2nd ripen thoroughly and it was spectacular.






Sugar 12  (9/10/17) 1.5yr old tree
One Crop

Taste: 5
Sweetness: 4.5
Size:  3 (21.2 grams)
Productivity: 1
Total =  9.5

The sugar 12 fig is no longer shipped from Reeds nursery is what I've been told since it shut down. I got some cuttings from my buddy Vinny almost 2yrs ago. It's an interesting fig. I thought it would be like a celeste flavored fig but it was quite different. I let this guy ripen to the point where it fell of with the slightest touch.

However it was not very sweet, the texture was a bit too squishy for my liking, I hope it gets better with age.
  






Sals Corleone (9/10/17) 2yr old tree **?
One Crop

Taste: 7
Sweetness: 6.5
Size:  1  (8.3 grams)
Productivity: 2
Total = 16.5

The cuttings were purchased from Jusftigs back in 2015.

I kinda have doubts that this fig is a Sals Corleone. It's much too small. So if you have Sals feel free to let me know. And if you have a correct Sals to spare I'd love to get one that is true. 

Regardless, as a fig its was quite tasty. Small but packs good sweetness and flavor.






Sicily (9/10/17) 2yr old tree
One Crop

Taste: 8
Sweetness: 7.5
Size:  2 (18.3 grams)
Productivity: 3
Total =  20.5

Acquired from Marcus back in August 2015. Another good Italian fig! Very tasty! Perfect sweetness strawberry jam consistency! Keeper for me.

Read more about it here

http://seattlegardenfruit.blogspot.com/2015/08/palermo-sicliy-black-fig-with-bit-of.html






Mavra Sika Main Crop   (9/12/17) 3yr old tree
Two Crops

Taste: 7
Sweetness: 7.5
Size: 2  (19.8 grams)
Productivity: 1
Total = 17.5

Originally purchased from Plant Creator on 10/2016.  This tree is experiencing some bad fig rust. Yet it still produces figs. They are marred and ugly but still very good. Much better than the breba crop for sure. 





I had fun making this next video with my son (even though he didn't really know he was going to be a star on it). I call it "The fig Thief".



Tasting the Qudsaya Fig

Tasting the Qudsaya Fig








Qudsaya Main Crop (9/12/17) 1.5 yr old plant

The Qudsaya is a Syrian fig. I got this tree from a very generous local collector here in Seattle last year. There isn't any info on this fig online. But from what I can find is that it was probably named after the Qudsaya region in Syria.

The taste is similar to the Peter's honey just not as thick and syrupy. In other words it's a sweet fig but with decent richness. It's a good fig with great productivity. A good compliment to the Peter's Honey if you want to extend the season on honey figs.






Taste:  7
Sweetness: 8
Size:  4  (37.7 grams)
Productivity:  6
Total =  25



Friday, September 8, 2017

Why do I grow Figs + Tasting the Takoma Violet Fig & Brandon Unk Main Crop

Why do I grow figs? Well there's lots of reasons.


1. Figs are not easily accessible at any grocery store. Have you ever seen figs at Safeway or at a major chain? Probably not, besides the dried ones. a fresh fig is just so much better
2. Figs are an easy fig to grow. They are mostly disease and pest resistant
3. Figs are plain and simple deliscious
4. They are very nutritious


5. I failed to mention on the video that collecting figs can be very fun as well. The community around figs can be great to learn and share knowledge with Visit my Fig Addiction Group on facebook for more info.




Brandon Unk (Left) Takoma Violet (middle) LSU Tiger (Right)



Brandon St. Unknown Fig:

I think the Brandon Unk Fig is a real winner here in the PNW! It ripens 2 crops successfully without any protection. The brebas in my opinion tastes better than the main crop. It's also got decent production. You can see from the photo below that there are 6 figs on just one branch.


Here's a few shots of the main crop. Smaller fig with a tight eye which makes it rain resistant.


16.2 Grams


I have to admit the flavor of the main crop is not as good as the breba. I'm attributing that to the fact that it's still in small pot and hasn't received enough watering. The flavor was more of the classic figgy taste. The sweetness content was lower as well. Makes a good little snack. 

Brandon Unk: Main (9/5/17) 2yr old plant
Taste: 6
Sweetness: 6
Size:  2
Productivity: 2
Total = 16



Takoma Violet Fig:

Another real winner in my book. The Takoma Violet fig is productive and very tasty. It is also a very fast grower. My single trunk tree which is only 1.5yrs old had 10 figs on it! I love the crackling of the skin on this fig. It means the skin is delicate and easy to eat.


It too has a tight eye. The coloring could be darker but it ripened in the greenhouse and didn't get any direct sun exposure. Which may have attributed to the delicate skin. It usually is a bit dark.

This is what a sunripened Takoma Violet looks like. Much darker. Photo from 2015

2017 Greenhouse ripened. Notice how the color and the skin looks so different.
 

34.3 grams



This a delicious fig. Is strawberry jam like taste is quite desirable. It also has hints of acid when it hits the back of your throat. Combine this with it's cold hardiness, productivity, and you have another winner!

Takoma Violet Main Crop Fig (9/5/17) 1.5 yr old plant
Taste: 8.5
Sweetness: 8.5
Size:  4
Productivity: 8
Total = 29


LSU Tiger Fig:

OK. This fig has risen to the top my list for favorite figs. I do not know how but it's a perfect combination of jammy sweetness, all the while remaining this juiciness that gushes all over your tongue. It's quite amazing!! 


It's got beautiful coloring, firmness,  a tight eye and is a perfect size for eating.

45.2grams



This fig is now in my top 5 for favorite figs. Now if you have been following me, I like the figs with more melony tones vs something that is too thick and jammy that. I don't think overly syrupy figs that clue your tongue to the roof of your mouth. 

Well the LSU Tiger is a perfect combo of jamminess, sweetness and juiciness. I plan on propgating more of these trees for my own personal garden. It's a great fig!

LSU Tiger Main Crop Fig (9/5/17) 2yr old plant
Taste: 9
Sweetness: 8
Size:  5
Productivity: 1
Total = 23