Tasting Violette de Bordeaux, Florea, & Olympian Figs

Tasting Violette de Bordeaux, Florea, & Olympian Figs

The Brebas are winding down and these are about the last ones I'm picking off of my fig trees.

Violette de Bordeaux

The Violet de Bordeaux 3rd yr in ground has finally hit it's maturity level. The figs are top notch this year in terms of taste.  The color, texture, flavor and did I mention color of my VDBs this year were spectacular! The breba productivity kinda stunk though because I only pulled about 5 figs from this tree.

VDB for any Seattle grower should go in ground, you will be rewarded nicely with some of the best figs to eat.

VDB: Breba (8/14/17) - 3yr old plant

Taste: 8

Sweetness: 7

Size: 4 (40 grams)

Productivity: .33

Total = 19.33 

Florea

This is a great fig! My 2yr old tree grown in a 2 gallon pot has proven to be incredibly productive. It had 10 figs on basically a single branch! I think it maybe a good candidate to go in ground here. It's definitely a keeper.

There's a real strong punch of sweetness and strawberry from the Florea. It's small but carries a big flavor stick.

Florea: Main Crop (8/14/17) - 2yr old plant

Taste: 8

Sweetness: 8

Size: 3 (22.6 grams)

Productivity: 6.6

Total = 25.6

Olympian

The Olympian has gotten better and better over the last couple of years. It definitely has adapted very well to the climate that we have here in the PNW. The brebas are large and very attractive with it's bright yellow necks.

The taste on these were less figgy than the Gene's Vashon, it was sweet and melony. My kind of fig. Very little seed crunch compared to the Gene's Vashon. I'm glad to have this guy in ground it will only get more productive with time.

Olympian: Breba (8/14/17) - 3yr old plant

Taste: 7.5

Sweetness: 7

Size: 7 (68.7 grams)

Productivity: .6

Total = 22.10

Tasting Review of the Peter's Honey, Shiro Plum, Spartan Apple, Desert King, and Gene's Vashon

Tasting Review of the Peter's Honey, Shiro Plum, Spartan Apple, Desert King, and Gene's Vashon

Peter's Honey Breba:

I think the Peter's honey grown in ground here in the PNW is a great compliment to other mild weather figs such as the Desert King, Vern's Brown Turkey, Olympian and VDB. What they have in common is that they all do well here in ground. But that's about it. The flavor profiles are so different and they all encompass the various flavors of figs. Berry tone (VDB), Melon Tone (Vern's BT), Honey tones (Peter's Honey), and the classic figgy taste (Olympian). 

The Peter's Honey fig is such a sweet fig. It's like pure honey! Even on the breba the figs are super duper sweet. The breba I ate recently was so syrupy and thick with honey. I felt like I was going to get diabetes with each bite. All kidding aside Peter's honey is a great honey fig. The main crop may not ripen here but the breba's certainly make a great snack.

If you live in Seattle add this to your in ground collection.

Peter's Honey: Breba (8/8/17)

Taste: 7

Sweetness: 9

Size: 6 (54.4grams)

Productivity: .66

Total =  22.66

Shiro Plum:

I purchased this plum tree from a local seller. Her sells them out of his backyard. He's got great trees and for a fair price. It's been a superb grower in my yard. Very disease resistant and low maintenance. 

The plums are very delicious and usually more plump when we have more rain. But Seattle has had 55 days without rain and I only water these guys about twice a week, so they are not as juicy but the sugars have definitely concentrated and the flavor is quite good. 

Dont forget that these trees need a pollinator so if you buy one, also considering getting the following Japanese plums. 

Redheart, Early Golden, Ozark Premier, stasuma and Methley

Spartan Apple:

I have about half dozen apple varieties in my yard. Spartan by far has been the most vigorous and productive tree. It's also an early apple. Ripening in early August. 

The apple is quite pretty. It shines up nice. However based off of the the one I tried it was already quite mealy. I will have to try another from the tree to see if it's any different. I'll reserve the review until then.

Desert King:

I love the Desert King Fig. It's always so reliable and very tasty. And also very productive. I've already eaten my fill of these. A must have in ground for all cool weather climates. 

Desert King: Breba (8/8/17)

Taste: 8

Sweetness: 7

Size: 7 (61 grams)

Productivity: 2

Total =  24

Gene's Vashon:

This little guy was rooted last year. I didn't expect this little tree to bear fruit yet but it did and it wasn't too bad. 

It had a strong figgy taste with some hints of acid. Because I just had eaten the Peter's honey, this one was relatively bland compared to it. But pure sugar would've bland compared to a Peter's Honey.

My thoughts on this fig after a few yrs is that it's probably in the same family as the Olympian. So if you have one or the other you don't need both.

Gene's Vashon: Breba (8/8/17)

Taste: 5.5

Sweetness: 5

Size: 5 (42 grams)

Productivity: 1

Total =  16.

My little one also wants to get into the watering fun.

Peter's Honey Fig Breba 2016 - Grown in Ground this year.

Peter's Honey Fig Breba 2016 - Grown in Ground this year.

I was contemplating of getting rid of this tree last year because I thought is was too sweet and the skin was too leathery. I'm glad I did not. Because this year I got a chance to taste the brebas and boy are they good!

The skin was much thinner. And the flavor was much better than a main crop fig. More melony tones which I prefer. Last year it was just pure honey. It was also much bigger then last year. 55grams vs 22grams

One thing to note I had a sprinkler on timer on these trees and they have helped with the juiciness.

This is an extremely productive tree. Every branch is just littered with figs. It's also a long season producer. Which makes a great compliment to extend your fig eating season.

I take back everything I said about this fig last year. It's a winner in my book (when planted in ground here)

Peter's Honey left / Osborn Prolific Right. Interesting thing to note. The 2016 Brebas have a tinge of purple in them.

2015 the main crop is completely golden. These are from the same tree.


Watch the video.

Moldy Peter's Honey fig

My Peter's honey has been extremely productive this year.  Almost every single fig has ripened that was on the tree. However after a few days of rain, I sometimes find ones that look like this. Moldy and rotten. You win some you lose some I guess.

I have noticed that it is very resistant to splitting, becuase of its tough skin. It's a good fig but not one of my favorites. I like being able to eat the skin and all with figs. Peter's honey has a skin that's leathery and too tough to enjoy.

I'll keep it around for another year but it won't make my top ten if I ever had to downsize.

Peter's Honey fig August

I have to admit that the Peter's Honey has been my most productive tree so far. Most likely because it's the oldest one that I have. It's been bearing fruit since late July.

Peter's honey and nectarines

I picked my first ever ripened nectarine today along with 4 more Peter's Honey figs.

They were amazing. Nothing beats home grown fruits.

Fig of the week #4. Peter's Honey

Peter's Honey Fig AKA Italian Honey

Hardiness: Survives the Seattle winters
Type: Bifere early second crop
Fruit Ripens: July through September
Fruit Color: Yellowish green with honey interior
Taste: Sweet like Honey
Fruit Weight: 25grams
Leaf Structure:  Thick leaves 1-3 lobes

The fig was named after Peter Dana, of Italian roots, he was in the produce business in Portland. A true gardening pioneer, he defied convention and planted many fruits unusual for our area. On one side of his house were Asian Persimmons, in the front Pawpaws, and on his patio he grew a delectable fig which he brought from Sicily.

Noticeable Traits:
* Grows in Clusters
* Stays compact with little branching
* Taste: Honey like sweetness with a semi tough leathery green skin, honey colored pulp and just a ball of sugar.
* Needs lots of heat to ripen
* Rain will cause the eye to toughen and split
* Ripens in the End of July through August
* Small fruit averaging about 25 grams
* Grow in pots in WA and use a greenhouse to extend the growing season

7/31/15 More ripe figs harvested

Another week of unusually hot weather in Seattle has created the perfect ripening conditions for figs here in the PNW. 90 degrees for most of the week.

I've been told that Peter's Honey will not ripen here but so far I've picked 4 super sweet little guys from the tree in the last couple of days.

I also have a newly discovery fig. Initially I thought it was Brunswick because of the elongated fruit, but after cutting into it and comparing the leaves, fruit shape and color, I'm pretty sure it is a Violetta.

The taste has the perfect amount of sweetness, quite figgy and a nice crunch to the seeds. It's not overly watery like a ripe desert king.

It's definitely not as large as the brunswick. the breba and the main crop appear to both have the elongated fruit. 

Picked a ripe Peter's Honey today!

7/29/15

Today I picked my 1st Peter's Honey Breba from my plant purchased at Sky Nursery. It was only 22.6 Grams. Small but it packed a ton of sugar! There were notes of honey dew and a thick honey like mouth feel but overall the flavor wasn't super strong. The skin was a bit tough. My wife and brother said it was too sweet!

UPDATE: 9/2/15
Peter's Honey update. I've been eating these for the last month or so. Picking one every week. It doesn't look like they get much bigger than this.