White Madeira #1 Fig Studio Photos

White Madeira #1

The White Madeira #1 has really proven to be one of the tastiest figs in the collection. This was also the last fig on the tree. The slugs left this one alone. So I took advantage of this beauty and grabbed some studio shots of it.

 

Tasting the White Madeira #1 Fig 2018

Tasting the White Madeira #1 Fig 2018
Picked 10/12/18
1 Crop

The white madeira #1 fig has lived up to the hype. Do not confuse this with the White white Madeira which is the honey white fig.

I took this tree into the greenhouse on September to give a bit more heat to ripen. It worked but the greenhouse also is a haven for slugs and they too found this fig to be very tasty.

After slicing off all of the slug damage.  I was left with some very beautiful pieces of edible rubies.

51.1 grams

I have to admit that this fig was spectacular. Even though it ripened in the cold of October it still produced enough sugar to taste like raspberry jam . This fig will make it to the top 10 for sure. 

This fig will probably require an early wake up or a greenhouse to ripen in the PNW. Is it worth the effort? I think so. 

White Madeira  (10/12/18) 

Main crop

Taste: 9

Sweetness: 8

Size: 5 (51.1 grams)

Productivity: 4

Total = 26

White Madeira fig

I traded with a very reliable source for a White Madeira fig tree and it looks so beautiful. All the attributes of a Black Madeira leaf and plant but the fruits are green and red in the center. The taste has been described as extremely sweet with a hint of dates and strawberry. I can't wait to see it fruit.

New Arrivals: Violet Sepor, White Madeira & Becnels Native Black

New Arrivals: Violet Sepor, White Madeira & Becnels Native Black

Native Black, Violet Sepor, White Madeira

Becnel's Native Black

"The "Native" part of the name was  a nickname given to this variety by the Becnel Family who live in Belle Chasse, LA. They have been in the wholesale nursery business for a very long time.

The Becnel family is also credited with bringing the Smith variety into the trade. The story goes that Smith was found growing on Saxon and Thomas Becnel's grandfather's farm. It just hasn't gotten as much "exposure" as Smith. 

Native Blacks produce brebas and main crops, although brebas tend to drop on young trees.

A knowledgeable fig enthusiast who worked with Dr. O'Rourke during the LSU fig breeding program told me that Native Black was an Italian heirloom fig brought by immigrants into the New Orleans/ Belle Chase area. As Henry indicated, it was brought into the retail trade by Saxon Becnel Nursey. There are many other 'heirloom' figs in Louisiana left to be re-discovered. Louisiana was/is a melting pot of many cultures and many of the arriving immigrants brought their favorite fig cuttings with them when they settled down here years ago."

* Sited from Gardenweb

White Madeira

The leaves are very similar to Black Madeira. The origin of these came from Madeira. There's some debate that this maybe a Adriatic or Col De Dame Blanc but I don't think the leaves are similar at all.

Fruit photo credit to Tam

Violet Sepor

Not the prettiest fig but it kinda reminds of a Smith. It's known to be very sweet and have intense berry flavors and very productive. Let's see how well they do here in Seattle.

Photo credit Leon