Tasting my first LSU Hollier Fig 2018

LSU Hollier Fig
Picked 9/19/18
1 Crop

So I've been saying the name of this fig all wrong. It's French and should be pronounced "Ool yay".

I purchased this fig from Rolling River Nursery in 2015. Can't believe I've waited this long to get some ripe figs from it.

I think that it's finally hits it's stride on the 3rd year. The tree has a decent crop of figs on it.

 

I did not expect much from it but I was nicely surprised by the taste of this fig.

Coming out of LSU figs a bred with characteristic of a tight eye to be resistant to the humidity there. Well it also works for Seattle as well ripening in September.  31.7 grams

The flavor is more like a honey fig with a punch of richness that makes it standout and differentiate itself from the similar Jack Lily. It ripens later than Jack Lily however. And is a bit smaller.

I like this fig. The sweetness is right on point with where I like my figs to be. The flavor is honey like with a bit of agave. It's a good fig to have and eat.

From a collectors stand point I think it resembles too many other green figs with amber pulp.

Off the top of my head I think it resembles:
Jack lily
Santa Fe
Qudsaya
LSU Champagne

The flavor gives it a home in my large collection but if you have something similar there is no need to add this one. However if you do not already have a Green type honey fig. I would get this for sure.

LSU Hollier (9/19/18)

Main

Taste: 8.5

Sweetness: 8

Size: 4 (31.7 grams)

Productivity: 4

Total = 24.5

Tasting the Vincenzo Main Crop Fig 2018

Vincenzo Main Crop Fig 
Picked 9/19/18
2 Crops

2017 Breba
2018 Breba

DISREGARD This REVIEW. I picked this one too early. Click here to see a review on a really good MAIN CROP VINCENZO

As much as I love the Vincenzo Breba. The main crop is just does not impress me as much. Click the links above to compare the previous year's brebas. It's like two very different figs.

I was bit surprised to see a ripe main crop on this tree. In previous years I've only gotten brebas.

 

Figs are such interesting fruit. If I had to compare them to an animal it would be a feline and not a dog. They are so unpredictable and with so many varieties it's hard to predict how the will act and grow. One year I get nothing and the next it's loaded. It's like they have a mind of their own and do not care what you want.

As much as I love the brebas on this fig the main crop is a bit disappointing in comparison. It's 1/5th of the size at only 16grams and lacks the flavor and texture of the breba. This is interesting because most folks have this misconception that main crops "always" taste better than brebas.

Well in this case it's not true! 

The main crop was below average for me. Average is about a 7 in book. It's too subtle in flavor and sweetness to write home about. Add to it that it's just not very productive makes the Main crop Vincenzo fig an after thought and not the main course.

Only 16.3 grams for the main crop and 50 grams for the breba.

Vincenzo (9/19/18)

Main crop

Taste: 6.5

Sweetness: 6

Size: 2 (16.3 grams)

Productivity: 1

Total = 16

Tasting the Natalina Fig Main Crop 2018

Natalina Fig Main Crop
Picked 9/19/18
2 Crops

I've been very happy with this little workhorse. It ripens brebas and maincrops reliably every year so far. Mine came from Harvey.

At first sight it's an unimpressive fig. Small, standard color, and just above average in flavor and sweetness.

However modest it maybe, it makes up for it in reliability. Brebas and Main crops are almost exactly the same. I bet if we didn't have winters this thing would just fruit year round.

I will eventually put this fig in ground because of that reliability. It ripens before chicago hardy yet gives you two crops unlike chicago hardy. It even taste better than chicago hardy. So if you like chicago hardy you'll love this fig.

This fig has a place in my home.

Mislabeled Black Maderia, Socorro Black, Golden Riverside, Vincenzo Main, Natalina Main

Natalina (9/19/18) 

Main Crop

Taste: 7

Sweetness: 7.5

Size: 2 (15.1  grams)

Productivity: 2

Total = 18.5