Black Madeira Fig - 2020 Update
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- We have two Black Madeira fig trees and two Figo Preto fig trees and, after growing them for many years they appear to be the same variety to us (and the same as Violeta, the official formal name). In this video we show all four trees. I also don't believe in there being different strains of Black Madeira but won't get more into that. Our most vigorous tree is created in 2012 by grafting a cutting onto Brown Turkey. It grows very well for us and is very productive despite being pruned very heavily for cuttings every winter.
Some people have commented that Black Madeira is late, some say unproductive, some say it has very hard skin with one person in Arizona commenting today that it's rough like sandpaper. We sure don't get as hot as Arizona but have longer days and do get pretty hot (up to 103F a couple of weeks ago) but our nights are cool. Our weather during summer is almost always clear sunny days with low humidity (23% today when we reached 98F) and evenings are usually in the low 60s (55F-68F has been our nighttime lows for the past month).
Pruning heavily has typically delayed crop timing and reduced fruit size for us but we have been picking fruits from this tree since about July 21st and fruits are of good size. Some who grow this variety say the fruits have very tough skins. I consider them to be moderately thick but not really anything I consider a problem, the skins are what I would call "chewy".
Our orchard nutrition focuses mostly on nitrogen early in the year and reduced amounts later through August and increased potassium levels from Late May through August and maybe early September. We hope that our experiences may help you grow better fruits yourself!
Excellent! I'm loving my BMs this year (in the Phoenix AZ area) thanks to grafts from a scion I got from you. It was sluggish the 1st year but is busting out with figs and growth this year with no FMV in sight. I also got my FP scion from you that I also grafted. I swear they are slightly different but not enough to warrant getting both unless one were say a figaholic. Thanks for sharing these videos and all you do for the fig community. I would not have my fig collection if it were not for you.
Great to hear and thanks for watching!
I'm also in AZ . Your videos help me filter my growing wish list from Harvey's. Thank you both.
Thank you Harvey for the BM update!
I agree, they are essentially the same now that I see them side by side. Your trees are so beautiful! I'd love to visit again soooooon! I actually kind a like the chewy skin-Kenny here :-D
Such beauties. They don't seem to be very late-season for you at all. I'm jealous of your valley climate. In San Francisco, I'm still wearing a jacket in August.
SF feels great when it's 100F here!
Thank you for your videos. Like to see the fruits ripe, and you have so many varieties. I start with White Madeira, Briogotto nero, Contessina, ABubereira . I love figs and am curious how my small trees will develop.
Harvey it is great to see so much progress in your orchard! I did notice that you had very limited skin cracking in your BMs though, which would be unusual for mine. Do you think that could be attributale to consistent moisture levels in your soil, whereas mine are potted and therefore tend to dry out, then watered, and repeat?
Hi Nick, hope you are having a decent year despite hurricane and all. I am not sure, though I think more stable moisture does tend to reduce cracking. I also wonder if increased potassium levels might help. Higher potassium levels are used to help increase fruit size as well. I suggest you give it a try if you aren't already.
@@Figaholics thanks Harvey, I will give it a try! Although I find the cracking beautiful, I do worry it provides opportunity for SWD to penetrate.
So make sure to graft cuttings to a brown turkey.. lol! What a difference in size!
Any vigorous rootstock works fine. Also, it does seem that many people who have bought cuttings of us from this tree have also found that they grew very well when grown on their own roots. One possible explanation is that cuttings from this tree have more stored energy in them and grow faster. Two friends had their trees grow 5-6 feet tall in the first year.
@@Figaholics any cuttings available?
In January at www.figaholics.com
Hi
We enjoy watching your videos in Jordan.
My question, What is the difference between Black Madeira and Black Mission fig ?
Thanks for your response
Thank you for your updating video, what a healthy tree! Can I ask your comments about Black and Whita Madeira ? I’ve got a Black fig tree, does White also taste so good?
The White Madeira #1 (the original source of this tree had more than one type of tree he called White Madeira, though #1 is the only one that has been made available) is excellent. It has a darker red pulp and very productive. I've been told that it also tolerates rain pretty well so definitely worth growing. I posted a video of it recently at ua-cam.com/video/0bMOVS2KORw/v-deo.html
Hi! Mr.Harvey I'm your fan from Thailand. I want to ask you some question...Do you know Bursa Siyahi ( Italy )? it's very popular in Thailand. It produce a dark purple fruit with amber pulp and the flavor is honey sweet... Thank you.🙏
Beautiful orchard! What's the coldest your winter temperatures get there?
In January 2007 before I had many figs we got down to 20.4F. Since then we've got down to 24F a few times, mostly 28-30F, only 30F for past three winters. We are located in USDA zone 9b, Sunset zone 14.
You're such a sweet man 💓
Where do sell your Black Madeira fig harvest? What grocery outlets you use in Los Angeles area? Thanks for sharing a view of your beautiful orchard.
Our fruits are not available there, only sold at two Bi-Rite markets in San Francisco and Corti Brothers in Sacramento. We are a small farm.
@@Figaholics Thank you Harvey. Can you please share your knowledge about fig fruits splitting or cracking while ripening? I'm talking about my potted Black Madeira KK cracking on the tree.
I'm probably the Arizonan you referred to with sandpaper-textured skin on my Black Madeira figs. I sure wish my tree and fruit (in NW Tucson) looked like yours! I'll try grafting onto some of my more vigorous varieties and see if I can get better results.
Yes, couldn't remember your name during the video, I once worked with a Jay Stockton and knew that wasn't right. You might also try a fertilizer with more potassium unless you know you already have ample availability of this nutrient.
♡
Wonderful , do you know where I can get a Black Madeira fig tree?, I’m from Las Vegas Nevada. Thanks
There are several sources online and I don't have any particular suggestions. We will sell cuttings again in January from our trees.
Does your weather station track chill hours? Which one do you have?
My station does not report that. I have two stations in adjoining orchards that monitor soil moisture and electrical conductivity of soil in 4" increments from 4" down to 36" and one of the stations has a Davis sensor for temperature and humidity. The data is there to report chill hours but does not get reported to me in that manner, it is used to manage irrigation schedules, primarily. They are expensive. Check out Wildeye for more info.
So do you sell cuttings or have a website to buy cuttings?
Please follow www.figaholics.com/cuttings.htm for details and updates.
What farmers market do you sell at? We are in the delta area.
We do not sell at farmers' markets, we don't really have the quantity or time for that. We sell fruits to Bi-Rite Markets in San Francisco (a friend who lives there takes care of those sales) and to Corti Bros. Market in Sacramento.
tought of losing all my other varieties for this one but the problem is it is late.
On my farm it is no later than 1 week after my earliest varieties, maybe 2 weeks before it is highly productive.
is this best figs?
I have not picked a favorite fig but this is one of my favorites, both for taste and sentimental reasons.
Thank you
Figo Preto and Black Madeira are the same?
Both are very likely to be generic names for a fig formally known as Violeta.
Can I visit your orchid?
I know you said you are not selling trees but I am willing to pay more if you have the time.
Thanks
Unfortunately, we just don't have the time for that. I've done that before and know it takes at least 4 hours of my time and I don't have that to spare. Anything less than that is unrealistic. Some tours have stretched to 7 hours. This is part of the reason for all of our videos, people are able to take virtual tours on their own time.
In addition, the pandemic this year just makes it even more complicated.
@@Figaholics
Thank you sounds good. You can charge me per hour I am okay with it:) let me know Harvey no pressure
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