I like to think that figs are highly variable rather than view all the available data as conflicting. If you then factor in taste preferences, which are usually divided along the lines of those who like Brown Turkey types (Black Jack, etc) and those who don't, it's easy to see why some folks may get confused. The good news is that there are no bad figs (expect those that don't bare fruit). That said, I'm not sure if a long season fig is the right concept, and not in the same sense as apples and such. for a longer season you want to look for a variety with reliable breba crops and excellent main crops. That will give you the longer season most years, while weather and other factors will determine how long the main crop runs. This is why if you check out the DWN harvest chart, you will note that the fig section is a huge block with all the varieties lumped together. If you find a good breba crop fig you can start eating figs as early as June/July if conditions are right. VdB will keep going with main crop figs as long as the weather is warm enough into November. Some years there are figs left unripened or not pushed due to cold. Here is a link that might be useful: DWN Fruit Harvest Chart

I sorry to say but no. It has been picked clean by me and the birds, but I got more than them this year. For a tree that I tried to kill and dig up it did well this year. Perhaps I scared it into thinking that I meant business, which I did. No use in having a tree that made a dozen figs about the size of a marble. Now my yellow unknown, that's another story. It continues to put on new fruit until the first frost or light freeze. By the way someone gave me a clue as to what it might be. He said it looked like a White Texas Everbearing and it behaves just like what it's described as, who knows. It makes you wonder how a nursery could mix it up with a LSU Gold. "gene"

Hi ED, i also have pastiliere, it grew well and also drop all but one fig and it was a tease cause of its taste. I gave much thought after all i had another type that drop all figs for 4 straight seasons and 1 total ripe one. I destroy tree in frustration but gave out just a few cuttings low and behold this person got ripe figs and zones are not much different just my winter is little colder but very similar growing season. So i give pastilere more time although i have read good and bad about it. Martin

You may have had one of several issues going on this year. The late frost set your tree back. I had an Alma that froze to the base last winter. It grew very little this year and produced no fruit. Another reason for slow growth may be that it has been establishing its footing in the ground. I would expect that next year you will see more substantial top growth. My Celeste has small fruit as well. The difference in taste between "just about ripe" and "ripe" is quite marked. You may not have let the earlier figs ripen long enough and the later ones may not have had enough heat to fully develop flavor. There has been a few discussions about removing figs to improve tree growth, especially on young trees. I have one tree (a three foot whip of an unknown variety) with nodes about an inch an a half apart, but when the tree had fruit on it, the nodes were less than a half inch (and in some cases much less) apart. I don't think that you will need to do any fruit pruning next year. Celeste does not have much (if any) of a Breba (on last year's growth) crop. Mine starts growing the Main (on current year's foliage) crop of figs around the March/April time-frame. You should see significant foliage growth before that. If it were my tree, I would definitely give it at least one or two (especially if growing in tree form) more season before labeling it a dud. ~james