Most Valuable Player Award! Figonomics 102, Continued!

[@derekmorris7128]

What a great and educational video. Thanks for sharing all the information, it is much appreciated.

[@TheJosuetico]

Greetings. I'm in zone 7b, and started with figs about 6 years ago, but started collecting during 2021 with 15 new varieties. I have three smith on the ground and had temperatures of 17 degrees here in Greensboro, NC this year. My Smiths are doing fantastic, looking very strong. I had some minor die back in other varieties like Violette de Bordeaux. I own a few BM, It 258 and Smiths. The It 258 is my weakest of the three varieties, slow development. The others looking strong (all of the three varieties I started from cuttings last year (2021). This year I add to my new collection about 10 new ones. I see many of your videos as well as Ross from Pennsylvania and Ben B's from Seattle and learn a lot. I try to collect the top 10 as long they are in the top 10 from more than one collector. Thank you so much from your teachings and experienced.

[@loumonti10]

Your welcome! Glad to be of some assistance. Thanks for watching! Lou Monti

[@katrinagarland5219]

I just started 'figging' this year and am in 7a. Love your channel... great info. Thanks!

[@まるはち果実園]

Thank you for sharing good movie!

[@TheYehat]

RdB is quite popular in Europe, don't know why not in US. It is really a staple, foundation fig without question. It fully deserves it.

[@loumonti10]

For what it's worth (my familiar caveat) I couldn't agree with you more! Regards! Lou Monti

[@LittlePieceOfHeaven.65]

It is here also in the US !

[@imdanhoover]

i have 2 RDB in pots..4 other different varieties of figs going in pots also..1 chicago in ground..of them all, the RDB has been the most hearty,productive fig...going to put 2 cuttings of it in ground next year..i believe in hat you're saying..weed out the less productive ones..grow the ones that work...that taste the best to you...good philosophy

[@alveygardens]

Thankyou for your videos! This is helping me develop my fig orchard. I am in 6b. So anything that does great for you will be well for me. And so I will also avoid the figs that don’t do well for you.

[@Danielseven-ir2mq]

In my small collection I have the RDB. First year in containers. Here in Denver CO zone 6a will plant one in ground next to a brick wall to see if it can survive the winter. Good video.

[@loumonti10]

Hi, Daniel! Thanks for watching. I'm sorry, but RDB will most likely not survive (in ground) in your zone. Unfortunately, Ronde De Bordeaux doesn't always live up to its reputation of being extremely winter hardy. ! In my opinion (for what it is worth) as I often like to say, it usually requires covering (wrapping) in 7-A, and even then sometimes suffers some damage during some Winters. While it can be considered hardy to a degree, I have found that it is slightly less hardy as the Mount Etna's and some other more successful Winter adapted cultivars, like Celeste, in my cold zone. Still, it can be successfully covered if an effective technique is used to protect it, and it does exceptionally well if planted in a sweet spot! Good luck! Lou Monti

[@annieoneill3876]

Hello, I am new and just started to collect figs. I was wondering if there is a fig society that I can joint. BTW, I am in California.

[@loumonti10]

Hi, Annie, you might want to try, Our Figs. Welcome to the club! Lou Monti

[@conheomaublue]

Hi Lou, I'm always amazed and delighted watching your videos and they way you talk about figs. I know you're a retired teacher. I'm so curious to know what you used to teach? Thanks.

[@loumonti10]

Thanks! I taught mostly Science and Math, Bobby, but I became a business man and left the teaching profession many years ago. Thanks for watching! Regards, Lou Monti

[@joanp105]

I have watched your videos, some more than once learned so much. Just purchased 3 figs from a grower near me, but though he highly recommended these, I cannot find info on 2 Would appreciate any info you may have. Sicilian black, Neapolitan, and Violette de Bourdeaux. aka Negronne? I am in zone 5b and grow in pots of course. I was hoping to get Ronde de Bordeaux, Smith, improved Celeste, Negra d’Agde Yes, I have become just a bit addicted🤷‍♀️

[@loumonti10]

Hi, Joan! I have video info on all of the above. As I've said before, there are many, many, named varieties that are nothing more than (essentially) Mount Etna types, with very little differences between them. I've explained this repeatedly and try not to be sucked into the mistake of buying these varieties from people only too willing to make a buck at your expense! Stick with true Malta Black, for example, or true Hardy Chicago, from a reputable seller, for a Mount Etna inclusion into your collection.The Bordeaux's are legitimate, stand alone, varieties, both are very good, with my favorite work horse (much earlier) fig being Ronde De Bordeaux. Improved Celeste is also an absolute must in your cold zone! Regards, and good luck, Lou Monti

[@ngththanh1995]

🎉

[@alphahoss1947]

Can you put up a list of your favorite fruits that does well in your zone please thanks in advance for your time as it is greatly appreciated.

[@loumonti10]

Hi, Alpha! It's all in my videos, all 120 of them! Thank you for watching! Regards from, Lou Monti

[@alphahoss1947]

@@loumonti10 Does the LSU VARIETIES OF FIGS OR THE BLACK MISSION FIG DO WELL IN NJ

[@TonyJL89]

I can't agree with the statement that they don't split much. My RdBs have been one of my worst splitters in humid and rainy weather here in PA. They rarely split last year since the weather was hot and dry but this year has been a different story. That said, they still taste pretty good when they split. I also don't agree that they taste so much better than the Mt Etnas. I prefer the taste of a lot of the Etnas over RdB. I do fully agree, though, that it is a must have fig. It's very early, productive, tasty, reliable, and a beautiful looking fig.

[@loumonti10]

Everyone is certainly welcome to agree or disagree. It's a good thing for me to be entertained, occasionally, by others, as much as I am hopefully entertaining my viewers, as well. Now that you have expressed your views, I am just as sure about one other assumption as I am in my overarching assessment of Ronde De Bordeaux. It's very likely that I employ quite different growing techniques and methods than you do. I water by hand and don't have my container figs on an automatic watering system. My in ground RDB'S are planted on my highest and dryest ground that I have. Also, I live in N.J., not PA, and the weather can be quite variable between the two locations. I don't know what zone you live in either. However, the 13 individually named Mount Etna's that I'm growing, all of which I have obtained over decades of searching and from different sources, do not compete well, neither in taste or climate suitability, with my particular RDB collection. Of course, taste is subjective! Thank you for sharing your separate (personal) experiences that you have had with growing your individual Ronde De Bordeaux tree in your location. One curious question, though? You seem to have an extremely high regard for a cultivar (Ronde De Bordeaux) after expressing so many disappointments and failures with splitting and taste comparisons with other varieties! Perhaps, could you please explain those inconsistencies? One other question. Do you happen to sell fig trees to the public? Just wondering? Thank you so much for watching and thanks for sharing your personal experiences! Let's hope that we both have great weather (hopefully an Idian Summer) for the rest of this growing season! Regards from, Lou Monti

[@TonyJL89]

​@@loumonti10 Yes, our different climates and growing methods certainly cause differences in how well our figs perform for us. I'm in zone 5b and have 2 RdBs in pots, though I am considering planting one in ground next spring. I actually like the texture of RdB better than the Etnas(they are usually a bit too soft for my liking), but some Etnas like Malta Black edge it out in taste for me. Both taste really good, but MB can taste amazing sometimes. Sorry if I sounded overly critical of RdB, I was just trying to point out that as great as it is, it's not without faults(at least for me). I just don't quite care for the flavor as much as some Etnas, though I certainly don't blame you or anyone else for liking the tasting of RdB more. I wouldn't say that the splitting issue with RdB is a failure, just an annoyance. They still taste good to me after splitting, but it causes me to pick them earlier than I'd like and I'm less keen on sharing those with people, which I like to do with RdBs since they're great looking figs and a consistently tasty variety. I hope that clears up any inconsistencies with what I wrote. No, I don't really consider myself a seller. I don't advertise or sell on figbid or ebay or anything like that. I did sell a few potted figs (RdBs & VdB) for the first time this past winter for $6 a tree, though I had only listed them on a scion exchange forum for trading purposes but a couple people wanted them and didn't have anything to trade so I obliged in selling them at a cheap price since I had extras and don't grow them to make a profit. Thanks for sharing your videos! I enjoy hearing your thoughts and opinions on different figs. One type that I don't have are San Pedros and I think you may have convinced me to get one! Brebas rarely fare well here, but getting figs in July sounds pretty nice, so maybe I should experiment a bit and give it a try. Filacciano Bianco is especially intriguing to me. Keep enjoying those figs!

[@loumonti10]

Well written and clearly understood! Thanks for clearing that up for me! We will speak again. I'd like to share my experiences with growing RDB, in ground, with you when we do. Your zone is certainly a greater challenge for in ground growing than mine, and in my experience, RDB is not quite as hardy as many give it credit for! Thanks for your response! Until then, Lou Monti

[@sunnysharma1701]

RDB has a reputation for splitting with heavy rains. Looks like they haven't split at all for you. do you grow VDB in ground Lou?

[@loumonti10]

I have grown VDB, but I removed them all, except Nero 600, a very closely related strain, from the ground. They are a bit late in my zone for in ground growing. Some years, I did get a good harvest, but in other years I didn't. They ripen better and are far more productive in pots, at least for me in my climate. As mentioned, I still do have an in ground Nero 600m. It's essentially the same and a very slight deviation from Violette De Bordeaux, in my opinion. I will move it to an in ground location in zone 7- B next Summer. Personally, I greatly prefer RDB for over all performance in my zones! Regards, Lou Monti

[@SeanKroner]

When you collect your rain water does it ever get algae growing in it. If so does the algae hurt the figs at all?

[@loumonti10]

Hi, there! My figs are always thirsty, so, as soon as one barrel is empty, I put it in the sun to dry out for a few hours. This completely kills and controls any algae, completely naturally! Meanwhile, I start another barrel. In this manner, water never stays long in any one barrel and both mosquitoes and algae are never a problem. Regards! Lou Monti

[@conheomaublue]

Hi Lou, you've been praising a lot RdB. How do you compare a perfectly ripe RdB vs Violette de Bordeaux (not often heard from you) in term of taste? And are they different taste? Thanks a lot.

[@loumonti10]

Hi, Bobby! Yes, I certainly have several videos which feature delicious Violette De Bordeaux figs, both in ground and in containers. The taste of the two separate cultivars is distinctly different. Most seasons, VDB must be grown in containers for a full crop to ripen. I highly favor RDB in my zone!!! Both cultivars have a superior taste compared to, let's say, the Mount Etna's, for a reference. Neither belongs to that classification of figs, but I often use them for a comparison reference point. When both are perfectly ripened, my wife and I slightly prefer RDB for flavor. For in ground growing, (the best method for flavor) RDB is vastly superior in my zone, since it is much earlier! It performs much better in containers, as well, although VDB, is a good cultivar when container grown property. For all of the reasons that I have detailed in my videos, in my opinion, RDB is a much more highly regarded variety in my collection! Regards, Lou Monti

[@figfever9048]

Mr. Monti do you have any rust issues on your trees?

[@loumonti10]

I rarely ever detect significant rust. I see it more, late season, in zone 7-B, in my coastal location, but I have never had to apply any chemical solution to control it, and it has never been serious enough to effect production or fig quality. Thanks for watching!Regards from, Lou Monti

[@cyrustaylor9240]

I am in zone 7A, coastal CT. Do you have any experience with Strawberry Verte?

[@loumonti10]

Yes, Cyrus, I do believe that I currently have Strawberry Verte in my collection. My Uncle Mario, from the Teramo Itally region, brought with him an Adriatic type fig tree from Italy. It has been in our family for over 65 years, and I have, personally, prevented it from being lost close to 50 years. I'm not absolutelysure that it's Strawbery Verte, but over the years I've come to that conclusion. It's rather late, in ground, like most Adriatic types, but this one has a very delicious, special, rather tangy, flavor. Slightly different from other Adriatics that I've grown. Regards from, Lou Monti

[@ZonaFigs]

You are absolutely right? The only fig I had ever eaten was a Celeste and I thought all figs tasted the same and I was so wrong then I found out. There's a whole lot better ones

[@loumonti10]

Perhaps you misinterpreted the true meaning of my video? So, to be clear, I love Celeste figs, but I love all properly ripened figs! Haha! There seems to be so great an emphasis on which exact fig is the very best fig, etc, etc, etc, that I think that it blurs the greater point !!! Let's try my approach for a moment. I've never eaten a properly ripened fig that I didn't like! Yes, some varieties taste better, and some other varieties don't taste quite as good. So what????? If you like figs, then you like figs!!! So, grow varieties that produce a lot of figs in your zone. "Figs, figs, figs"! "I love figs"! You will often hear me say that in my videos. There is so much more on the subject of figs than just taste alone! It's an entire world of inquiry. It's a universe of enthusiasm and curiosity that can motivate a true fig lover to accomplish great discoveries and to find enormous personal satisfaction! What a wonderful hobby, and what a wondrous journey to travel along the way! Regards from, Lou Monti

[@ZonaFigs]

@loumonti10 and you also misinterpreted my comment, it is the celeste that got me into figs I never said celeste was bad but in comparison to others in flavor... my celeste is the king of figs at my house in size and fruit production. I also love all figs

[@jonbain9216]

Mr monti i have a question i live in southern middle tn Im in 7a also by map How big of a diference would my place than yours in your opinion Thanks love the videos

[@loumonti10]

Hi there! I don't think that there would be much of a difference. Both 7-A. Take care! Lou Monti

[@Ottomus1]

Where in New Jersey do live that's zone 7a?

[@loumonti10]

Hi there! I am located in Salem County. Yes, in zone 7-A. Take care! Lou Monti

[@danielbetancourt1794]

Hello Lou, I'm Daniel Betancourt, I live in Orlando, would the San Pedro flourish in Orlando, I Planted my firs Fig Tree in March and I'm getting figs, they pushed out Mid July Plant is about 2'-3' tall, I also propagated 13 Cuttings out of 15 first time, Hope to here from you Thank you in Advance, you Can Message me on Facebook Messenger I would appreciate it

[@loumonti10]

Hi, Daniel! I Yes, I think so. Except for Nematodes, I can't think of anything else that would keep fig trees from being healthy and productive. Good luck! Lou Monti