| Hello! What fig variety is sweeter; the White Genoa or the Peter's honey? Also, is there such a thing as a Chandler Loquat tree? |
| I'm not familiar with a Chandler Loquat tree but there is a loquat named Champaign. Maybe that's the one you're thinking of? Peter's Honey is the sweetest if you compare it with Genoa (White Genoa). These are not best selections for your growing region, though. According to Texas A&M University, you should choose "closed eye" varieties to prevent insect damage and to avoid premature fruit spoiling. Here are their recommendations: Alma was developed by Texas A&M and released into the nursery trade in the mid 1970s. The fruits are rich and sweet in flavor, with golden brown skin and an amber-tan flesh. Richard Ashton wrote in an online article for Texas Gardener that 'Alma' is a little tender to winter frosts when young and also benefits from some pruning to keep it growing nicely and remaining productive with fruits. Celeste - One of the most cold hardy of figs is 'Celeste'. It can be grown across much of eastern and northern Texas, as well as South Texas only if it is watered well during the long, hot summer months, according to Ashton. The fruits of 'Celeste' are rather small with a bronzy, purplish skin and a pink-amber flesh. Texas Everbearing - If you love eating fresh figs, plant 'Texas Everbearing' as it will produce two crops annually, midsummer and again in late fall. Medium- to large-sized figs feature yellow-green skin and a strawberry pink flesh that is sweet and rich, but not so much as those of 'Celeste.' 'Texas Everbearing' is particularly resilient to drought, making it perfect for areas of South Texas near the Rio Grande. Black Mission - As long as your part of South Texas has a mild winter, 'Black Mission' makes an exceptional fig tree choice. It, too, yields two crops of figs annually--early summer and late fall, according to Ashton. The tree bears large-sized figs of purple-black. The pink flesh has a rich taste and is tasty eaten fresh or dried. 'Black Mission' trees are not overly cold hardy, and since they are known for vigorous growth, may sustain winter branch die-back after frosts in the interior of South Texas. Kadota - This fig variety needs lots of summertime heat to yield fruits, so it is recommended for coastal areas of South Texas only. The tough-skinned fruits of 'Kadota' have an attractive lemon-yellow skin and a greenish white to yellow flesh. This strong-growing fig tree needs little pruning, advises the "Sunset National Gardening Book." In hot, dry growing conditions, the fruits become leathery in texture, according to Ashton. Hope this information is helpful. |
