One of the best tasting figs. Purplish-black skin covered with very minute white to pinkish dots. Solid, deep, crimson pulp. Very productive. Tree tends to produce lots of suckers therefore will grow easy as a bush form without any help. It is cold hardy and therefore recommended for those who would like to grow figs in cooler climates. However, it grows and produces exceptionally well in hot climates, like our Albuquerque, NM (zone 7).
Don't give up your Brown Turkey just yet. There are many different cultivars of figs called Brown Turkey. In fact, your Brown Turkey may not even be a true Brown Turkey. Therefore, wait until your little tree has produced some figs. If they appeal to you and are sweet and flavorful, then you have yourself a winner! I propagated my Negronne from cuttings I received from Europe. It tends to be a medium size fig. The leaves are ornamental and my tree seems to be resistant to the effects of mosaic virus when compared to other varieties.

Negronne (from Paradise Nursery) is hardy and productive in Zone 8B Austin, Texas. There appear to be two distinct varieties that are called Negronne (Violette de Bordeaux), judging by the pictures from the various on-line vendors. Both varieties are dark purple with a red interior. The variety that I have is more spherical or pyriform in shape. The other variety, which I do not have in my collection, has a long neck. Its shape (the fig) is somewhat reminiscent of Celeste. Following are pictures of the two figs, one from the Paradise Nursery website and one from Raintree Nursery. I am also including a copy of a picture of the spherical variant submitted some time back by Gene from Wash., D.C. Does anyone have experience with both varieties?

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It has a closed eye here in San Diego, and great flavor, so can't see why it wouldn't to well for you. I would go for it.

Mountainman, I have the one from Raintree and it is about 11 years old.I just purchased the one from Paradise this spring.I'll have to wait and see what difference if any; and I'll let you know.
stay well,
Anthony

Mountainman, Yum! Awesome pics. The first and third photos resemble the variety I'm looking for.

So sorry Paradise Nursery is no longer in business. Everything I've read about them sounds wonderful.

Leon, I am intrigued by the fact that your trees came from Europe. Did they come from a nursery and are you able to share the source? I'm concerned about waiting 2-3 years for fruit only to find that I received the wrong variety. I'd hate to get something inauthentic.

Anyway, sounds like Negronne is a winner! Can't wait to get started.

I just bought a Negronne from Edible Landscaping last Sunday. It's a nice looking plant. http://ediblelandscaping.com/

I have one that I purchased just over a year ago from paradise (vdb). 5-6 brebas growing and it is just putting on its real limb growth now with tons of little fruits coming. It went from a 6" pot to a 14" pot. The pot was completely full of roots this sprint so I just put it into a 21" pot. Hopefully that will keep it happy.

I have heard of people leaving these out in the winter here at 7a/6b but I dont think I would chance it. This means you will probably be just fine, plus last summer was a scorcher for a while and the figs had NO issues, heck they didnt really start growing till the temps hit 90!

One thing I do suggest (though the common wisdom seems to point other directions) is to water well and very often if you are going to keep it in a pot. I had mine on a timer to do ten minutes each day, which was just enough to get a slight dribble of water coming out of the bottom of the pot. If my plant's roots are at all an indication I would say it worked..

My only big problem is that I have indoor cats. I need my neighbors with outdoor cats to let them out more often, and during the day, to take care of my squirrel problem... I was only able to save 5 whole figs last season :(

Thanks for all the input guys. I only need size information now. Anyone with a mature tree want to report its size? I've read conflicting reports. One report (I forget where I read it) said the mature tree tops out at about 15 feet. Most others say its a small/compact/bush type. What's the case with your tree? How tall is it and did you prune? Thanks

The tree of Negronne (Violette de Bordeaux) was described by Condit as dwarf in comparison to Francisciana (Mission) or Dottato (Kadota). Of course Mission can grow to be 30-40 tall under the right conditions! I don't think that you'll have any trouble keeping Negronne at a manageable size in 7B Georgia. Whether it is a tree or a multi-trunked bush depends on how you prune it. I recommend a multi-trunked bush for two reasons. Some believe that bushes are a bit more resistant to severe cold snaps. In addition, fig wood is weak in comparison to some other woods. If you have a single-trunked tree and it snaps off or is frozen back, you are starting from "ground zero" again. With a multi-trunked bush, even if some of the trunks freeze, others may survive. Some growers cut a trunk when it gets above a certain size and are continually cycling in new growth. My Negronne is only about three years old and still a small tree. I grew it in a pot until last summer. Some growth on the tree was leggy and I pruned it back hard. I would guess from its current size that the tree will take 8 or 9 years to be a mature tree/bush.

Mountainman,did you purchase your voilette de bordeux from paradise nursery?

Thanks,
Anthony

Yes, I purchased my VDB from Paradise Nursery, Anthony. Fortunately, I also purchased one of most of their other fig varieties.

Joe

Joe, I notice a BIG difference in leaf shape and color of leaf as it is starting to form between Paradise and Raintree's VDB.I am anxious to see if fruit is different.I wonder how many different types are out there? And also wonder which type is the one that Condit grew.I heard if you have the right one; you have a very tasty fig.I noticed that Leon got his from Europe.All we can do is wait and see which is the authentic Negronne(VDB).

stay well,
Anthony

Joe, I forgot to ask in taste how would you RATE the VDB you have? Also LEON and GENE how would you's RATE the variety you have? Like a 1-10?

THANKS, Anthony

Anthony, in Condit's time, there was a question that parallels my earlier comment in this thread regarding two varieties; Violette de Bordeaux and Grosse Violette de Bordeaux. Condit's predecessor at UC, Gustav Eisen (who, like Condit, lived to over 90 years of age)was of the opinion that the two figs were distinct, while Condit and an earlier fig researcher, Barron, were of the opinion that they were the same. I would rate the flavor of the VDB figs that I had last year as 7 or 8/10. However, the taste quality of the figs was diminished by the necessity of frequent watering and the heat stress suffered by the potted VDB, as the figs matured during very hot, dry temperatures. Even so, the flavor of the figs was pretty good; sweet and fairly rich with a slightly subacid undertone. Under the right conditions, (maturation during hot, dry weather on a mature in-ground tree in good health), I think that that the flavor could be a 9. Of all the characteristics that define a fig, in the final analysis, none is as important as taste!

Mountainman, how big is your tree?

I plan to let all my trees grow naturally - bush form - only pruning when necessary.

I went ahead and ordered a VdB from Edible Landscaping. When it arrives, I plan to repot and leave it outside for the remainder of the year (except on very cold nights). Next year, I will plant it in the garden and see what happens.

Anybody in 7b or 8 provide winter protection for in-ground plants? Most of the winter, our temps remain in the 40s but this year, we had a 3-4 day cold snap with temps in the low 20s. It killed back just about everything in my yard. I'm not willing to lose my figs to winter freezes.

I potted up several cutting I got from the Home Orchard Society Scion Exchange. I presume the Negronne came from the same tree. The early leaves on the cuttings came in several shapes, sometimes more than one leaf type per cutting.

ourhappyhome,

My VdB (pictured above) came from Paradise Nursery. It's one of the smaller figs, and does very well in pots. As Leon pointed out it suckers readily, so it's easy to grow as a bush. I've grown it here in my sheltered back yard, zone 7b/8a and I have it in my orchard on the Chesapeake Bay which is more exposed. It survives the winter when planted in a well drained ground, but does not do well on low lying ground. Of all the varieties I've bought, it's my favorite.

To "OurHappyHome": My VDB is still quite small, as it is only 3 years old and was potted until planted in-ground last summer. Last summer, it produced 15 or 20 figs, although as heavily as I pruned it early this spring, it will probably not produce as many in-ground this year. I think that the VDB should do fine in your zone, provided that you plant it in a protected area. Even if it is not planted in a protected area, as in Gene's case, it may do fine, even though you do not have the temperature moderating effect of a large body of water such as Chesapeake Bay. Although the fig may die to the ground the first couple of years during the winter, I don't think that wrapping the fig tree will be necessary long term in your area.

ourhappyhome,

re: winter protection for figs in north georgia. I have had brown turkey and a 'giant celeste' planted in the ground for several years (tree form)in Athens and they have not frozen back to the ground (it remains a possibility). During the late freeze this spring, the leaves fell, but then resprouted. My neighbors ~25-30' tree fell over into his back yard during an ice storm a couple of years ago, but we used a chain saw to cut off one trunk, pulled it back up with a truck, staked it, and it has been fine. I would have to say that I usually plant them near a wall or fence when out in the yard.

I can't say anything about Negronne in this climate, I have a little EL negronne potted on the deck, but it hasn't been thru a winter.

Hey Gene!

I lived near AAFB before moving to GA. We miss so many things about that region, but I think we miss the snow and the blue crabs most of all.

Thanks for the winterizing information. I have a raised bed on the south side of the house that should be perfect for my new VdB.

Regarding my Negronne, I made friends with the owner of a Belgium Nursery a few years ago. We made a trade for several fig varieties. I wanted the fig named Abicou. He did not carry this variety but obtained cuttings from a french grower. When I rooted the cuttings, what I actually received was an excellent variety of Aubique Noire, a synonym for Negronne (thank you Gene for the help on this one). I did not realize it until it produced figs. I used to have a Violette de Bordeaux but lost it to a house move.
I found this Negronne to be larger in size, exceptionally sweet and flavorful, and more productive compared to the VDB I had before.

I'm a bit confused about your comments concerning Negronne/Abicou, Leon. According to Baud the Negronne and the Abicou or Aubique noire are two different varieties.
You can identify it without problems on the basis of the pics on Baud's website. Please let me know where did you get the information about the synonyms.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bauds figs

I'm sorry, I meant to say 'Petite Aubique' instead of Aubique Noire. You are correct.

My dad gave me a Negronne from Wayside Gardens in February. I potted it and kept it in the house until mid April. It has put on four figs. One has fell off. Has anyone had any experience with a Negronne from Wayside? I still have it in a pot. After this discusssion I think I will plant it in grown.

Vern

Leon, NAFEX lists Negronne as a synonym for VdB and Bordeaux. I ordered a VdB assuming it was EXACTLY the same. Is there a substantial difference in flavor? I'm not as concerned about production. In fact, I'd be thrilled to get the 15 figs mountainman got last season.

Mountainman, Scott, you have both addressed my main concern and that is whether the tree can survive a typical Georgia winter without protection. Georgia winters are typically very mild, in the 40s. I wasn't sure whether to wrap the tree or just let it stand. Do you think a layer of burlap could provide adequate protection for a 1-2 day freeze, say in the low to mid 20s?

I have a nice spot for the tree in well-drained soil on the south side of my house. The house is brick so it should be nice and cozy year round.

Expect the vdb to mature at no more than 10’ high x 10’ wide .