"Brian" wrote in message
...

"chris in grimsby" wrote in message
om...
Slightly off topic, but I saw that there was some good advise given
here about fig trees and their fruit, so I hoped someone might answer
my fairly basic question:

I have a fig tree that is fruiting quite well. How do you know when
the fruit is ripe (ready for picking)? Does it go soft or hard or
change color or what? Sorry I dont know what type of fig tree it is,
but it is about two or three years old and about six feet by six feet
spread across my south facing fence.

Thanks in advance

Chris
---------------------
This is not at all off topic.
Hopefully your fig is under glass[for best results] or if outside, then
South of the Trent. The smallest figs that over-wintered will be those
that
can ripen. If 'Brown turkey', then as it begins to ripen it will
gradually
droop, bending its neck, and eventually produce a little 'tear-drop' of
nectar at the opening~~by then at the base. Then it's ripe!
Birds will fight to get at them first!!
When really ripe it will be totally succulent and quite special.
Potentially the finest 'fruit'~~~~ Actually it is a collection of genuine
fruits turned inside-out.
They will not ripen for quite a while so be patient.
Regards Brian.

Just to borrow this thread.
I have a customer of many years whose fig tree last year went through the
usual attempts to produce fruit that will ripen in time. Being against the
walled sun-trap I can see it's reasoning, but usually, it only almost gets
there.
But last year was somewhat different. It produce 3 fruits of such size that
I needed two hands to pick them from their high position. In terms of size,
.... not too far off one of those small yellow melons.
Most of the other fruit went the usual route.
But those 3... I wonder, why did that happened?
I cannot comment on their quality because I just handed them to the
customer on my way out.

Patrick