Any Fig Fanatics?

[Alan W.]

These die back every winter but they grow back fast. They need more sunlight in their location. I have cut the tip on the stems with formed figs this will help speed up production before frost hopefully.

Its not big but it out produces my other plants.

I forget what variety this is but the figs are green when they ripen and have a citrus taste. Wife kept waiting for them to change color and they just burst open.

This one like most of my figs was a Lowes markdown due to frost hitting the plant. It is a
Violette de Bordeaux. It grows slow and hasn’t fruited yet in the two years Ive had it.

 

[ultrarunner]

The California backyard trees produce a lot.

I have one in Olympia and maybe 2 or 3 about the size of an egg for the season.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Not sure if it was mentioned but dried fig leaves make great tea. I am planning to harvest them from my trees a little later. Give it to family members. Its one of those herbal remedy things , but taste good too. I'm not much of a hot tea drinker.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I don't drink tea, but my pants are getting thin ... What stage for clothing?

All kidding aside ... Once they start to grow, like I've seen on my one Chicago, how long before they are ready to harvest?

 

[jyoutz]

It was the Chicago Hardy fig. My ex-girlfriend's mom and I both ordered one and each died. Could have been a bad batch.

I’m thinking more like a lack of climate hardening off. Moving from a heated shop to cold spring ground and maybe some freezing nights would be a problem. You would be better off to winter it outside with the pot buried in straw or other mulch to protect the roots. Then the tree would be acclimated to plant in the spring.

 

[kenmbz]

I find my figs (6b here) to ripen based more on weather than time.
Two years ago, plenty of rain and warm, mid August harvest.
This year, the figs are still coming in and started around first of September.
I have had to water the tree this year, but it has stayed healthy looking all summer.
I also had to trim it back a lot from last years growth and will need to do the same this year, which seems to move the harvest date a bit.

 

[Runner]

Please forgive my ignorance but, what do you do with them? Do you eat them raw like an apple, or do they need to be cooked, then eaten, or are they used as an ingredient in baked goods? All/some of the above?

 

[ultrarunner]

Climates 10a and 10b are classified as Mediterranean and figs do well here with summer watering in the SF East Bay… (Photo from Aug 1)

Olympia is more 8a and and 8b with almost no production.

 

[ponytug]

Please forgive my ignorance but, what do you do with them? Do you eat them raw like an apple, or do they need to be cooked, then eaten, or are they used as an ingredient in baked goods? All/some of the above?

As a fresh fruit, added to salads or with cheese, baked, and yes there are recipes for cooked versions.

Like fresh dates vs dried dates, fresh figs are a very different flavor.

All the best, Peter