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1. When Are Figs Ripe To Pick
2. When To Pick Black Jack Figs

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• Thanks for your opinion, grasshopper. Right now my Black Jack is winning in terms of having figs on it, too. I have 5 gallon pots with a Black Mission, a VDB, and another Joe's Jersey but space in the yard is getting tight & I don't want to plant a tree that doesn't justify the space it will need to grow.
• Just like Christine's note, my Black Jack fig has lots of ants getting into the figs. But I find the ants are not as active in the mid-afternoon! I have also decided that figs are best harvested between 3-4 pm for Phoenix weather, the flavor is way better compared to the ones harvested in the morning.
• In the U.S., Figs typically peak from July through first frost in the South, and from August and later in the North. Usually the trees produce a crop within a month, and then nothing for several months, so check your local farm to find out when they'll be in season.

• 1 Tell When a Fig Is Ripe Enough to Pick?
• 2 The Harvest Time for a Panache Fig
• 3 When to Prune a Black Mission Fig
• 4 When Does Satsuma Fruit Ripen?

Dwarf fig trees (Ficus carica) grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, even though figs will produce fruit in colder climates if grown with winter protection. Fig trees are considered borderline temperate fruit trees because they have a low chilling time of less than 300 hours of temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit in order to bear fruit. Dwarf fig trees grow well in containers and in areas with limited space.

Native to Spain, the black mission fig tree is one of the most commonly grown fig trees, producing purplish-black, pear shaped fruits with pinkish-red flesh. Black mission figs grow and ripen during the late summer and early fall. These fig trees grow best in warmer climates, recommended for USDA Hardiness Zones 7.

Where Do Dwarf Fig Trees Come From?

Fig trees originate from western Asia where hot, dry summers and cool, mild winters occur. By 5,000 B.C., this fruit tree was distributed throughout the Mediterranean area by traders. The fruit is common in the Middle East as well. Some wild varieties tend to grow slowly and stay short naturally. Plant hybridizers have taken advantage of this tendency and developed dwarf forms that still produce full-sized figs.

How Large Will My Dwarf Fig Get?

Fig trees grow to a variety of heights depending on the type. Many dwarf fig trees reach up to 10 feet tall and wide like the “Celestial” fig tree (Ficus carica “Celestial”). This dwarf fig grows well in USDA zones 7 through 11, producing small sweet figs, which ripen in the middle of June. Semi-dwarf trees like “Black Jack” fig trees (Ficus carica “Black Jack”), in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 9, reach up to 15 feet, but they produce well when kept at 6 feet tall by annual pruning. Standard trees like “Brown Turkey” fig trees (Ficus carica “Brown Turkey”) grow to 25 feet tall and wide in USDA zones 7 through 9.

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Do I Need to Prune My Dwarf Fig Tree?

Dwarf fig trees require pruning only when they are young and need shaping. Take only a little of the growth off a few of the branches each year until the tree is the desired shape. Heavy pruning contributes to fruit loss since figs develop on last year’s growth. If heavy pruning is needed, cut only half the branches the first summer and trim the other half of the branches the next summer. Always whitewash the tree if severely pruned. This prevents damage from exposure from the hot summer sun. After the first crop of figs of the year, remove dead and broken branches.

When Do I Pick Figs From My Dwarf Fig Tree?

Several varieties of dwarf fig trees produce two crops of figs a year. The spring crop matures anywhere from late spring to mid-summer. The second, or main crop, ripens in the late summer or early fall. Look for fruits that are beginning to bend at the neck and whose skin is slightly soft to the touch. Many varieties change color and develop cracks in the skin when ripe. Do not pick the figs when they are still immature. Figs do not ripen after picking like tomatoes do. Fresh figs keep only two to three days in the refrigerator, while dried figs store up to eight months.

About the Author

Karen Carter spent three years as a technology specialist in the public school system and her writing has appeared in the 'Willapa Harbor Herald' and the 'Rogue College Byline.' She has an Associate of Arts from Rogue Community College with a certificate in computer information systems.

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Fig trees (Ficus carica), hardy in USDA zones 6 through 11, grow well in areas that provide eight hours of daily sun and moderate winters. Once a fig tree reaches maturity, it can be expected to produce fruit once to twice per year and can continue to fruit for decades. Young figs do not fruit their first year, and can take a long time to bear. Several environmental factors can also affect when a fig tree produces fruit. Fig trees are considered invasive in some locations.

Time to First Crop

Fruiting fig trees have a long juvenile period compared to other fruit trees. Most figs will not produce a crop for the first four to five years, notes Rutgers University. If the fig is severely injured by over-pruning or an unusual frost, it may take longer to fruit for the first time.

Crops Per Year

Fig trees produce two crops every year, but only one of them may be edible. The first crop, called the breba crop, occurs relatively early in the year on the previous year's growth. These fruits are frequently small, acidic and inferior in texture, but may be useful for preservation. The second crop occurs later in the year on the current year's growth and these figs should be edible. Caprifigs, a variation of the common fig that can be used to pollinate some varieties, produce no edible fruit in either crop.

Harvest Time

The exact timing of the main crop depends on your climate and conditions. For example, growers in cooler coastal areas usually harvest their figs during October and November. For warmer and inland climates, the usual harvest time is between June and September. In some tropical locations, fig trees may bear some fruit throughout the year, with increased production in early summer and midwinter.

Environmental Considerations

Even healthy, mature fig trees may not bear fruit on schedule if the right environmental conditions are missing. Figs may not pollinate properly in hot, dry weather. This can cause a poor crop or no fruit at all. You may also have problems with figs if you over-prune during the winter or if you prune improperly. Figs that suffer from root knot nematodes may also have trouble fruiting correctly.

Fruit Drop

In some cases, a young, healthy fig tree undergoes proper pollination and fruit set, then drops all its fruit suddenly. This phenomenon is usually caused by overfeeding. Stop fertilizing the plant immediately. It may take three to four years for the fig to recover from over-fertilization and produce a crop that ripens and stays on the tree. Figs grown in the ground only require an application of fertilizer in spring, while container grown figs require an application in summer. Some fig varieties, including “Celeste,” drop fruit in hot weather regardless of their fertilizer regimen.

About the Author

G.D. Palmer is a freelance writer and illustrator living in Milwaukee, Wis. She has been producing print and Web content for various organizations since 1998 and has been freelancing full-time since 2007. Palmer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in writing and studio art from Beloit College in Beloit, Wis.

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When Are Figs Ripe To Pick

When To Pick Black Jack Figs