Is my fig ripe?

[thenewaveragebear1983]

My beautiful fig tree has been slowly growing this baby, it was rock hard and green for ages and I thought it would never ripen, however this week it had started to go purple. I'm worried I will miss it's perfect ripe day, or that I will pick too early. It's soft to touch now, like a ripe peach in density. Online it said it would droop when it's ready, but no sign of that yet.

Is she ripe?? How can I tell for sure?

Wow where do you live? Mine stay rock hard and green then just fall off.

Worcestershire

Im in Norfolk with a fig tree...mine stay rock hard and green too.

Yes that looks ripe but you could try squeezing it a bit, there should be a bit of give. I can't believe how ripe they are already. Our figs do ripen to that stage but they are not anything like it yet. We're a long way south of you too.

It's got a fair bit of give. Ooooh maybe tomorrow??
It's in a pot and I brought it in over the winter which meant the fig developed possibly earlier? It has certainly been there for several months ripening away. I never thought it would fruit. There's now four teeny weeny babies which I'm guessing is late to have new growth if all yours are big but still green?

I understand from Monty Don that there are always three stages of fig growth at any one time so in November you need to remove all the pea sized ones and leave the rest. If you have enough gigs try the Jamie Oliver's sexy fig salad. Or if it's just one enjoy it yourself 😀

@thedogsmother oh that's interesting, I should read up about it really... I'm not much of a gardener, can you tell??

There is only one...and it's MINE! That's why I am so concerned that I miss the perfect day to pick it!

Lucky you ! Yes if it 'gives' a bit, pick it, and eat it the fresh ones don't last very long at all once they're picked.

If yours is under cover the babies will probably grow more too, they grow all year round like lemons

Fun fact for you, figs have dead wasps inside them. Enjoy!

www.treehugger.com/are-there-really-wasps-your-figs-4868822

I don't think the fig wasp lives in the UK, varieties that fruit here are self-fertile.

They are very tiny little wasps and the fig need the wasps to pollinate them! I live on figs they are very good for us!

the fig need the wasps to pollinate them Not the Uk varieties - they're self fertile. The fig wasp doesn't live here, so it's a good job our figs don't need the wasp. I was given a Portuguese "honey drop" fig, but I've come to the conclusion it needs the wasps - after 10 years, lots of figs developing, but none to full size.

I don't pick until the neck goes soft and the fig hangs down. They don't continue to ripen once you've picked, so it's important not to pick them under-ripe. Mine don't ripen until August, so I think you're safe to leave that one. They're not like avocados - they don't suddenly become over-ripe. So I'd strongly advise against picking that one at the moment.

If it doesn't taste rich and sugary (with far more taste than the supermarket ones) then you've picked it too early.

he fresh ones don't last very long at all once they're picked. but they do last on the tree, so better to be sure it's ripe than to pick too soon.

I've had "Brown Turkey" figs for about 20 years, and am now getting up to 200 figs a year.

We've had one ripe fig so far :)

not yet.
it will bend down like a drop and shrivel dlightly if it does.

Mere That's interesting about the English ones being self fertile, I suppose it also applies to mid western Fr. and could be the reason why the 2 trees I lovingly bought and nursed didn't last more than one or 2 seasons and had just little green bullets !

Now I've tasted the Spanish small 'teardrop" shaped figs which are covered in natural sugar, I don't want any others, they're like a different species to them . They are divine Probably with wasps

Thanks for all your advice, the fig is still quite 'sturdy' on its stalk (no droopage) so I will leave it a few more days then.

Oh this reminds me of the fig tree that we used to eat from outside my dad's childhood home in Italy. They had ripened fruit for picking twice a year usually in late July/early August and then again in September. I was never there in September as a child so can't say if one was better than the other though.

. I want a fig now

so I will leave it a few more days then. Whew! I was so afraid you were going to pick it prematurely and not have it at its best.

I picked 4 ripe figs from our trees today - the first of the year. We have two large fig trees in our garden in London. They are in an extremely sunny spot. The last few years, we have had figs grow early in hot spells, then not get big enough before a cold snap, and all drop off. Then the next lot grow and never get fully ripe before summer ends. This is the first year in ages that the weather conditions have been perfect. We have two full trees and I am so excited! The ones we picked today were delicious.

@MereDintofPandiculation plus, I need to get some nice cheese. And possibly oatcakes.

Update: I ate the fig with a nice bit of cheese on Saturday and it was perfect 👌
Thanks for all your helpful advice!