Unripe figs can be rubbery, dry, and lack sweetness. The most effective way to tell your figs are unripe is to eat one before its peak. Ripe figs are delightfully rich and sweet with a soft, smooth texture when they are fresh from the tree. This is because the ripening process has not yet taken place, and the juices and sugars that are produced as the fruit ripens are not fully present. TouchĪ ripe fig will be soft to the touch when gently squeezed.
It may also be too cold to encourage ripening, especially later in the season and in cool climates. *If the fruit does not grow in size, the tree may be overbearing (consider thinning out some fruit to reduce the load) or it may be lacking sufficient water. The mature size depends on the variety you are growing, but the figs will all increase in size as they begin to mature and ripen on the tree. As the fruit matures on the tree, it will also grow in size*. As it ripens and softens, the fig will bend at the stalk where it is attached to the tree. Young, firm figs tend to stand out and away from the tree.
This is true for figs regardless of mature color. The fruit itself will hang in a droopy way on the tree as it ripens. In the case of certain fig varieties, like Kadota and LSU Gold, the fruit's mature color is still greenish – so how do you rely on sight if the fig's color doesn't noticeably change? Read on! For varieties like Brown Turkey, Chicago Hardy, Celeste, and LSU Purple, the color will change from green to brown or purple as the fruit ripens. Young, immature and unripe figs tend to be small and green in hue. One of the first signs your figs are becoming ripe is their change in color. 3 Ways to Identify Ripe Figs Sight Go by the color. » If birds and other critters keep you from harvesting your ripe figs, consider applying garden netting to protect the fruit.
Use these tips and your senses to know when your figs are ripe and ready to harvest. If you have asked yourself, "When are figs ripe?", then follow these three tips to identify ripe figs on your trees and enjoy fresh figs at their peak.Ĭommon figs are fruits that are enjoyed fresh or dried, and they are easy to grow.