When Are Figs Ripe? 10 Should-Know Harvesting Ideas

Not like different sorts of fruit, figs don’t ripen nicely off the plant. So when are figs ripe and how will you inform when to choose the fruit? There are a number of clues to search for in order that you do not find yourself with both a tough, bland harvest or overly ripe, mushy fruit. Whether or not you develop figs in pots or outdoors within the backyard, these harvesting suggestions will show you how to decide figs on the good time for recent consuming, canning, freezing, or dehydrating.

Elements That Have an effect on When to Harvest Figs

The principle fig harvest season normally stretches from July to August. Nevertheless, several types of figs fruit at completely different instances of the yr, and a few fig varieties fruit greater than as soon as. Figs are divided into early-season, mid-season, and late-season varieties.

Early-season figs can fruit as early as Might, whereas late-season figs fruit in September. To complicate issues additional, some fig varieties produce an preliminary harvest early within the season on outdated wooden, referred to as a breba harvest, adopted by a second, primary harvest on new development in summer time or fall.

Climate patterns and plant care regimens can even have an effect on how figs ripen, and figs grown indoors can fruit in a different way than figs stored within the backyard or dwarf fig bushes. Contemplating how a lot fig harvest season can range, it’s normally finest to choose figs once they show certain indicators of ripeness and to not rely closely on the date when fig bushes are “supposed” to fruit.

Indicators Figs Are Prepared for Harvest

Fig bushes normally take three to 5 years to fruit after planting, so that you have to be affected person as you await your bounty of recent figs. As soon as the bushes start fruiting, search for these indicators to know when figs are ripe and able to decide:

• Deepening colour. Fig skins are inclined to develop into extra saturated in colour because the fruit approaches ripeness. Simply do not forget that several types of figs produce completely different coloured fruit, and figs can mature into shades of brown, purple, gold, and even yellowish-green when ripe.
• Comfortable flesh. Ripe figs must be barely gentle to the contact however not mushy. A very good rule of thumb is to choose figs once they’re about as gentle as a water balloon.
• Candy aroma. Your sense of scent can let you recognize that it’s time to choose figs. Ripe figs ought to scent sugary candy however not fermented.
• Drooping fruit. Figs that cling perpendicular to the plant stem are normally underripe, however when the fruit begins to droop on the stem, it’s time to start out choosing.
• Splitting skins with a little bit of juice. When ripe, fig skins could start to separate on the high of the fruit, and you might discover a drop or two of juice on the underside of your figs. If this happens, decide the figs straight away in order that they don’t develop into mushy.
• Falling fruit. Figs will generally fall off the plant once they’re ripe. Choose up windfallen fruit instantly so bugs don’t spoil it.

Ideas for Harvesting Figs

Figs are delicate and susceptible to bruising, in order that they have to be harvested and dealt with as gently as doable. Use these harvesting tricks to maintain your fruit in tip-top form and make choosing figs a bit simpler.

1. Shield the fruit from pests.

Shelter ripening figs with row covers or fruit safety luggage to guard them from hungry birds and different wildlife. If doable, keep away from utilizing hen netting, which might pose a tangle hazard for songbirds.

2. Put on gloves and lengthy sleeves.

It’s normally smart to maintain your pores and skin lined with gloves and lengthy sleeves when harvesting figs as a result of the plant’s sap can irritate pores and skin.

3. Deal with gently.

Figs bruise simply and must be dealt with as little as doable to restrict harm. If you happen to’re choosing numerous figs directly, keep away from stacking them on high of each other in piles, which might trigger bruising and make the fruit spoil rapidly.

4. Choose figs the suitable means.

Maintain a ripe fig in a single hand and the supporting tree department within the different hand, and gently elevate the fig upward to reap. Ripe figs ought to detach simply from the tree, whereas figs that resist harvesting would possibly want extra time to ripen.

5. Don’t pull down.

Flattening on figs could cause branches to interrupt and make the fruit cut up.

6. Keep away from rain.

If doable, harvest figs earlier than heavy rain. Rainfall could make harvesting tougher and spoil ripening fruit.

7. Skip the sap.

If fig stems start to ooze milky sap if you end up harvesting fruit, the figs are normally underripe. Let the fruit ripen a bit longer earlier than harvesting once more.

8. Harvest usually.

Figs don’t ripen suddenly. As a substitute, harvest figs little by little when the fruit begins to droop on the tree and the fig flesh is gentle to the contact.

9. Err on the facet of ripeness.

When unsure, it’s normally higher to reap figs which might be barely overripe reasonably than these which might be underripe.

10. Stop frost harm.

If frost threatens, you may harvest practically ripe figs and see if they’re going to ripen a little bit extra in your counter. To hurry up ripening, place the figs close to apples or bananas and maintain the figs out of direct daylight. This isn’t superb, however it’s higher than dropping your crop.

Storing Recent Figs

Figs must be loved as quickly as doable after harvesting as a result of they don’t final lengthy. Whereas figs style finest when stored at room temperature, you may retailer recent figs within the fridge in perforated containers with a paper towel for a number of days. For longer-term storage, protect recent figs by canning, freezing, or drying them.

• To can figs, harvest the fruits a little bit early when their flesh remains to be barely agency. Figs make tasty jams, jellies, and pickles.
• To freeze figs, rinse off your harvest and permit the figs to dry totally. Then, flash freeze the figs by inserting them in a single layer on a sheet pan and popping them into the freezer for an hour or two. When they’re frozen, transfer the figs into hermetic containers to stop freezer burn.
• To dry figs, lower them into halves or quarters and dry the figs in a meals dehydrator or enable them to air dry in a single layer in a sunny, protected spot. When they’re dry, retailer them in hermetic containers in your pantry, fridge, or freezer.