Figs are Ripening (2025)

FAQs

Can you pick figs green and let them ripen? ›

One hard fact about figs is, unfortunately, green figs will not ripen off the tree. However, fruit picked just before full ripeness will continue to soften and become sweeter when they are stored at room temperature in a dry location, such as a pantry.

Figs not ripening? Be patient, it can take figs up to two months from fruit formation to reach optimal ripeness. Fig plants have a long juvenile period before producing fruit, as long as 2 to 6 years from planting. So, time may be all that is required.

Factors that Influence Fig Ripening

Soil Temperature: This is the most critical factor. The soil temperature controls our tree's metabolism. If the soil is cold around 30-50F, our trees will grow slowly and ripen their figs slowly. Instead of an average of 90 days to a ripe fig, it may take 120 or 150 in cooler soils.

What months are best for figs? Figs typically have two main cropping seasons. The “breba” crop ripens in late spring to early summer, while the main crop matures from late summer to early fall. However, the exact months can vary based on the region and fig variety.

Basically, a fig which has already started the ripening process will continue to ripen even off the tree, so a fig which is soft and full, but not as sweet and juicy as you might hope, will become riper if you leave it on your counter for a few days.

Wait until the figs are ripe to harvest. Figs will not continue to ripen after they are picked like many other fruits. You can tell that it is time for harvesting figs when the fruit necks wilt and the fruits hang down. If you pick a fig fruit too early, it will taste horrible; ripe fruit is sweet and delicious.

In a climate such as the UK's, where figs don't often ripen fully, it's good to know that this glorious fruit doesn't have to go to waste. Green figs preserved in syrup, or vye konfyt, as they're called in South Africa, can be enjoyed on cheeseboards, pancakes and other desserts, or even eaten straight from the jar.

Any kind of oil will work, but olive oil sounds like a magic, natural, treatment. The point is that when the fig is just beginning to ripen, it produces a small amount of ethylene gas but much of that goes out through the open eye. If you cover the eye with oil the gas stays in and ripens the fig very quickly.

If your figs are not getting ripe, pests and disease can also be the problem. While a fig tree is under attack from a pest or disease, it must divert its energy from ripening its fruit to protecting itself. The fig fruit will stay green longer if the fig tree is battling pests and disease.

A ripe fig will be soft to the touch when gently squeezed. Unripe figs are still firm.

Can you ripen figs in a paper bag? ›

They state that figs that have begun to ripen can be fully ripened by enclosing the figs in a bag with a banana (or other fruit that gives off ethylene gas, like apples). They also provide an interesting recipe for those figs that refuse to ripen.

Preparation. Fresh figs are usually eaten raw. They taste best eaten straight off the tree, ideally still warm from the sun. The entire fig is edible, from the thin skin to the red or purplish flesh and the myriad tiny seeds, but they can be peeled if you wish.

In a climate such as the UK's, where figs don't often ripen fully, it's good to know that this glorious fruit doesn't have to go to waste. Green figs preserved in syrup, or vye konfyt, as they're called in South Africa, can be enjoyed on cheeseboards, pancakes and other desserts, or even eaten straight from the jar.

Why are there lots of unripe figs at the end of summer? These are probably figs that formed on the current season's growth and they seldom ripen outdoors in the UK. They should be removed in autumn. Only figs that grew from the overwintered pea-size embryos will ripen outdoors.

The best way to enjoy figs is raw, with the skin and seeds intact. You can also remove the peels and scoop out the seeds, if you like, or cook figs by baking, broiling or grilling them. But, the quickest and easiest way to enjoy these gems is by removing the stem and taking a bite right out of the raw fig.

Hi Pam, figs have a very superficial fibrous root system and so are very susceptible to stress caused by drought, which is the most likely cause of the fruit drop, a lack of consistent watering throughout the growing season. Mulching around the tree in spring is good, the bark should help conserve soil moisture.