Probably due to stress of some sort. Might be insufficient water, excessive or gyrating temps, etc. We had a freak day at 105 here in San Diego 2-1/2 weeks ago, but some trees (figs, and many others) showed immediate signs of stress, and others didn't fully show the effects for a couple weeks, so when you see the affects, it might not be related to the conditions present at the time you see the affects.

I've been mining this site for information on early ripening and reliable breba producing figs. It's just great. Gardeners in general seem to be nice people, but fig folk are just plain wonderful.
I got my first fig in the early '80s, a generic "fig tree" from a discount store. And like a lot of you here, tried to find out what to do next. I already belonged to the North American Fruit Explorers and I found another group, The Friends of the Fig Society, which I joined about a year before they folded into NAFEX. By this time one fig wasn't enough - I was infected with Fig Mania - and tried to find more figs that would do well in this area. Unfortunately, I had a major change of circumstance in the early '90s and gave most of my figs away.
During the ten year period that I was growing figs, I got a great deal of help from other fig folk (some things never change). Cuttings, advice, information were always available for the asking; though we generally communicated by snail mail and it could be slow going.
There were many kind and generous folk who helped me out, but it was an exchange with one particular gentleman that is the heart of this post. He is the original "Fignut", Mr. Paul M. Starnes of Newnan, GA. Mr. Starnes was in his late 70s when I made his aquaintance, and had been growing figs from the time he was 12 years old. Mr. Starnes knew figs.
He verified the identity of my mystery fig - it was a Celeste. That tree gave me the most figs of all the fig trees that I had, and when it suddenly dropped a whole crop for no apparent reason, I ran to the phone and called Mr. Starnes in Georgia.
He told me that it wasn't something terrible - Celeste did that under drought conditions. I said it must be something else, since I had watered that tree religiously - it had never dried out. He responded that it didn't make any difference if I had watered it. When it gets hot and dry, Celeste drops figs.
Well, I didn't doubt him, but I sure didn't understand it. In the years since I've realized that it's more complex than just having water. Even well watered plants are stressed during a dry spell. They seem to hunker down and go into a holding pattern. The plants seem to know they are in a drought situation.
It's been a long time and I don't remember the duration, but my Celeste dropped figs twice, both times during dry spells. That isn't enough times to tell you Mr. Starnes was absolutely correct. But it sure supports what he said, and if I were a betting person, I'd have a bundle down on him being right.
How about it - is this a fit for anyone else's experience?

Fignut
Thank you for blending very good infomation about Celeste fruit dropping with the beautiful story of your old friend. Both parts are very interesting.

I'm in real estate.
After visiting plenty of abandoned houses with unwatered fig trees in their yards producing fruit, I figured this plant is a "can't lose" for my area.
I planted a Mission and it's grown in a few years, higher than the 1st story roof of the house.
It drops figs every year - both fruiting periods - when they're just slightly bigger than my thumb nail.
I've done the water thing, I've given it more potash - nothing. Same result. Do I need a pollinator or do I need to augment the soil?

never had any luck with Celeste,not sure why it always dropped its figs for me.Did try cuttings from different sources and also one from Miller nurseries.I belive my last Celeste come to me as a cutting from a gentelman fromR.I.It only produced two ripe figs for ,the taste was good ,but i decided to get rid of this fig.Would like to know if some people in the northeast have any luck with this fig.Ciao,Giuseppe

Hi All:I would say,dropping fruits is in the genes of that particular cultivar and thre is nothing you can do to stop it.
The only thing you can do is look for another cultivar wich will not drop fruits and you will be Happy.
Celeste have strains too:Some will drop a lot of fruits some only a few at the begining of August and Possible there is one that drop none.
I am reaserching this subjiect myself as we speak.
I think I found a Celeste Cultivar that doesn't drop,but need to grow it a few more years to make sure .
This year the third yr, of its life it had about 20 figs and did not drop one.
Last year the second year it had 4 figs and it droped 2,and ripe 2.
Also I have another 3 Different cultivars, that drop only about a forth of the figs at the begining of August,with plenty getting ripe.
I also had Megaceleste wich doesn't drop but get sour when rain,and Home Depot Celeste wich grow fast and drops bad.
I discarded the last 2.
Happy Gardening