Is this fig ripe yet? Seems so, but isn't purple...

7 years ago

My fig tree grew one fig this year. It is a mission fig, so they are supposed to be purple. I left for a week and when I came back it has all the signs of being ripe but it isn't purple yet... it grew quite a bit in size, is drooped down to the branch, and is quite soft to the touch. It has some purple streaking but isn't all purple. It's a new baby tree so I'm okay with one fig but I want to make that one fig count!

Is it ripening or is it rotting or? I read that they shouldn't go so soft until they're fully ripe, amd this guy is really soft when it is gently squeezed. It's probably almost grew by 1/3 size while I was gone for the week.. It's Minnesota so it is getting cold at night and not warming up as much as probably wants, so I'm wondering if maybe, like citrus trees, it's possible to be ripe but not fully colored because of the temps? How long does it take once they start to color to get all colored? I'd love to eat the one fig I got but I don't want to pick it too soon or too late and ruin it, I've been waiting for this little fig forever!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

User
7 years ago
This strain of Mission,seem to be Texas strain.

It should become purple,but it is growing in shade mostly, and,it is in Minn.

Make sure it is really soft when you take it out, because it will never fully color in these climatic conditions.
kudzu9
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
There is always the possibility that the fig was misidentified. And, as you may know, there are many figs that are green in color. From the picture you showed it looks ripe or close to it to me. If it is really floppy/droopy, it should be ready. However, you can be a day or two early and that would make a huge difference in flavor....as I've learned to my regret. Figs don't ripen any more once they are picked, so good luck. Take a picture of the inside when you cut it open. That may also help us figure out if it really is a Black Mission fig.
Related Discussions
Has anyone got ripe tomatoes yet?
Q
Comments (26)
Had our first two Early Girls on July 1--from seedlings put out first week in April. I try a few plants early every year but it seems to make very little difference in the end. Soil is heavy and wet with clay and we often have mucho marine layer in April and May. Stupice has lots of green turning red. Brandywine is just beginning to set (also planted April 1--go figure). We don't have warm nights so we are not having the same problems regarding pollination as farther south. Most of my tomatoes are planted at a community garden site because I don't have six hours of sun at the home garden. The community garden soil has verm. wilt and fus. wilt and every other tomatoe blight you can think of. Even planting less flavorful "resistant" varieties does not give one a gorgeous tomato plant. So the real trick is the weather. Sunny weather means we get tomatoes before the decline of the plants. Marine layer means the blight takes over and there is a much reduced yield, if any, before plants becomes just a stalk with no leaves. On a postive note, I planted a Juliet, SF Fog, and Marianna's Peace two weeks ago in the home garden at Soltice--and already have green tomatoes on the Juliet. Sun and heat make a big difference in not very sunny Santa Barbara! Wishing you many very red tomatoes in the near future, Kristine
...See More
What makes figs fall off before they are ripe?
Q
Comments (3)
I woild gues that they dont just dissappear - they are either falling into the lawn or something is eating them. I wonder if the variety needs caprification? If so - then it has never borne ripe fruit. So asking if he has ever had fruit from the tree would solve that question (one fo rthe experts - would a spray with gibberrelic acid - blossom set - solve this problem? I beleive this is used for getting large seedless grapes and is in products for early tomatoes). If the fruits are falling off, the link below has some causes of fruit failure. If something is eating them, certainly dogs or cats could help. Also, bird netting (they have it at local garden centers here - probably in your area as well). I suppose that the branch tying could have a role but unless someone else does that, there isnt likely to be an answer. The tree could be in the shade. It might be getting too much nitrogen. If he is an avid gardener, he might be overfeeding it or the lawn around it. Hoipefully these suggestions will help & others may also have more. Best wishes Daniel Here is a link that might be useful: page down - causes of fruit failure in figs.
...See More
No Ripe Figs
Q
Comments (20)
i wouldn't thin figs bcs fig tree branches don't break down under heavy crop. don't worry about energy provision if your figs are not planted in containers, otherwise add some cow manure or any other manure and you will be fine for container grown figs. prune and/or pinch your fig trees to shape your fig trees. *****let mother nature to do the selection, you should if you want to just to remove shriveled/sick figs. PLEASE, don't think if your tree is very young that you should remove figs bcs it's too young to handle fruit. don't worry about it. if they produce it, it means they can handle it. All of us go through the learning process and all of us will be fine after some time, give yourself some years to taste it. don't act to fast, take it easy and you will be OK. that is my experience and I have a very, very good crop.
...See More
New Jersey Fig trees,will produce ripe fruits,only if ....
Q
Comments (56)
I live near Haddonfield, in Camden county, NJ and am trying my hand at growing figs for the first time this year. I got one tree (variety unknown - maybe Celeste?) at a local farmer's market last September. Per instructions I left it outside 'til the leaves fell and then wintered it over in the basement - but it started growing! Anxious to get it in the ground I made the mistake of planting it in the side yard (western exposure) in early April. We'd had some quite warm weather that fooled me into thinking spring had come early. It had not. The tree suffered terribly in a windstorm with sustained winds over 40 mph and the snow that hit a week later. losing all its leaves and killing the growing tips of all the shoots. The good news is that the tree sprouted new shoots from four of the five "trunks". It is now doing just fine and enjoying a bit of a growth spurt, although I'll be surprised if it yields any fruit this season. Today I purchased a second fig tree. This one is a Hardy Chicago from Lowe's. I put it into a 12" plastic pot where it will stay for at least the first year or so. I plan on bringing this one into my enclosed but unheated porch next winter. A friend and neighbor also has a fig tree of unknown variety that has survived one winter outdoors. I'll try and get a cutting or two from her to plant next year. I look forward to seeing which one performs best for me.
...See More
Don Sanders
7 years ago
Color isn't a good indicator of ripeness. It looks like it is to the edible bland stage. I'd give it longer and make sure it is really soft like already suggested to maximize the flavor. Of course different people like different stages of ripeness.
cfox248
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Okay, so I gave it two more days. It purpled up about halfway before I decided it was too dangerous to leave it any longer - it was REALLY soft and starting to split at the bottom. Soft enough that I was afraid of holding it too hard, I felt like my fingers would go right through! I do bet I could have given it even one more day and it would have finished purpling but I didn't want to push it.

It tasted good! The purple part was of course sweeter, but the whole thing tasted good. I've never tried a fig before so I'm not sure what it's supposed to taste like but I count it as a succes. Here is a pic of it before and after I cut it open!
User
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Yes,it is positively the Texas strain of Mission.

I had one,and it was very difficult to ripe properly,even here in
zone 6 B,so,i would recommend ,if you really want to enjoy this heavenly
fruit to get a cultivar that does not require so much heat to ripe,like
;

Ronde de Bordeaux

Adriatic JH
,

Malta Black

Here was my Texas Mission! Below
kudzu9
7 years ago
cfox-

Congrats. Looks like you picked it at just about the right time, and glad you liked it. I never had anything but dried figs until I was about 30 years old and took a trip to Paris. I bought a package of fresh figs at the market out of curiosity and was instantly hooked. If you see any in your local stores, you should buy some. There are many different figs and there is quite a range in how they taste. They're all good...just different :-)

Is this fig ripe yet? Seems so, but isn't purple...

Comments (6)

User

kudzu9

Related Discussions

Don Sanders

cfox248
Original Author

User

kudzu9

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Is this fig ripe yet? Seems so, but isn't purple...

Comments (6)

User

kudzu9

Related Discussions

Don Sanders

cfox248Original Author

User

kudzu9

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

cfox248
Original Author