There’s nothing like a fresh ripe fig and there’s nothing like a fresh unripe fig. Ripe delivers a juicy, succulent and melting gem to fawn over. Unripe tastes like a wasted opportunity: dry, starchy and flavorless. It’s good to know the difference.
Here’s my photo guide to knowing when to pick your homegrown figs. Figs can be green, brown, golden, striped or purple. Ripeness has less to do with color and more with how they’re hanging. (Behave.) Varieties above are Negronne (a.k.a. Violette du Bordeaux) and Dessert King and photos below show Peter’s Honey Fig.
How-To: Knowing the Right Time to Pick a Fig
Fig 1. (above) Not ripe: the fig is too firm and still perpendicular to the stem.
Figs 2. Getting riper: the fig gives a bit with touch, skin becomes more translucent, fruit starts to bend and plump up.
Fig 3. Not ready yet, but a heavier softer fruit moves closer to the stem, skin shows wrinkling
Fig 4. Gravity wins and the fig is ripe and ready, no longer able to support its weight. Note the dewy skin and slight tear in the fruit; it can barely hold its sugary contents at this point. (Time to grab the snips and go crazy!)
Fig 5. (Update) I spoke to too soon; this perfectly ripe fig cannot hold its nectar. If you don’t pick it now, the birds will not offer you a second chance.
Here’s my favorite fig recipe.
49 responses so far ↓
1 Colloquial Cook // Aug 14, 2009 at 6:46 am
Beautiful figs
Clearly your figtree is very cooperative, lucky you. If you get as far as making Christine’s dry/frsh fig jam, please share your impressions! Can I add your blog to my blogroll? Je t’embrasse
Claire
2 Tom // Aug 14, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Hi Claire, but of course — thanks for the kinds words and fig recipe tip. So glad I found your site!
3 Randy // Aug 16, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Great post — although I was expecting to see little fig newtons growing right before my eyes…I really enjoyed catching up this week.
All the best…Randy
4 Tom // Aug 16, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Randy, fig newton trees are really difficult to grow in this area; just when they are ready to harvest the rains come and you have one soggy cookie.
5 Milena // Aug 31, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Can you tell me what variety of fig you have in the photograph for this tip.
6 Tom // Aug 31, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Milena, it’s a Peter’s Honey fig in the photos above. (I’ll update the post, thanks!)
7 Libby White // Jan 24, 2010 at 5:58 am
Thank you for your descriptive photo essay. I was wondering about my figs. Now I will know when to pick them (prefferably before the birds do)
8 tom | tall clover farm // Jan 24, 2010 at 6:36 am
And Libby if it looks like the birds are zeroing in on the figs, cut up pieces of foil and tent the top of the figs around the stem and that seems to deter them, and there’s always bird netting, too. Good luck.
9 Suzie // Aug 2, 2010 at 1:09 am
I’d like to discourage you from using bird netting unless you are in a colder climate. We’ve lost two western coachwhips this year in ours and are taking it all down – it traps beneficial snakes and kills them very slowly.
10 Tom // Aug 2, 2010 at 2:48 am
Susie, thanks for bringing that to light. I don’t use bird netting, so I guess I shouldn’t recommend it. Thanks for the heads-up.
11 amy russell // Sep 17, 2010 at 10:09 pm
i was wondering if there was a way to help the figs make it to the final stage to pick through the last wet rainy period. My figs are very nice sized and now the rains are closing in…Do the need some kind of cover or whatever?
12 Tom // Sep 17, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Hi Amy, there’s not much you can do at this point. Figs are a little tougher than cherries and tomatoes which usually have skin splitting with heavy rains, but ripening all boils down to a little more sunshine and a little more warmth to get them to that state. Unfortunately, figs don’t ripen off the tree. Pretty much what you pick is what you get, even days later. Keep your fingers crossed for a clearing trend and few weeks of sun.
13 Melissa Glass // Apr 20, 2011 at 9:17 am
I live in Arizona… How long does it usually take to ripen? What time of year? Your blog was very helpful… Thanks
14 Tom // Apr 21, 2011 at 8:14 am
Hi Melissa, my figs ripen between August and September. I suspect they would ripen earlier in Arizona, most likely June or July, but they are water hogs, just in case conservation is a consideration in your area. Full service nurseries and local ag extension offices are good sources for what varieties will do well in your climate. GardenWeb.com is also a good place to do a search for “Arizona fig growing” and see what gardeners in your area are doing. Good Luck and thanks for visiting!
15 Dwayne // Apr 22, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Dude! Thanks for the photo guide. I have been so confused on the fig growing and ripening process so this hits the mark for me. Thanks for the info!
16 Tom // Apr 22, 2011 at 8:34 pm
Good to hear Dwayne — happy growing!
17 Catherine C // May 10, 2011 at 9:06 pm
I just read something about putting olive oil on the bottom of the fig to hasten ripening. Which picture above is the right time? I am a bit impatient – I brought back a cutting from my uncle’s farm in Italy 5 years ago and this is the first year the fruit actually looks like it will ripen. BTW I like in Phoenix, AZ so it doesn’t freeze in the winter. And yes it is well watered.
18 Catherine C // May 10, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Hi Tom – just saw your answer to Melissa so I now know when. Still want to know about the olive oil.
19 Tom // May 11, 2011 at 6:20 am
Catherine, I don’t know anything about the olive oil solution. Wow, those crazy ancients could teach us a thing or two. My suggestion is to just wait for them ripen naturally since you live in AZ where the sun actually shines.
If you wish to proceed with the olive oil technique, I did find this info: http://www.plantanswers.com/garden_column/july02/2.htm
Good luck!
20 Baked Fig Bites « Let There Be Food! // Jun 17, 2011 at 7:15 am
[...] from getting them and leaves them on the counter to ripen. That’s how she rolls. I found this website to have helpful progression pictures of figs as they ripen. You should check it out! See how the [...]
21 Fishtail Cottage // Jun 19, 2011 at 9:46 am
Thanks so much for linking up to Cottage Flora Thursday’s! Thanks for all the great info. about the figs! xoxo, tracie
22 Tewrobert // Jun 30, 2011 at 11:20 am
I am in South Alabama and I have just got done picking probably less than a 4th of the figs on my tree. Still a lot to pick but some are still plain green and sticking upright..I wanted to beat the Birds to them but I sure dont want to kill any birds either so I guess its gonna be early bird gets the worm ( aka Fig )
I will be doing a bunch of cuttings this year, I only did about a half doxen and gave them to my neighbors but I am stocking up for the next year
Now I gotta figure out how to make some fig jam etc
23 Tom // Jun 30, 2011 at 12:54 pm
Tewrobert, fig jam is pretty easy, just figs, sugar and lemon juice and reduce with a simmer until thick — tah, dah – done!
As for the birds, try covering the trees with a row cover fabric, or sections of tree. It’s a white gauze-like fabric that neither birds nor snakes get stuck in, and it’s opaque too. That might help you get a few more figs.
Tom recently posted..Garden Tour…or Where the Grass Was Greener
24 barbara doss // Jul 19, 2011 at 3:23 pm
How do I know when my sundried figs are ready to be stored without mildewing
25 Tom // Jul 19, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Hi Barbara, most commercial dried figs have preservatives. For homemade dried figs, I’d just vacuum pack or freeze them in a zip lock bag to keep them longer. They are ready when no ooze or dripping juices, but are moist and tacky to the touch.
Tom recently posted..MacGyver Mom Takes On Mutant Alien Deer
26 Fishtail Cottage // Jul 22, 2011 at 5:12 pm
Always love coming by to see your posts…so informative! Thanks for linking up to Cottage Flora Thursday’s! xoxo, tracie
Fishtail Cottage recently posted..Welcome to Cottage Flora Thursday’s #28
27 Joseph in Vegas // Jul 30, 2011 at 1:49 pm
These comments were very informative. I have one young fig tree and it had about 8 purple figs that the birds were starting to peck. I panicked and picked them yesterday but I don’t know if they are ripe. I will try one today. I do still have about 10 green figs and I will take your advice and wait until they hang on the tree before picking and hopefully beat the birds to the punch. Thanks!
28 Teresa // Aug 1, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Thanks so much for the pictures of ripening Desert King figs! It was perfect for an inexperienced gardener and proud brand-new (just picked it up today!) Desert King fig tree owner. My baby has two figs on it already!
29 Tom // Aug 4, 2011 at 5:33 am
Go Teresa, Desert King is a great choice for an easy to grow, not to fussy fig tree! Enjoy.
30 Bill // Aug 25, 2011 at 10:43 am
Tom, do figs only grow off the main stem?That’s the way mine grow and I have only four figs. My tree is about 3 feet tall (5 years old) I keep it in a large planter
and bring it out of the weather in the early winter. Any ideas about growing bigger would help. I live in southwestern Michigan 5 miles east of Lake Michigan,
Thanks
31 Tom // Aug 27, 2011 at 8:43 am
Bill figs usually produce their biggest crop on the fig wood of last season’s growth. In your climate that may be killed in the winter and leave you with few figs. My grandfather in Indiana would wrap his fig tree with burlap and fill the base with dried leaves during the winter. What I would recommend is planting another variety, Chicago Hardy fig. It’s suppose to produce ripe figs on new growth. So if it dies to the ground, the new growth of the current season will still produce figs. Here’s link to a forum thread about that variety: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fig/msg0209133413555.html
Good Luck! Tom
32 Mary Harrison // Sep 1, 2011 at 7:07 am
Do I prune my fig tree and if yes, when?
33 Tom // Sep 1, 2011 at 7:34 am
Hi Mary, figs are a little tricky when pruning because next year’s figs are on this years growth. The good news is figs are easy to prune and usually don’t need a ton of maintenance.
So here’s what I’d do
1. Prune out any dead branches
2. Prune out any cross branching, to create openness
3. Tip prune any top, crazy long branches to encourage multiply branching
4. And prune height if you wish to maintain a certain vertical height.
I would wait until the trees are leafless and dormant in late fall, winter or early spring before budding out. Good luck!
Tom recently posted..Preserving Tips: How to Thicken Jam
34 Recipe Index: Eileen Bakes Up a Fine Idea // Sep 1, 2011 at 11:00 am
[...] How to Know When a Fig Is Ripe and … [...]
35 Howie // Sep 4, 2011 at 6:40 am
How do I keep the ants off of the figs without using pesticides? If I wait until they are fully ripe, the ants find their way to the nectar and I lose the figs. I live on Long Island , New York. Thanks for the great pictures.
36 Tom // Sep 4, 2011 at 7:11 am
Hi Howie, Here’s how I deal with ants on figs and other fruit trees without using pesticides.
I use a product called tanglefoot, a super gooey substance that ants and other crawling insects can’t walk over without getting stuck. So far they have not learned how to build stick bridges.
How to apply
1. Get an old paper bag, cut into strips and wrap one 4-inch strip around the trunk and tape in place. Spread tanglefoot on it covering the surface.
2. Don’t put it directly on the tree trunk, makes a mess and I found the bark gets sunburned, blistered and damaged on hot days.
3. Make sure your ants can’t get to the tree from another route, like branches from another tree.
That should keep them off.
Good luck!
Tom
37 Harold // Sep 5, 2011 at 9:13 pm
Thank you for sharing this, I do have a question though, what do I do with figs that aren’t rip? I don’t have a fig tree therefore I buy them at my local market but they only have them unripe,Green on the outside and white inside and they are milky and sticky when cut open. Is there any way to still get them ripe and sweet?
38 Tom // Sep 6, 2011 at 6:31 am
Harold, figs don’t ripen off the tree, unfortunately. So any figs picked firm or unripe will not ripen at home. A fig should really be soft; while it may not look its best, it will taste so much better.
39 Rappahannock Cook & Kitchen Gardener » I Do Give A Fig! // Sep 9, 2011 at 7:22 am
[...] not sure when the figs are ready to pick, check out this very detail photo illustrated post “How to Know When a Fig Is Ripe and Ready to Pick” from Tall Clover Farm. The only thing to remember is that your fig – when ripe – may be [...]
40 Chiot's Run // Sep 13, 2011 at 2:50 am
Thanks so much for this information photo series about figs. This is the first year my fig tree is producing and I figured I had a few ripe figs but wanted to make sure so as not to waste and of the precious few fruit I have. Great info, much appreciated!
41 vancouver island // Sep 16, 2011 at 10:41 am
after halfhour surfing with my question “can figs be too ripe”, your photos and text gave me a very satisfying answer. Thank you! Mine are the same kind as yours and drooping and dripping just like that. It’s my tree’s second year in my yard, and my first real crop……12 figs
42 Tom // Sep 16, 2011 at 11:14 am
Congrats VI on the bumper crop. And really figs can’t be too ripe, but it becomes a textural issue for some eaters. I like them really ripe for fresh eating and a little less ripe for salads, or broiling with bacon and goat cheese.
43 Nancy // Sep 18, 2011 at 3:07 pm
I, too, had a bumper crop this year! I have had my tree (bush) for three years now and wouldn’t give up hope.
I am now the proud owner of two (2) unripe (according to your information) figs which I trust will ripen before I have to bring the plant in the house to avoid the frost!!!!!!
Maybe next year I’ll get a Super Bumper Crop?
Thanks for the info and I’ll keep the recipes until my crop improves!
Sincerely,
Nancy
44 Australia!! // Sep 20, 2011 at 4:02 am
I have a super huge fig tree and i want to know about it’s sap, Is it poisonous if ingested? (to animals and humans) and can it poison through skin? i have had the sap on my hands before and it didn’t irritate my skin, but it did my family’s, Why is that?
Good picture guide by the way, very informative!
45 Tom // Sep 20, 2011 at 9:45 am
Australia, I don’t know about the sap if ingested, but I have read where it can cause skin rash and irritations in some folk: http://www.katu.com/news/local/62682802.html
So no chewing on fig stems, would be my advice.
46 ZELJKO"ZEKE"DOBRIJEVIC // Oct 7, 2011 at 9:10 am
Hi!I just move my fig tree inside house and there is few figs on the tree,but they are very hard to touch,any chance they are going to ripe(Salt lake City-Utah)-thank you!!!
47 Tom // Oct 7, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Hi Zeke, You could give it a try and place it in a sunny window or by a sunny sliding glass door and give the figs a couple weeks to ripen and see what happens, but I doubt they will ripen this late in the season. This time of year, the tree wants to go dormant. So if the leaves drop, that’s okay, just place it somewhere cold but where it won’t be subjected to extreme cold temperatures. Place it back out in the sun when the temps. rise above freezing in the spring.
48 kathleen // Oct 24, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Thanks so much! My mother-in-law purchased a fig tree for me and I wasn’t sure when to pick the figs. It’s full of figs this year–2 years after she purchased it for me. I want to make sure I harvest my “crop” at just the right time! Thanks again.
49 Lucy // Feb 9, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Hi from Mornington Peninsula, Vic, Australia.
My brown turkey is nearly ready. I talk to it eeveryday. Can I send you a photo? Thanks again, Lucy
Your Fig photos are the BEST I’ve seen online! You must have heaps of patience
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