This is why your fig tree doesn't have ripe fruit (and how to fix it!)
Figs are one of the easiest fruit trees to grow because they produce fruit on both old and new wood and don't require pollination in our area.
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Your fig tree is loaded with fruit right now, but if they're all still hard and green, you are not alone. The two biggest reasons are not enough summer heat and improper pruning. It's too late to fix it this year, but there are things you can do now to ensure success next year. Figs are one of the easiest fruit trees to grow because they produce fruit on both old and new wood and don't require pollination in our area.
Why Figs Don't Ripen
1) Cold Winters
Fig branches can survive temperatures down to about 10°F, but colder weather often kills stems back to the ground. While the tree may survive, it has to spend the summer replacing lost growth instead of ripening fruit.
2) Improper Pruning
Many gardeners prune too aggressively. Since figs fruit on both old and new growth, removing too many branches removes potential fruit as well. It also matters what time you prune. If you need to prune your fig tree, the best time is early spring right when new growth buds appear.
3) Not enough heat
Figs need a long, warm summer. Late-ripening varieties may never mature in northern climates. Choosing an early variety that is cold tolerant is often the difference between green figs and ripe figs. Shade-grown trees may not get the heat they need to ripen.
4) Too much love (yes really!)
Fertilizers rich in nitrogen produce lots of leaves and shoots but fewer ripe fruits. These fertilizers are a good choice early in the season, but switch to a phosphorus based fertilizer after June.
How to Tell When a Fig Is Ripe
Unlike peaches or bananas, figs do not ripen after they're picked. Some varieties turn brown and others stay green so color is not a good tell either.
Doreen Monteleone is a master gardener and founder of the Long Island fig network. She A ripe fig will Droop down from the branch ad feels like a small bag of jelly. You may even see a drop of nectar right at the belly of the fig. Pick figs when they're fully ripe. That's when they have the best flavor.
Growing Figs in Containers
Container growing is one of the best ways to grow figs in colder climates. Keep a single trunk with a manageable canopy. Many growers cut container figs back to about 2 feet tall before winter storage.
Figs need dormancy and shouldn't be grown as houseplants. After Thanksgiving, move potted trees into a garage, shed, or crawl space where temperatures stay just above freezing. Bring them back outside in March.
While fig trees grown in the ground are not picky about fertilizer, a container grown fig tree should be regularly fertilized. Feed with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer in spring. Switch to a bloom fertilizer in late spring and early summer to encourage fruit production.
A Simple Trick to Ripen More Figs
In August, pinch off the newest leaf at the tip of each branch. This slows new growth and encourages the tree to focus on ripening existing fruit.If you're struggling to get ripe figs, focus on three things: protect the tree from winter damage, avoid heavy pruning, and grow early-ripening varieties. Do that, and you'll be enjoying sweet, tree-ripened figs instead of staring at green ones all fall.
