Triple Oaks Nursery User Forum: They'll Be Ready When They're Ready

Philadelphia Area Nursery - Triple Oaks Nursery

They'll Be Ready When They're Ready

Posted by Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a on July 17, 2008, 9:56:55, in reply to "so... when are the figs gonna be ready?"

A lot of the timing depends on the weather. As we're going into another serious heatwave, I'm sure that will speed things up.

Unless you have a variety that is ripe when green (or still light-colored), you simply wait for it to plump up and turn purple. Also, I'd suggest picking the fruit when they're at 50/50 purple and green or 60/40 in favor of purple. Don't let it go completely purple.

Lots of people have trouble with birds eating the figs before they (the people) have a chance to pick them. In Wilmington, some people "net" their trees against the birds.

For my own tree, birds have not been an issue. But ants have! Ants LOVE figs. Last year, I tried making a ring around the trunk of petroleum jelly. This deterred the ants for about 20 minutes. Then, they simply started wading into the goop and reaching the other side! So, that plan went nowhere.

This spring, I applied Bayer Complete Control to the roots in order to nip a small scale problem with the fig tree. The scale seems to be gone, and ants (which are attracted to scale too) are as well. Lots of green, unripe fruit is in the tree.

Here's the dilemma: Should I eat the fruit seeing as how I gave the tree a systemic insect control? The label on the product says that eating fruit from treated plants is safe. I'm not so sure.

One thing I am sure about: Fresh figs, right off the tree, are a delight.

Message Thread:

so... when are the figs gonna be ready? - Alex NJ zone seven July 15, 2008, 20:04:48
- They'll Be Ready When They're Ready - Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a July 17, 2008, 9:56:55
  - Re: They'll Be Ready When They're Ready - Jane, Vero Beach FL, Zone 10A July 19, 2008, 10:02:39
- Re: so... when are the figs gonna be ready? - Joe K July 17, 2008, 10:23:07
  - systemic ? - lk July 18, 2008, 0:37:07
    - Re: systemic ? - Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a July 18, 2008, 8:37:44
      - Re: systemic ? - lk July 18, 2008, 9:31:21
        
        Re: systemic ? - erk120 July 18, 2008, 14:53:43
        
        Re: systemic ? - Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a July 18, 2008, 15:06:20
        
        Re: systemic ? - lk July 19, 2008, 9:16:35
        
        Whats wrong with ants??? - Joe K July 21, 2008, 12:13:50
        
        Re: Whats wrong with ants??? - Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a July 21, 2008, 12:37:46
        
        Re: Whats wrong with ants??? - Joe K July 22, 2008, 10:14:59
        
        Re: systemic ? - Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a July 21, 2008, 12:15:53
        
        What is the half life? - Joe K July 22, 2008, 10:17:16
- Re: so... when are the figs gonna be ready? - datdog July 24, 2008, 23:03:08
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