Feb 22, 2014  Join me in my orchard and I'll show you how to tell when a fig is ripe and ready to pick. Some of my fig varieties include Violette de Bordeaux, Desert King, White Genoa and Lattarula.

1. Many (but not all) fig varieties will form two crops of figs. The first crop to ripen is called the “Breba Crop.” The breba figs form as small, hard green figs that overwinter (according to some sources) or form in late winter and early spring on the prior year’s hardwood growth after the fig experiences a period of winter dormancy.
2. How to Store Fresh Figs. With their supple skin, sweet-and-seedy flavor, and chewy texture, figs are a summertime treat. They are also a delicate fruit and one of the most perishable foods. Raw figs last only a day or two before spoiling.

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The fig 'Black Mission' (Ficus carica), also known as also known as 'Brown Turkey', makes a wonderful addition to many landscape designs. The Black Mission fig tree produces tasty black velvet figs with pink inner flesh and tiny, crunchy seeds. It grows anywhere from 10 to 30 feet tall. Most fig varieties grow well in a Mediterranean climate with damp, mild winters and hot, dry summers. In the United States, the Black Mission fig grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11.

Fall is the recommended planting time to transplant a new tree from a container into the ground. This is ideal Black Mission fig season. Choose a sunny location that receives protection from frost during the winter months.

Black Mission Fig Nutrition

In its nutrition content, Black Mission fig includes a high percentage of fiber, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). The figs are a good source of potassium, a mineral that may help lower blood pressure. Nutritionally, it also includes minerals such as zinc, manganese, copper and magnesium. Vitamins in Black Mission fig include vitamins C, niacin and B6.

How to Plant a Black Mission Fig Tree

1. To plant your Black Mission fig outdoors, dig a hole the same size as its container and twice as large around in diameter. Figs do well in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Break up the soil at the bottom of the hole with the tip of your spade to soften it and help the roots penetrate easily.
2. Keeping the tree in its pot, lay it next to the hole on its side. Grasp the base of the tree with one hand and the pot with the other to remove the root ball from the pot. If it’s stuck firmly in the pot, you may have to roll the pot or pound it slightly on the sides of the container.
3. Lift the root ball and place it in the center of the hole, with the foliage pointing directly upward, and not leaning at one angle or another. Position the tree directly perpendicular to the level of the ground around it unless you’re planting it on a hillside. Make sure that the trunk is neither deeper nor shallower in the soil than it was while still inside the nursery pot.
4. Water the soil directly around the fig tree just after planting it, making sure to gently water the leaves as you do so. Use a soaker attachment on the hose and allow the water to permeate and saturate the new hole gently.

Caring for a Black Mission Fig Tree

1. Spread a 1- to 2-inch thick layer of mulch around the base of the tree, beginning just around the trunk outward to approximately the diameter of the branching portion of the tree. The layer of mulch around the tree protects the roots and helps retain moisture.
2. Water young trees frequently. Older trees might not need to be watered as often. Aim for 1–1 1/2 inches of water per week from irrigation or rainfall. Watering once every 10 days to two weeks is sufficient. If it needs to be watered, the leaves of the tree will turn yellow or drop off, but don’t wait until it shows these signs.
3. In late summer, after you’ve harvested the figs off the tree, it’s a good idea to prune it back to encourage further production of flowers and fruit and to keep the tree more manageable. One pruning in late summer should be enough to encourage production.
4. You should harvest the fruit twice, once in spring and the second time in summer or early fall.

About the Author

Megan is a published writer and gardening enthusiast. She is certified in Tropical Agriculture Development, and enjoys learning about ecology.

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Fig trees (Ficus carica), hardy in USDA zones 6 through 11, grow well in areas that provide eight hours of daily sun and moderate winters. Once a fig tree reaches maturity, it can be expected to produce fruit once to twice per year and can continue to fruit for decades. Young figs do not fruit their first year, and can take a long time to bear. Several environmental factors can also affect when a fig tree produces fruit. Fig trees are considered invasive in some locations.

Time to First Crop

Fruiting fig trees have a long juvenile period compared to other fruit trees. Most figs will not produce a crop for the first four to five years, notes Rutgers University. If the fig is severely injured by over-pruning or an unusual frost, it may take longer to fruit for the first time.

Crops Per Year

When Do You Pick Figs

Fig trees produce two crops every year, but only one of them may be edible. The first crop, called the breba crop, occurs relatively early in the year on the previous year's growth. These fruits are frequently small, acidic and inferior in texture, but may be useful for preservation. The second crop occurs later in the year on the current year's growth and these figs should be edible. Caprifigs, a variation of the common fig that can be used to pollinate some varieties, produce no edible fruit in either crop.

Harvest Time

The exact timing of the main crop depends on your climate and conditions. For example, growers in cooler coastal areas usually harvest their figs during October and November. For warmer and inland climates, the usual harvest time is between June and September. In some tropical locations, fig trees may bear some fruit throughout the year, with increased production in early summer and midwinter.

Environmental Considerations

Even healthy, mature fig trees may not bear fruit on schedule if the right environmental conditions are missing. Figs may not pollinate properly in hot, dry weather. This can cause a poor crop or no fruit at all. You may also have problems with figs if you over-prune during the winter or if you prune improperly. Figs that suffer from root knot nematodes may also have trouble fruiting correctly.

Fruit Drop

When To Pick Black Jack Figs

In some cases, a young, healthy fig tree undergoes proper pollination and fruit set, then drops all its fruit suddenly. This phenomenon is usually caused by overfeeding. Stop fertilizing the plant immediately. It may take three to four years for the fig to recover from over-fertilization and produce a crop that ripens and stays on the tree. Figs grown in the ground only require an application of fertilizer in spring, while container grown figs require an application in summer. Some fig varieties, including “Celeste,” drop fruit in hot weather regardless of their fertilizer regimen.

About the Author

G.D. Palmer is a freelance writer and illustrator living in Milwaukee, Wis. She has been producing print and Web content for various organizations since 1998 and has been freelancing full-time since 2007. Palmer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in writing and studio art from Beloit College in Beloit, Wis.

When Are Figs Ripe To Pick

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