July todo: Pick figs

Two crops on one branch: the early crop or Briba crop
is attached to wood produced last year (dark) while the main
crop or later crop is attached to wood produced this
year (green).

Check figs. There are two crops of figs in our climate; the early crop born on last year's wood and the main crop which is produced on wood that grew this year. They will be coming on in July. They do not ripen once they have been removed from the tree. What you pick, is what you get.

          So figs must be picked when they are fully ripe. How do you know? Two ways; one visual and one by feel. Figs that are ready to pick will be soft to the touch and no longer hard.

These kadota figs have changed color from green to yellow
and the neck on the two ripe ones is now bending
indicating they better be harvested NOW

          The narrow part of the fig which attaches to the tree is called its neck. Figs that begin to soften will no longer be erect but their necks will soften and they begin to droop. Look for figs which have necks that can no longer support the weight of the fruit. These are ready to pick.