Hey Everyone

I have 2 three year old chicago hardy's in 10 gallon pots and they are now dropping figs. The figs are changing colors then a week later they seem to drop. I have yet to get a ripe fig off of these trees despite my efforts of watering and fertilizing on a frequent regiment. I have attached a pic below of the size and color of the figs  

There are many reasons fig trees drop some/all figs;

- any stress on the tree (not enough water, too much water, too much sun if in container and pot allowed to overheat)
- too big of a fruit load for the size of tree
- if in pot and tree not root pruned and soil refreshed every 2 years then tree will get entangled roots and get choked tree and less figs eventually no figs.
- some varieties are famous for dropping figs
- san pedro & smyrna type figs will drop the main crop if not caprified.
- other

A healthy Hardy Chicago will only drop the odd fig unless there is some significant issue.  Do you have any clear leaf and fruit photos?

Hey Pino

I was at your place in the spring and bought a few trees off of you my name is Joel. I will get some more plant and fruit pictures at lunch.

Hi Joel
I remember you now with the huge diesel truck and huge greenhouse.
You told me about your HC figs then and how you were looking forward to fresh figs.  Hope it works out for you.

If you are in the area again stop by.
I am running out of storage space and I need to move out quite a few trees many with figlets on them very likely to ripen.  
I sent you a list of the trees and it indicates which ones have figlets.  I can also ship some large trees bare root after dormancy.
Here is a photo of a few.

 

Hi.  My Hardy Chicago figs that ripened took around a week or so from first blush of pink to fully ripe.  I gave my neighbor a small tree.  I chose that one because it had two figs forming on it.  A few days ago the fig fell off.  It was about the size of yours.  Fully ripe and tasty.  Did you cut yours open?

ya I cut it open and it was completely white on the inside.

My Chicago hardies were doing the same a while back when we had like 2 weeks of 90+ degree weather with no rain. They changed color, but they also shriveled up and became tough, then fell off the tree. Insides were completely white and unripe. The rest of the figs are still green and on the tree. My other Chicago Hardy started ripening figs too, so I think it was a stress thing.

Here are some pics of my chicago hardy leaves and fruit that are still hanging. As well as the yearling trees I got from Pino this spring
 

 

 

I got same issue this year. all my plants are in pots.
all of my HC's breba was gone this year. While my Vista and Dalmatie fig has good brebas. 

likely there was too much rain and rapid weather change in the spring.


A little to highjack the topic. :)
To Pino,
how is desert king in Ontario?
i have some desert king trees in pots. no fruits yet. I heard desert king has nice brebas, what about main crop? it has lots of suckers and easy to grow a bush plant.
I hope the breba won't fall from desert king in future.

@Joel
Your HC looks very healthy great job!
Your figs look like same stage as my HC at this time.  Looks like you will be getting some nice figs to eat very shortly!

This year is behind because of the rain and cool temps so unless you gave your HC a head start in a greenhouse they should start ripening Sep 1. 

At this time you should hold off on applying more nitrogen fertilizer since plant needs to stop growing and ripen fruit and lignify wood for winter.  Some people continue with some bloom nutrients low in Nitrogen.

@T.O. fig - desert king is OK for Ontario not as good as it is for PNW.  

In PNW they have mild winters so the breba embryo survive winter and they get lots of rain in spring and summer so the plant doesn't get any water stress and so produces tons of brebas.

In Ontario you are better to grow DK in pots and when pruning, don't head off this year's growth since that's where the brebas are.  Use thinning cuts only and leave a couple of nodes for next year's branches.  Leave the some fruiting branches intact.

Most main crop DK figs are dropped since no wasp here but many reports of a few main crop ripening but not great quality.  

I have my DK in ground and it grew 4-5' but only a dozen brebas on it.  
They were very nice and filled the gap until the main crop ripens starting very soon.  I had 1 main crop ripen earlier this week so rest will follow shortly.  
Here are some photos from July 14th, its grown at least 2 more feet now;

 

 
  

Thank you Pino for the reply.

I noticed the same thing happening to my two Chicago hardy trees, as well as those of my parents and one I gave to a friend. I assumed it was due to the wet, cloudy colder spring and summer. Hopefully next summer will be better.