i remember either last year or one before. i forgot to turn on the drip system for few days while the figs were swelling. the figs were much better quality. more concentrated flavor. does anyone cut water to the tree when the figs start to swell? i think it makes sense, but i haven't read about it anywhere if this is used.

Yes too much water given to container figs at wrong time can effect the taste.
Also weather sometimes can put a damper on things.

Pete...

Ditto, Martin.

God yes, cut down on the water as the figs start to ripen.  I grow in containers, and throw plastic tarps over the pots if I know a rain storm is coming.  I also cut way back on watering from a garden hose.  I give the trees just enough to keep the leaves from flagging too badly.

Too much water at the wrong time will dilute the flavor, and sugar content, and could also lead to splitting and souring of your figs.

After the harvest...water as usual, and as needed. 

Hope this helps.

Frank

yupe. i'm cutting back water once they start to swell, and covering for the rain this year. and i'm super excited about some of the new ones. weather looks good and it's going to be a good year :)

Yeah, I hear people say to cut back on the watering last year I wanted to, but I felt like if I didn't water daily the tres all drooped. I didn't think I particularly heavily watered, but I know the sals c all blew up. Most others were ok, but a lot didn't ripen probably because the trees were young .

What has always helped me in yard plants watering needs is the feel of the weight of the pot as i never have used water meter thingy's or stick sticks in to see how wet they are and such.

During the season in admiring the plants i always tilt the containers to see if they need a drink.

Martin I tilt my pots also but for an additional reason. After watering does anyone notice how if you tip the pot additional water drains out? That is because you just broke the surface tension of the perched water table as it comes into contact with the holes in the bottom of the pot now that the pot is tipped. After reading Al's (talpa) posts on the pwt and how it drowns roots and ultimately rots them in their containers I began thinking of ways to combat this as I do not have the discipline to monitor watering of gritty mixes so I find this a acceptable balance of time/efforts. I water deeply, let it absorb and hour, then tip the pots. I find that helps not lead to soggy soil. Give it a try and see.

That's certainly true for other fruits - that they taste better with less water. Peaches and apricots, as well as tomatoes. Use as little water as possible without doing damage to the plants. Easier to do with in-ground plants however.

How about the ones in self watering pot? Do we let the water in the reservoir to dry out?

Peter, While I do not have self watering containers in place yet (building them) I believe think the answer is no based upon what I've read. The self watering containers have an air gap between the root system and water level so the roots do not rot and the soil drains. Also a SWC needs some water in it so the wicking chamber or mechanism continues to function effectively and passes the water along and up to the root system of the plant so I would not let one dry out. The SWC allows the tree to uptake as much or as little water as it needs and that's a beautiful thing. 

thats why i like figs-they dont mind suffering from underwatering\forgetfullness

Pete in the Mid-Atlantic anything outside in ground I cut water off the last couple weeks of ripening if not before for almost any fruiting cultivar. As low as you can go with the water just shy of truly giving a blow to the plant is good practice in our typically wet area for flavor.

My good fruit flavor cookbook usually = 2 parts cultivar, 5 parts truly ripened, 5 parts dry weather