It looks like I will have at least 1 Dalmatie fig to taste test this year...god grant me the patience to not pick it early! ;-) It's nice and soft but not yet drooping. With the rain we had yesterday, hope it doesn't diminish the taste.
Sue

Sue, I hope, with patience, you will taste all three of them since you don't have squirrels and the freezing weather (yet).
Most of my trees have dropped or dropping the leaves and many golf ball size hard figs hanging on the trees as a result of a couple soft frosts. Some figs are soft but will never do op now. I will eat the soft ones anyway because they do have some sweetness and heard that they are good for health when eaten in moderation.

So far it has not split in the rain. I hope you will let us know how good it tasted.

It does need to look a little over-ripe/ugly before it is ready.

Oh, but I do have ground squirrels...the little bast$&d's got ALL my Sal's El and all but two Black Ischia and the pots were on top of a table...thought they were safe but no...they ignored the brown turkeys...the little bast$*#ds. I'm going to have to break out the squirrelinator...

The Dalmatie is looking ugly for sure...hope the rain didn't spoil the taste.

Sue

Squirrels don't go for your Brown Turkey!
They surely must be reading Jon's posts about Brown Turkey on F4F.

The one Dalmatie fig I was watching fell off the tree during the rains. By the time I went to check it bugs were crawling all over and in it so I let them have it.

A few days later both the remaining Dalmatie figs had swelled and started turning 'ugly'. So I could get an idea of what these taste like I picked one of them a bit early. It felt squishy at the bottom but still firm at the top. When I cut it open I could see it was half ripe. The lower half that was ripe was very, very tasty even after all this rain and cooler temps.

We are expecting high 80's to low 90's this week. It's currently 66 outside (it's 9:30 at night!). I'm hoping this forces the remaining fig to ripen.

Sue


 

Well my last remaining Dalmatie was MIA this morning...#^$&@ squirrels! At least I got to taste one though a bit unripe. It was really good! Looking forward to more next year...I'm building a PVC cage with bird netting to put around each planted tree. The yard will look funny but at least I will get the figs.
 
Sue

Sue,

How about giving you some marksmenship training? You know what I mean?

We'll train with a .444 or 45/70, Ideal for squirrels. Even a .44 with a 300gr. slug would do.

Much easier than a cage.

No need Rafed, I'm a damn good shot, used to hunt. In my younger days I was really good with a bow too. :-) I just don't own a gun anymore. I don't think my neighbors would appreciate gunfire anyway. I wouldn't want a visit from the federalies. Maybe a pellet gun...I'll have to check that out. I might have to get me a bow too. I really liked bow hunting...;-)

Sue

I have a Hoyt, Real nice setup.

I haven't tried to stop squirrels with bird netting, but my guess is that they'll just chew a hole in it and swipe your figs anyway. If the trees are small enough, maybe a chicken wire cage would do the trick.

hmmm Ken, I wondered about that. I was more worried of them digging under the cage than through it. I'll have to experiment.

Rafed, I mainly used a longbow but have played with my ex-SIL's compound. I want one. Christmas is coming. :-)

Sue

"an eye for an eye"

Sue,

My Hoyt is about 20 years old but I spent well over $700 for the setup at the time.

It's yours if you want it.
But it is for a lefty.

apnoist,
I like your law, An eye for an eye!
Mess with the figs and end up on a hot plate!

Great pic! Had to laugh. Turnovers hah!
Sue

I had problem with squirrels in the summer time eating some veges, figs and fruits but destroying more of it. Now that the freezing temperatures are here, I can hear them in the Attic at night time. I looked around the house to find how they get in or out but cannot locate the exit/enter point but surely they do make runs in the attic though not all the time. When it is very cold and well below freezing outside they like to be around in the attic just above the lighting fixture areas to stay warm. I really have hard time finding out their entry/exit points.  I am planning putting a humane trap there and let them freeze in it (or relocate them on the frozen Ottawa river- when frozen by the end of December).

Ottawan, me & my brother in early '80's failed to get rid of possums in the attic when I was living in OZ land. We shot them with pellet guns but somehow their skins are so tough and they just cringe & run along. We could not figure how they got into the attic. We moved as we were renting.

Wow apnoist --- sure looks good food. As a kid, I have tasted mum's fried squirrels in some sort of black sweet sauce and golly they are good. The fruit farmers always welcome hunters as the squirrels decimate their crop and dad's friend would give us a bunch they shot.

One area squirells are famous for getting into attics are chimneys and many types of vents coming out of roof like water heater vents , gas heater etc, on our chimney we have a tin top with screening that fits chimney.

Mike i enjoyed that picture, considering what they eat they are probably pretty tasty.

Rafed, Thanks for the offer of the bow but I'm a righty and I really couldn't use it. I'm tempted though!

It's a beautiful day so I'm headed out to do more weeding and plant the new trees (Lisbon Lemon and a Clementine) and the (drought tolerant)  perennials I bought yesterday.