It has been very hot here in Mesa, AZ.  113 today.  113 yesterday.  111 the day before that.  I water my trees every second day.  I will water them after I post this.  I know these plants will bounce right back after being watered.  I also know that many advocate providing shade.  I feel that allowing the plants to experience the full sun will help them in the long run to be strongly rooted and well adapted.

I think they look good for what you are going through as for the temperature wise. Another year or two you just might need a ladder to climb them ( wishful thinking ).

Thanks Rafed.  They'll get there.

We don't get quite as hot down here in Tucson, but mine look similar to yours as far as some mild drooping. Several of the lower leaves are shriveling up and dropping off without changing to yellow first (a few do turn yellow and drop off as well). Maybe they aren't getting quite enough water, but each gets irrigated from a micro-sprinkler every day, and in addition, the basins get filled from the hose every other day. Everything looks basically healthy, and all in-grounds except a small Black Madeira and two younger trees (started this year from rooted suckers) have developed fruit.

What size were the trees when planted? 5 gallon? What time of year were they planted? How long have they been in ground?

@Ken

Frozenjoe
You preempted my question. When started to look at the pictures, I thought to ask why the Desert King and Hardy Chicago leaves have serrations but you mentioned the observation.
It will be interesting to know how the leaves will start in the spring next year before it heats up there.

I'll have to pay attention to the spring leaf shape to compare.  On Joe's Jersey I can still find a few leaves without much serration at the bottom of the plant.

In my opinion its not the heat so much. It's the low humidity. Trust me there is no such thing as 'oh its hot but its a dry heat'! when it comes to us. But humidity plays a large part for me up here in MA. When it was 90, my trees never drooped since the humidity was high. In my self watering containers they have never drooped with the combination of humidity and access to constant root moisture.

The low humidity makes it tough for the plants.  Moisture gets sucked out of the leaves faster than the roots can replace it.  I can tell when it's real dry because that's when the leaves curl up on several of the fig trees.  I think the high heat intensifies the problem.

Joe, this is experience that will benefit a lot of people.

Funny, it doesn't LOOK that hot. HaHa. Was just too easy for me to say from my AC cooled house.

Interesting about the leaf shape change.

So, do you feel that maybe the varieties with thicker leaves might hold up better in that kind of heat?

I agree with Jon. Documenting the experiences you're having with your figs in that environment will be a big help to alot of folks in similar climates.

Joe, I don't have enough of a track record to be sure, but I'm wondering if the dryness actually reduces the size of the fruit in my yard. My fruit always seems a little smaller than what I would expect, based on what other people report. Even the figs from my long-term, in-ground Black Mission are noticeably smaller (and denser-fleshed) than I remember from other Black Missions when I was a kid. Of course, I was smaller then, too, so maybe it's just a case of a kid's memory bumping into adult experience.

@ Jon

Joe,

I will be at the CRFG Festival of Fruit, in Tempe November 5. If you get a chance, come on by. would love to meet ad chat.

Jon,