Here in the suburbs of Phoenix we had a colder than normal winter this year.  But spring was warmer than normal and as a result the main crop has started earlier than last year on my established trees.  


VdB has been ripening the best figs I have ever tasted off of this tree.  The main crop started two weeks ago.  Last year it was starting about now.



LSU Purple has also been ripening main crop figs since two weeks ago.  That is about a week earlier than last year.  I finally am starting to get some tasty figs off of this tree, though many are still bland or off flavored.



Barnissotte dropped most of its main crop figs early in the season last year.  It did not ripen any figs last year until late summer.  This year it is holding on to them and ripening tasty large figs for the last two weeks.



My unknown tree from NJ is starting to ripen its main crop now.  That is almost a month earlier than last year!  



Desert King has already finished its breba crop.  Weird thing is that the grapes and peaches are not ripe yet, even though they were starting to ripen already by this time last year.  Go figure.  I see now how much stronger and more productive fig trees become as they age and get more established.  Have a good fig season everyone.

Great pics Joe.  My main crop figs are pea sized on my unknown Carini (in ground).  My potted Gino Black has nickel sized figs on it.  I'm going to have to wait a while before I can eat these.

So. Jealous.   :)

that looks awesome. we are complete opposite this yr. cool spring has put the figs back. last yr with heat wave during spring has brought the figs early, but with cool spring, my figs are about 1.5 months late. they all have figs on them, but i don't expect to see them till end of july at earliest if not end of aug. my wife actually said "why are the figs not ripening?".

Thanks guys.  I lived in Massachusetts for 6 years before moving to Arizona.  I remember how much harder it was to get ripe figs in New England.  I feel very fortunate to live in such a long season warm climate.  In a long season climate like this you really see the value of fig trees.  By growing multiple varieties it is possible to get 5 or 6 months of continuous ripe figs.  It's hard to find another fruit tree with such a long season or that tastes so delicious.  Hope you guys up north have a warm summer and a good harvest this year.

weather cooperating, i got 4-5 months tops. 5-6 months would be just wonderful. that's half the yr. sigh..

Thanks for he pictures Frozen Joe .
and
John says he lives in fig paradise !

Yeah, it seems like Arizona bug life really makes it hard to grow figs with large eyes, as opposed to California bug life.

The Arizona low desert is a pretty good spot for figs, as long as they get plenty of water and a chance to get established.  The summer weather can be tough on some figs, especially young plants.  All in all, as a hobby fig grower I'm real happy to be here.  Like you said Shah, the bugs can be a problem here.  I've found that it's really important not to let old figs rot on the tree or fall to the ground and rot.  That's what seems to really draw the bugs in.

fig farmers in southern Taiwan sell fresh fig year round. It's tropical weather, rains a lot, so they grow in greenhouse to keep away rain and birds, squrrel, monkey, etc.

Talk about bugs in the desert. The minute I put some drip irrigation lines down on some of my potted figs, I had an ant super highway on those lines. I mean within 60 seconds they were there. I threw somediatomaceous earth on them and they were gone pretty quickly, but sure to have more challenges ahead. My big problem are those stink bugs. They manage to even get under figs that are wrapped.

I had a really good VDB last year, and kept 4 of those plants this year and gave away the others. I might have given out the really good one. The one that I had ripe figs on this year ripened green. Maybe I mixed something up, but the leaf shape, size and figs look the same but didn't ripen dark. Hs that ever happened to you?

VdB has always ripened dark purple for me.  Maybe you mislabeled?  What color was the interior?  VdB figs always have a dark red interior on my tree.

Good for you Frozenjoe. I am getting early brebas from proven trees. 1st time this early due to a warmer spring. Last year, I tasted the best main crop VdB at Marius's place in Sept. Hardy Chicago was excellent too. I have up-potted my VdB, Dark Portuguese, Sal's, HC due to my good taste experience since visiting Marius.

Lookin GOOD, Joe.  I envy you.

We're three-four weeks behind you up here in Cottonwood. 

Paully, VdB and HC are great figs.  Makes sense to me to up-pot them.

Dave, hope those few weeks fly by for you.

Joe,
How old is your LSU Purple? Several members have posted that once it is grounded and matured, i.e., 5+ years old, then its flavor becomes exceptional. This post (LSU Purple Power!) by GeorgiaFig shares some good information. I had some good luck with my young tree that is neither grounded nor five years old by allowing the figs to hang on the tree longer than usual. I had decent results (LSU Purple).

JD,

My LSU Purple is in its 4th year.  This is the third growing season its in the ground in this spot.  In 2011 it produced some fruit, none of which tasted good to me.  The fruit had very little sweetness and had an off tasting flavor.  Last year it produced a lot of fruit.  Most of that fruit was poor like the year before, but some of the fruit later in the season started to taste ok.  It had good sweetness and that off flavor wasn't very pronounced.  This year the tree has tons of figs.  Some of the fruit has been poor.  But many of the figs, especially this last week, have been very sweet with no off flavor at all.  Instead there is a mild fig richness.  The fruit is extremely soft and juicy.  I definitely agree with you that this fig benefits a lot from hanging on the tree for a long time.  Part of the problem in previous years may have been that I was picking the fruit too early, but I don't think that was totally the problem.  I'm seeing improvement in the fruit every year, and I hope that continues in the future.  The tree is very vigorous and productive.  It has a tight, closed eye.  The fruit is medium in size.  In the past I've considered pulling this tree, but lately I'm thinking I will leave it and see what happens.

I just now looked at your old post JD.  Wow!  Those figs look great.  Whatever you're doing with that tree is working.  Wish mine made fruit like that.

Joe, now you had to post these pics? Lol My trees are at least a month late this year in ripening their main crop (all bread were removed). We had a very cool Spring this year.

Navid.

Joe,
GeorgiaFig (John) was kind enough to get me started with LSU Purple. Initially, I thought the fruit was not very good. To get the good fruit that he and others have described, I presumed I would have to a) be patient for a few (more) years and b) put the tree in the ground.

Here's what I do/did: pinch tips and allow the fruit to crack and wrinkle on the tree. The tree gets only only morning to mid-day sunshine. I grow it with as open a center as possible; like a plum tree. It gets seven minutes of water twice per day via drip irrigation. It is in a 12 gallon pot and has not been fertilized or root pruned. Everything and anything else can be attributed to the beauty and power of life that I can only observe.

If it struggles this year, then I will root prune, fertilize, and limestone prior to next growing season.

Martino,
On average, the tree gets six (+/- two) hours of direct sun daily. Unfortunately, I have to answer your second question "...can produce such delectable figs like these here?" with a question, where are you? As I have come to learn, figs from the LSU program have been bred to thrive in the heat, humidity, precipitation of the South. This forum also has members who had a modicum of success when growing them in areas that are not considered the South.

As an aside: It resides on an east facing wall and has a large shrub adjacent to it on the south side. In this area, I think I have a unique micro climate for growing. Here's why I think so: a potted Socorro Black, grounded Kilmartin, potted Black Bethlehem, potted Hunt, potted Unknown Foxcroft, and potted Strawberry Verte along with a potted Meyer Lemon, and several potted pineapple have done and continue to produce a good number of excellent tasting fruits when grown in this location. I moved a Smith and LSU Golden Celeste to this spot before they broke dormancy (February) to see if the spot can improve a tree versus outperform another tree in a different area.

JD,

It's interesting to hear what you've been doing with your LSU Purple.  I especially like that you pinch the tips.  It makes sense that it would improve the flavor.  LSU Purple is a very strong grower.  Pinching the tips must concentrate the tree's efforts on the fruit instead of on vegetative growth.  I'm sure that makes a big difference in the quality of the fruit.  Thanks for letting us know what you've been doing to get good quality fruit off of a young LSU Purple.

Joe,
I followed the advice of Herman (VS) for tip pinching. I know activates and accelerates the formation of fruit...for me. I will hold off on claims about making the fruit taste better...for now.