Was wondering,  my old pop pop used to tell us that a fig was maybe dangerous, or translated from Italian, Poisonous if picked earlier than it should be.  Is this true?  Have I been lucky all these years picking at the right moment?  If this is true,  does anyone know when this period of time is?

Ciao,  Maggie

Welcome, Maggie,

There is some truth to it. If, when you pick your figs, there is a milky say which exudes from the stem, they were picked to early and unripe. Some people are allergic to this "latex" which is exuded (usually only mildly so) and they get a reaction on their skin or in their mouth. Not really poisonous, but irritating. By the way, if you do not get the milky sap, it doesn't mean that the fig is fully ripe, either. There may be 2-3 more days before it is fully ripe. 

Alkaloids, if I remember correctly.

This was a great question but other than the latex being sticky I am not bothered by it. No allergic reaction what so ever.

My nephew and I visited JH (the same JH in Adriatic JH) many summers ago.  Adriatic JH was not quite ripe, but that did not stop my nephew from gorging himself on them. He does not like ripe fruit and complains about them being too sweet.  Afterwards, his mouth was full of sores.  He didn't care.  He would have gone back for more given the opportunity.

Have not seen Maggie post in quite sometime.
Wishing her and family well.