I have a mature unknown fig tree in my back yard and it generates lots of flavorless figs.

I mistakenly tried to water it last year, made them even more flavorless. Didn't know that was possible.

The squirrels don't even bother to eat them.

Does anybody on the forums have any links or resources I can read up on? I'm guessing it may be a nutrient difficiiency.

My first thought is not necessarily nutrient deficiency. There are plenty of trees along the gulf coast with RKN which continue to produce great tasting figs. Is there other symptoms that lead you down that road? It may just be a flavorless variety.

Any description of the fruit? Dark,light what color interior? Maybe a Capri fig!

It would help if you could show us photos of the leaves and fruit. Are the fruit main crop or breba? Also, what climate are you in?

Rip it out! There are too many wonderful tasting figs out there to allow a "tasteless" one to use up the soil. The sooner you replace it the sooner you will be eating good figs from that spot in your garden.

Is it possible that you are picking the figs too early before they develop their optimum taste?

Wait until the fig fully droops and it is not hard and you leave your finger marks on it if you press slightly. 
Some figs will also have a drop of honey coming out of them when they are ready.

I read your "Have" list.  I agree with Gene Daniels.  Why would you waste your time and money trying to make a crappy tree perform better?  Rip that worthless tree out and plant a tree that will give you great figs in less than 2 years.  You already spent too much time on it.  Life is short.

Caveats to fig growers: 
Don't know where you live, or what your growing conditions are, or your climate zone, or if you grow in containers or in ground, sunny or shady..... but make damn sure that whatever figs you choose can properly ripen in your climate, or you may never taste a good, decent, fig.


Frank

So this is an old tree in ground.  I see a lot of potential here.  Learn to graft and top work the tree into varieties that are really good.  You already have some babies that you can use.  The tree is established.  Don't rip it out.  Make it into some really good varieties!  Cross your fingers the birds and squirrels will keep away.  Good luck!

Suzi

I also have a medium size fig tree that was in my yard when I bought my house.   I call It   "Mr. Nasty".   the figs when I get one are  devoid of flavor.   Hence I am a member of this forum and buying cuttings and trees from members as fast as I can.   I was going to cut Nasty down but the Frankenfig posting caught my eye.   Ah  you can use your fig to make a graft host  that is what I am going to do.   If it doesnt work  I think he will be sacrifised to the fig gods on the barbecue grill.     Joyce

I vote to replace it with a nice variety.
Grafting is fun but might be a headache .
The fig trees grow fast, in 2-3 years you will have a nice size.

Make sure you get a proven variety from a trusted person, you do not want to waste your time on something that is currently hot because it is new.

Thanks for the replies. I live in Oakland CA zone 9b/10a and the tree is a green fig with a light color interior, it has a large tri-lobe leaf. I think it's one of the popular local ones, excel or Genoa. Can't really tell. I'll post some pictures when I get back this week.

Great idea on the grafting, I'll look up Franken fig post. I got so frustrated at it last year I went bought and planted a two year old black mission. Unbelievable difference.
I would love to tear it down but it is about 14 inches in diameter. It's the kind of tree you would love to climb sit in and eat figs in.

Thanks for the ideas! Really appreciate it!

Grafting here I come.

Forgot... James,the nutritional deficiency is purely uneducated speculation on my part.

Hi E30,
I would put my 2 cents on "Desert king".
Does the tree get some sun ?
Do you have a pic of your tree ?
Do you prune her to open her middle ?
With a tree of that size, I would first try to prune her. On others crop - vines- , it is known, less fruit means more quality to the remaining fruits.
If the tree is shaded, I would arrange for her to get more sun - she can even be shading herself.

One thing, I know for sure is that fruits, that are not getting sun, are bland . Sun = Sugars = Taste .

Hi neighbor! What part of Oakland are you in? In in east Oakland, in the flats. I've got five adolescent fig trees, and am hoping for good flavor.

I'm curious why Desert King was suggested as a flavorless fig, since it's so often recommended for our region.

I too would look into grafting.  Though figs grow fast, you will have more and better fruit sooner through grafting. 

         


Thank you very much for the help, I found some of my photos from November last year just before dormancy. It was dormant for only three months and has a new set of leaves and TONS of fruit. 

The fruit I'm showing is unripe, the ripened color light/honey colored.    I did prune it fairly heavily to open up the interior in the early part of 2014.

I hope its not a caprifig!  I don't think we have the wasps here.  Its a healthy, vigorous and strong tree just no flavor.  It gets full sun most of the day.

The small one in the background is my black mission.   Just walking around the neighborhood I find lots of Excel, Desert kings and etc... the standard home depot varieties.

Lisascenic: Im not far, I live in the Laurel district off of High st and 580
 

Frozen Joe:  The fruits are main crop, I don't get and Brebas

I would get some figs with wasp, tie them together and throw them in your tree.  Looks like your tree needs pollination.  If if were mine, I would not remove it.  It also needs some micronutruients.

I didn't take pictures when the figs were ripe.  Ive let them stay on until they've almost fell off before trying them.

When ripe the fig is the same color, medium toughness skin, a bit larger and light brown / golden / honey colored on the inside.

Hi E30,
Thanks for the pics. From the  pics this is not a known strain (... could be Gillette ? ) ... So more than probably a seedling.
You are free to do as you like, and play with grafting.
If it was mine, well, fig hell would be his destiny .
There are so many good strains, so why bother with poor quality figs ?
I would remove that tree and plant a new one from a known strain adapted  to your zone.

We really are neighbors! I live right off of High Street.

Might you be interested in garden visits? (Want any California native asters? Mine needs to be divided.)

Hi Lisa,

Ill PM you.  Garden visit would be great.  Mine's a mess!

My front planters would definitely use some asters.

Snaglpus:  Can I buy wasps from eBay?

tk