Several people have mentioned that they've germinated fig seeds.  Can anyone give me an idea of how long it takes for them to pop?

Month or two.

         Ever since I read about "new" figs that you can name yourself, the topic of germinating seeds interested me.  Also, FREE fig trees!  So, I Googled, and found out if done like the below (copied and pasted from here), it takes 7 - 10 days.  I can't wait till my figs get ripe to try this!  Or maybe I'll buy some fresh ones at the farmers market!
Suzi

How to Germinate Fig Seeds

Things You'll Need

• 2 to 3 fresh ripe figs
• Bowl
• Slotted spoon

Instructions

1.        Soak two or three fresh, ripe figs in a bowl of clean water for one to two days. Use your fingers to break open the figs, exposing the seeds and pulp. Return the figs to the water for an additional one to two days. Scoop out any pulpy material that floats to the top; any viable fig seeds will sink to the bottom of the bowl. Pour the water in the bowl through a strainer and spread the seeds on a paper towel to allow them to dry slightly.

2.        Combine equal parts peat moss, perlite and finely ground volcanic rock to create a coarse, well-draining growing medium in which to germinate your seeds. Pour the growing medium into a 4- to 6-inch-deep tray with drainage holes in the bottom.

3.        Mix the fig seeds with 1/2 cup of wood ash or fine horticultural sand. Distribute the mixture evenly over the surface of the growing medium in the tray.

4.        Water the seeds to settle them into the growing medium and encourage them to germinate.

5.        Place the tray in a location that receives four to six hours of bright sunlight per day. Water, as needed, to keep the growing medium evenly moist; the seeds should germinate and sprout in approximately seven to 10 days.

roughly 3- 4 weeks

I think it might depend on your location.  If your climate is Mediterranean, it probably goes faster.  If your temps are cooler, could take longer.  You think?
Suzi

If you are going to germinate fig seeds, I believe the seeds would have to be taken from fruits that have been pollinated. So unless the figs were grown in an area where the fig wasp exists, you would probably have a hard time of it.

I wonder if buying dried fruits (from Turkey or Cali's central valley) would yield viable seed, or if they've been heat treated or something to render them non-viable.

Sounds like fun however. Good luck. :)

Hope you get some great new varieties!  how long does it take from seed to fruit?

Well, I soaked 2 of those huge mission breba that I got at the specialty market this week, broke them apart, and they are actually fermenting!  I'm going to skim all the pulp off the top tomorrow, run the rest through a coffee filter, and let the viable seeds at the bottom dry.  Then I'll do as the above instructions, and see how long those seeds take to germinate.  I would imagine they will take some time to bear fruit, like maybe 3-5 years?  Maybe Jon knows.

I thought I'd maybe braid a couple once they get established because I think there should be quite a few little trees and they should all grow about the same, but you never know.

Fingers crossed they self pollinate.

Also, these were black figs, and the foaming, fermenting water is a beautiful shade of pink. 

Suzi

Complete Failure!  I'll have to try again another time.  Gina indicated that seeds need to come from varieties that have been pollinated, but Encanto Farms has bred a few successful seedlings from Vista Figs which don't need pollination, so I'm a little confused, but those missions did not produce seedlings.

Suzi

Hello,
   The timeframes mentioned above sound about right.   Here is an old posting that I made about some seeds that I started http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Fig-species-photos-amp-seedling-ficus-palmata-etc-4640674?highlight=ingevald+seedlings

Ingevald

If I have figs that get ripe without fig wasps, but do possibly get visited by fig wasps, can those figs produce viable figs?  That would be the ultimate growing your own unique fig.   Sounds like people who have orchid obsession. 

Some time ago I came across a video clip of a farmer's market trip and purchase of dried F. afghanistanica figs from which they got seeds that grew. This -  http://nuts.com/driedfruit/figs/mountain.html - might work. Just for fun.

I have about 70 seedlings that I started this year,Tom sent me the seeds. They started growing in about 10 days.the seedlings are about 2 ft tall now. I hope to get some male trees so I can cross figs by hand. Rex

I have seedlings from Smyrna dried figs from Turkey and California. some sproutded after a week or 2 others after a month. I threw some in a pot on the roof in full sun over the summer. I would just soak the seeds overnight in warm water and clear them of the pulp.

fast growing