So I need some advice from whomever will be kind enough to give me some please. I have a bunch of juvenile trees(1 1/2-3 yr) this year . Weather here L.I. was not great including a slow cold wet spring. I changed over from MG soil to another with earthworm castings early summer. Well the trees loved it and started with lots of little figs. This is a first for me .
My dilemma is there are still a good amount of figs on these young trees seemingly no where near ripening, golf ball size or smaller.  I tried oiling some of the larger ones that did get them soft and dark but they were unfortunately tasteless. I'm thinking combo of young trees , cold weather and oiling.

Weather was high 70's during day and 60's overnight for few days- week before almost 20 degrees cooler.  Next week lows overnight in 50's. Should I call it a year and cut the rest off ?

Not having trees of this age before and different varieties has really got me second guessing . Right now I'm of a mind to de-fig. I'd appreciate your opinions.
Thanks guys.

Pattee, I just looked at your extended 10 day forecast. Highs mostly in the 70's with a few upper 60's. There appears to be a good
many chances of rain also, meaning not a lot of sun. Having said that, my 10 day forecast is about the same temps but mostly sunny. I can
keep going for a while yet. Unless you just want to get it over with, I would give it through the next week. If it doesnt get any colder you
still have hope for some to ripen.

Thanks Mike , I didn't want to weaken any of the trees, if that's at all possible, by leaving them on too long with no chance of ripening before cold sets in.

Pattee perhaps next season when you see the fig embyo's right it down when they appear or take stamped dated pictures of them.
This will give you good estimate of around time they should ripen by knowing amount of days they have been on plant .

Thanks Martin , that's a great idea. I have to keep more details for sure. 

if you have a nice, bright window, you might try bringing one in the house. i kept a teeny tree in front of a bank of east facing windows all winter,.

the tree grew 6'' and the root growth was amazing, so i bet figs will ripen like that.

i intend to bring my trees with fruit into my kitchen in a week or two.

Another idea is to use a greenhouse outdoors or a grow room indoors to extend the season. 

Pattee,
I would leave a few on the trees (1 or 2 older figs) just in case the weather stays warm.
I have followed Martin's and Herman2"s advise since last year, and I have been able to taste ripe figs from most of my plants, by removing all the figs that do not stand a chance of getting ripe.

Since it takes 90 -120 days for figs to ripen from the embryonic stage, you can remove any figs that will need more time past your first frost date (if they were formed after July 7), some cultivars are at the beginning (Celeste, Improved Celeste, Italian Honey) and some are at the end (VDB, Scotts Black, Green Ischia, Papa John). Since the weather has been relatively warm in the daytime, we may have another 2-3 weeks. The colder night temperatures (High 30's to 40's) have not stopped the figs from ripening at my location, and you are usually warmer. I'm still harvesting Hardy Chicago, Papa John, VDB, LSU Gold and a few unknowns from 2 year old and younger trees.

BTW, oiling only works if the figs are near the end of their ripening cycle (90 - 120 days).

Susie , thanks , I do take some small/baby trees indoors every year. If my Blk Mad does not have time to ripen outside , I will take that one in also. I'd really like to taste that one - I know it's young , but !

Bob , I've always wanted a green house . Maybe next year . Whole house generator and repairs have taken priority this year after Sandy.
Thanks guys - all great ideas!

Thanks Pete , I was out early this morning taking off a bunch of the smaller ones .  Adriatic JH , Malone, Dk Portuguese, Spanish Blk,Marseilles VS Blk , Chiapetta are among the ones I've only left a few on - they've swelled in the last couple of days . A couple of Adriatic had really swelled when I oiled them ,but were totally tasteless, beautiful in color though.
 
LOL I'm sure Martin will have an appropriate comment here !!

 Negronne is still being harvested- it was a work horse for me . Sal's C ,CH and Celeste are finished along with the Atreano gold's . One of my other Zaino's trees is still daily ripening - though not the black color more a grn/dk purple . Hard to really know with this weather I guess. Next year hopefully I'll know more.

Pete , I really appreciate your input .

Thanks to all for taking the time to give me your ideas also.
You guys are the best !!

Pattee, your in basically the same zone as me (Philly is also 7a) and I have picked figs into November. Hang in there, it does seem like a long time that they just sit still, but you have time, unless we get an unusually early frost, you have time.

Wow , Nov.  Barry ?  That's great , I'll have to learn to be more patient  - that's a hard one for me lol ! Hopefully the weather will cooperate. I have an area on the blue stone patio sheltered right up against the back of the house , a microclimate . That'll be the best area to keep them I think. 
Thanks Barry.

Pattee,

Too bad you can't transport them down to St. Augustine. That would give you a nice season extender.

Right Frank , that is a shame . I do have fig sitting cousins though lined up for this winter here  !! There are baby sitters , dog/cat , house,  why not fig ??!!


Martin , you crack me up !!  ツ

Good information, thanks for sharing.

Best,
Tam