I planted my first fig tree in mid-April of this year (Hardy Chicago) and noticed about the middle of July it had pushed out maybe 6 figs or so.  I noticed just yesterday that one of them had turned completely purplish while another is about half way there.  They are not drooping nor has any 'swelling' taken place.

I have never had a fresh fig before and as this is my first tree I was wondering if anyone could weigh in on whether or not I may actually get a fig this year.  I live in Murfreesboro, TN (6b/7a) and I was curious on the ripening progression.  For instance, do they swell and then change colors or vice versa?  Are there figs that do not swell?  The 'ripest' one I have is about the diameter of a quarter, pretty firm to the touch and as stated above is definitely not drooping.  I knew when I saw the figs in July that it was going to be 'close' in terms of me getting a fresh fig as our average first frost is about the middle of October.

I'm just looking for a guess.  I'm trying not to get my hopes up but that seems fairly difficult.

Matt

I find figs usually swell and then change colour.  When they change colour witout swelling they usually drop off. 

First year fig trees are not very good at ripening figs it is usually better to thin the fruit so the tree can focus on growing.

The photo looks like you may get a ripe fig or 2 although don't judge the quality of these figs they will get better as the tree grows.  

Happy figging!

See  here

Matt...

Tree planted in ground?...or, in a container?  If containerized, bring your tree into a warmer-than-outside garage/sun porch, etc.  at night, and then back outside during the day, giving it a full, hot sun, exposure.  Keep doing this until the figs swell, and soften with sugary ripeness. Cooling night temps. will arrest ripening, and if cool enough, figs will not ripen to perfection, if at all.  Shuffling the tree into a warmer area at night and giving hot sun during the day may help Matt to eat some  ripened figs.  However, if the tree is grounded, keep your fingers crossed if the nights are getting colder.  Not much you can do for an in ground tree when nights start to cool off.  You could try oiling the eye area which may hasten ripening, but the results might be just an inferior-tasting fig, which would be a great disappointment.  In any event, if the night temperatures really take a nose dive, and there is no hope of seeing ripened figs for this season, pick off those underdeveloped figs.  There is always next season, and some seasons are better than others.

Read through all the threads about pinching fruiting branches back to 6-8 leaves....which will limit production, but, shorten the ripening time.  Don't give up.  Once a properly ripened fig is popped into your mouth, you will do what ever is needed to get your figs to ripen.  As your tree puts on some age (3-5 years) and grows a better root system, the main-crop figs will set and ripen earlier in successive seasons, depending on weather and culture.  Not allowing the development of a breba-crop of figs will also help the main-crop figs to sprout/ripen earlier.

Hope this helps.  I grow only containerized trees because it gives me more options, especially at the beginning and at the end of the season.  It's also more work, but, I get to eat figs in mid- August/early-Sept.

Frank

I had this problem with two strains of VDB in pots. They change the colour to dark bluish-black but remain hard for a long time but may ripen over time during warm/hot spell. They remain hard as long as the days are cool (even if sunny). These VDB are not young plants. Nearby, RDB potted plant will ripen its fruit relatively faster.

One observation give me doubt that such change of colour is part of the tregular ripen process. I find that sometimes if any part of the fig that is covered by shade of a leaf will stay greenish while the rest of the fruit is is very dark and hard. In my observation the fruit do not drop on these VDBs just waiting for a warm spell. 
Today is 19C max and tomorrow 21C and afterward the forecast is 12C mmaximum for the next 2 weeks (meaning the bonus good days are over) but I expect a few of the VDBs may soften.

I blame the cool weather for the phenomenon.