Good day, after dinner I strolled thru my container garden and checked on a few trees. Ventura and Marva Sika.  Both trees had ripe figs.  I did not take all of them.  I left some on for later in the week.  Marva Sika has been constantly ripening over the last 7 days.  The racoons got most of the first crop until they ate the hot meals I left for them.  I think I got most of them.  BUt they are still turning over my large pots trying to get the figs.

It's been hot here over the past few days and it will stay constant for at least another week or so, no rain.  This is perfect fig weather.   Figs are ripening every day but I'm only picking about every 2 days now. 

Two days ago I picked one totally ripe Ventura and it was crazy sweet!  I gave the other half to my wife.  After one bite she fell to the floor!  She got up laughing saying, "man that's good!"  Today, a few more ripen and just could not wait to taste them.  Here are a few pictures.  Hey they taste 10 times better than they look!  And they look absolutely terrific!  The middle one is Marva Sika.  The coons were hitting Marva Sika and my La'Goccia d'Oro so hard that I had to move them to the front of my garage.  Every night they were knocking down my tree picking the ripe figs.  I love the taste of Marva Sika.  THANK YOU BASS!!! 

TO ENLARGE THESE PIC, MOUSE OVER, RIGHT CLICK, OPEN IN NEW TAB OR WINDOW


Enjoy!

      

Glad to hear about the Ventura. Mine are fast growers.

Glad to hear that they were that good

Dennis, I've read that Ventura grows as a compact/small tree/bush and is good for a tight spot in the yard.  That would seem to not fit with what Art observed.  What do you think?  I started several green figs this year (Ventura, Adriatic JH, Battaglia Green, Atreano, Vasilika Sika, Stella etc).  I started feeling overwhelmed and gave the Ventura to a friend to try out.  If it does really well for her as it has for you I'll have to get an airlayer off of it.

I have these,  Ventura, Adriatic JH, Battaglia Green, Atreano, Vasilika Sika, Stella, Strawberry, De La Senyora, Verte, Strawberry Verte, Ischia Green, Green Paradise, and Lyndhurst White.  Out of all of those I listed, Atreano is the biggest monster!  My Ventura is straight up tree and did not grow much last year but I did not fertilizer that much this year either.  All of those I listed seem to get better with age.  I gota get me another Ventura, I love that rich fig taste.

The Ventura AD grows like a weed on steroids. The years when I saw the parent tree, current years growth was as mush as 10' and more than 1" in diameter - probably closer to 1-1/2.

They look like great figs!

Jon, I can't remember how tall my tree was last year.  This year it's 7' tall and has twice more figs.  Last year, most of my figs split and the rain soured them.  Not the case this year.

The figs look yummy but I'm curious....what is a "hot meal" for a racoon?

Sophie, 6 plastic plates each with a table spoon of warm potted meat and 2 big chunks of "Just One Bite" rat poison.  It looks like corn.

Every morning I'm out picking up 25g pots that have been pulled to the ground by coons and possums.  And they crap on my deck too!  After 7 days of feeding them their last meal, today no pots were on the ground but all 6 plates were clean.  I had one 5ft tree broken completely by them and other trees bent down at a 30 degree angle.  I got tired of trapping them.

Dennis,

I had a similar problem but on a smaller scale (although I have gazillions of squirrels, they go 10 to 1 for a coon).
I used the coyote urine pellets, I was surprised that they actually worked! I got them at OSH.
For the past 2 weeks my pots were not touched by the pests (or I cannot tell, which is the same to me).
Have you tried them?
That is not a poison, just a repellent.

I am glad to hear about Ventura. I had neglected my tree for over 5 yrs as the figs never ripen. But this
warmer spring & summer, I have lots of figs on Ventura and not taking any chances, I have moved it to
the green house. Thanks for the info Dennis. My wife & friends will be happy to enjoy them.

Go Dennis Go, where do you buy the one bite?

Sophie, I see your point. I too live in the city and yes some dogs and cats roam the neighbor hood along with coyotes and foxes. I can't tell neighbors to keep their animals indoors. I tried that. We have a leash law but it's not enforced unless someone complains or gets bit by a dog or cat. I called the humane folks and they said they will be happy to trap the critters and relocate it. But as soon as they catch one, they drive to the top of the hill let the animal out.

So, I go a do what I gota do. Sorry. Thanks for your comment.

Tami, I buy it from Amazon. Its called Just One Bite. Here is the link for the Just one Bite Bar. I buy in bulk and get the 10lb bucket. I got a lot of critters.

Thanks Dennis, as you already know I am trapping and drowning it's not going as fast as I had hoped. Right after I read your post last night the dog goes nuts and I look out back and there were 3 of the damn things just looking right back at me. GRRRRR
So, Do you mix it with the potted meat or just on top?