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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > How do I tell when my HC fig is ripe?
 
 


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AndyInNYC

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
This is my first fig ever from one of my trees.  It is a Hardy Chicago breba which started changing color over the last day or so.

What do I look for before I rip it off the tree and devour it?

Andrew

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7deuce

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
The longer you wait the better it will be. It doesn't look ready yet by the way.
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Jason V
Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/ Zone 7

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newnandawg

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
It should be hanging straight down and maybe some cracks on the skin.
rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
5 days after the birds eat it.

You should hide it now.  :)  Newspaper, organza, whatevah
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Zone 6, MO

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Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.
garden_whisperer

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Not ready. Don't get ahead of yoursellf. Post a pick again in a couple of days.
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Dave Zone 6b Illinois

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bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
it all hang loose like bull's ba.. i mean, it will look like sack of ... it will just hang down as if it's really tired.. it will winkler, and possibly crack. soft to touch.
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
Dieseler

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Example of ripe and ready Hardy Chicago breba from past.
This one not crack skin but have another not shown that did crack skin .

In short you want whats called a hangmans neck as you see here in picture. 

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sirlampsalot

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Dang, Martin, that is a thousand word picture. Good thing it has your name on it.  I have very few Hardy Chicago brebas but the main crop is loaded.
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C.H.
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Gr8Figs

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
I prefer mine wrinkly cracking ripe if the weather cooperates.

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Barry Northeast Georgia 8a Wish List:Medium-Small Size,Dark Cold Hardy Figs

Low Temperature of 4F in 2015,17F in 2016

MichaelTucson

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Ditto on what Mike newnandog, Martin, and Barry said.  Let it get extra ripe, and if not sure then late is better than early, especially with this variety.  I like 'em best when the skin cracks too.  Listen to Bob C too... you can hide it from birds if you want.  (add foil to his list of hiding techniques... I think that's what tmc uses).  Hardy Chicago are excellent figs, especially if really really ripe.

Mike 
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Cajun

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
I know we are talking about HC here, but on the ripening thing, I picked an lsu gold this afternoon, and the eye had cracked open a bit and it was very soft. I gave it smell test and I smelled spoilage, I almost chunked it over the back fence, then I thought what the hey, and bit off a chunk. The best fig I've had this year, bar none... All I'm saying is if you can get the fig 5 minutes before it spoils, that is the best it will be. The riper the better.
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Cal - Brusly, LA Zone 9a
AndyInNYC

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Another picture to memorialize my first fig (the Mount Rushmore sized bronze monument won't be ready for a few months).  Not quite ripe yet.



Andrew

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cis4elk

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Looks like that fig has a leaf associated with it, if so then that is your first main crop.
Edit) Or am I wrong?
Which brings up a good question, is that last years wood it is growing on or is it this years wood which has already turned brown? I have spot on my Smith fig tree which is green wood and figlet starting but no leaf, so is that still a main crop?
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AndyInNYC

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Picked and ate it yesterday.  22 grams and absolutely delicious.  We cut it in quarters and each had a taste.  Kids thought it tasted like a peach.

It was starting to rain really heavily and I didn't want it to get waterlogged or ruined.

Yum.

Andrew
7deuce

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Glad you liked it. I hope it's the first of many.
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Jason V
Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/ Zone 7

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