Rethinking ripening

Author

Comment

pitangadiego

Moderator
Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1382234023	Reply with quote #1

It has been 80-85F for a week, and will be for another week. Humidity is in low 20s. Cool nights, warm days, clear skies. Gorgeous. Figs that ripened in 80-85F in late August are ripening in the same daytime temps, but are not near as good. They may still be acceptable, but still lack the "wow". The only difference that I see is cooler nights, 55-60F instead of 70ish, and the days are shorter, so there is less daylight/sunshine. I am thinking nighttime temps and the shorter days are an issue, even though the daytime temps are nearly identical. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

johnnyq627

Registered:1366344367
Posts: 710

Posted 1382236439	Reply with quote #2

I've been having the same problems in my unheated greenhouse. 90 during the day but 55 at night. I'm wondering if a grow light to extend the lighting period would allow more sugars to be produced. Nick __________________ Nick- Youtube: PA Figs \| eBay: tdepoala Zone 6B/7A - Douglassville, PA Wish list - Galicia Negra, Paritjal Rimada, Black Ischia UCD

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1382238597	Reply with quote #3

Same issue here Jon. We have 72+ days and 60s at night. Next weekend, the cold front comes in and it will be 40s at night. I have figs ripening now too but the taste is very weak. Murcuian, Vista, Tilsbury Turkey, Marseilles, Early Violet, Adriatic JH, Strawberry, Black Jack, Blue Giant, Peter's Honey, NdC, etc but the taste was nothing. __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

aphahn

Registered:1354927274
Posts: 321

Posted 1382239872	Reply with quote #4

Hmmm, I have been wondering the same thing. So far I have not had the flavor I remember in the figs I have grown in CO. Our cooler nights are one thing I suspect might play a roll. Though no doubt young trees do too. __________________ Andy - Zone 6a Lat 39.9º N, Alt 5390' Westminster CO ⚘ Scion List

pitangadiego

Moderator
Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1382239907	Reply with quote #5

Nick, if nighttime temp is the issue, you need heat. If the day length is the issue, you need grow lights. Or maybe both? Don't know the answer, just know the results. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

musillid

Registered:1327758167
Posts: 1,507

Posted 1382284525	Reply with quote #6

Jon, I spent a good deal of time searching for tomatoes that would do well for me and took notice of the days to harvest listed in the ads. Invariably it took mine longer to ripen than the catalogs say. The only thing I could figure was that with my exposure I was getting fewer hours of good sunlight because of trees and buildings. This makes sense: the factory doesn't operate without the energy supply and in this case, it's sunlight. __________________ Dale non compost mentis in Zone 6a

Gina

Registered:1330452963
Posts: 2,260

Posted 1382287748	Reply with quote #7

It's not only the warmth, the length of day, but perhaps also angle of the sun - it just keeps getting lower as we head to Dec 21. Neither my figs nor tomatoes are as sweet now as they were several weeks ago. But they are still worth eating and far better than anything you can find in a store. __________________ WillsC's new fig forum: http://www.Ourfigs.com (and blueberries)

Womack

Registered:1328644960
Posts: 262

Posted 1382287945	Reply with quote #8

Jon, Your observations are consistent with my recent conditions as well. I have a feeling that both sunlight and temperature are important, but also wonder how humidity is involved to. Everyone's thoughts on this are appreciated. __________________ Womack Northwest Georgia 7b Wish list: Col de Dame Gris, Black Tuscan, Socorro Black

pitangadiego

Moderator
Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1382302963	Reply with quote #9

Re: humidity, the dry air is good for keeping down mold and some forms of spoilage. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

Previous Topic | Next Topic