artificial fig ripening

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GeneDaniels

Registered:1384021772
Posts: 1,014

Posted 1464557856	Reply with quote #1

I just read that figs are considered a "climacteric fruit," i.e. they respond to ethylene gas when ripening. That means we should be able to "finish up" almost ripe figs in a brown bag with a ripe apple or banana. But it seems like everyone says that will not work. Anyone care to shed some light on this? __________________ Zone 7b (Central Arkansas) Seven trees in the ground: Hardy Chicago, Celeste(?), LSU gold, Italian Black, Southern Brown Turkey(?), Strawberry Verte, and Unk yellow. Trees in pots: VdB, CdD, and Sicilian?

GeneDaniels

Registered:1384021772
Posts: 1,014

Posted 1464611136	Reply with quote #2

Just a bump - it looks like everyone is stumped by this like I am ;-) __________________ Zone 7b (Central Arkansas) Seven trees in the ground: Hardy Chicago, Celeste(?), LSU gold, Italian Black, Southern Brown Turkey(?), Strawberry Verte, and Unk yellow. Trees in pots: VdB, CdD, and Sicilian?

andreas

Registered:1401724296
Posts: 372

Posted 1464614620	Reply with quote #3

figs do not ripen after you remove them from the tree. they slowly spoil... so, while they apear to get softer the taste does not get better. __________________ andreas-patras Patra Peloponnisos Greece zone..9a

GeneDaniels

Registered:1384021772
Posts: 1,014

Posted 1464618808	Reply with quote #4

Maybe that's the difference. Because some of the agricultural articles I read said that they do respond to ethylene, but I get it just makes them softer. __________________ Zone 7b (Central Arkansas) Seven trees in the ground: Hardy Chicago, Celeste(?), LSU gold, Italian Black, Southern Brown Turkey(?), Strawberry Verte, and Unk yellow. Trees in pots: VdB, CdD, and Sicilian?

SuperMario1

Registered:1441853363
Posts: 441

Posted 1464653054	Reply with quote #5

I have not tried the bag method, but give it a shot. I know that when they are picked they stop ripening under normal conditions. __________________ Wish list: Galicia Negra, Violetta, Violette de Sollies, Dan_la's Black Beauty 10, Craven's Craving, Most important: YOUR FAVORITE FIG. A lot of people put emphasis on popular/exotic cultivars, which is great because it highlights some of the better fig varieties; however, I am most interested in the figs our members love regardless of pedigree. Currently Growing: a bunch of varieties.

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1464690280	Reply with quote #6

Hi, If almost ripe, you can leave them figs on a counter to get a bit more ripe. Some get better . Some may spoil . One or two days max in my experience. If not ripe ... I wouldn't chance it. The reason is that the inside does develop really at the end of the ripening process unlike bananas and tomatoes . Good luck if you decide to try it. __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

johnjay7491

Registered:1427833258
Posts: 74

Posted 1464712103	Reply with quote #7

Gene I can't say from personal experience that they will ripen after being picked with or without ethylene gas. However there is plenty of literature to support the fact that it is common practice to gash Sycamore figs while on the tree to force them to ripen. The gash will cause the damaged fruit to release ethylene and cause ripening. Here's a link for this. https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Hort_306/reading/Reading%2010-2.pdf If any of this applicable to the common fig I don't know. Also there is an old GardenWeb post that discusses ripening after being picked with differing opinions. However if you read down Bass (bonsaist) claims he had done this and attributes it to the ethylene gas. http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1891588/will-figs-continue-to-ripen I think it's worth a try On the different note this guy has his own technique to force ripening. Not sure what to make of it but I have seen some of my trees continue to ripen after a frost and the leaves have fallen. __________________ John NH Z5

GeneDaniels

Registered:1384021772
Posts: 1,014

Posted 1464712975	Reply with quote #8

Thanks everyone. I am planning to try this with some almost ripe ones late in the season. I'll do a paper bag with a apple inside (to supply the ethylene). I'll post about it then __________________ Zone 7b (Central Arkansas) Seven trees in the ground: Hardy Chicago, Celeste(?), LSU gold, Italian Black, Southern Brown Turkey(?), Strawberry Verte, and Unk yellow. Trees in pots: VdB, CdD, and Sicilian?

Frank_The_Tank

Registered:1463061605
Posts: 15

Posted 1464781898	Reply with quote #9

I have heard and seen this work. Take a needle (or a pin), dip the tip in olive oil...insert the tip into the base of the fig. This will help the fig ripen over the next few days to a week. My dad and friends do this at the end of the season to get them to ripen quicker. Anyone else seen this or done this? __________________ Broome County, NY USDA Hardiness Zone 5a/5b

Jodi

Registered:1443230258
Posts: 343

Posted 1464835862	Reply with quote #10

I have put olive oil on a cutip and then rubbed about a drop on the eye of figs at the end of the season. It worked really well for me. I put it on the biggest figs in succession and they ripened in correspondance with the oil application, a couple of days. And it seems to speed up the decay process altogether. They spoil even faster. But for me and my friend Daisy, who has a huge IBT, we thought it gave us a lot of figs we would not have seen ripen if we had not "rubbed their tummies with olive oil". Its a practice we will continue to use, anything to get more figs ripe. ;-) __________________ In the book the "The Meaning of Trees" it is said the fig regulates the heart and that the true essence of Figs is...food for the soul. Daisy's IBT cuttings will be available in January/February along with a few Lampeira Parda. Wishes for Martinenca Rimada, Black Ischia, I258, CddRoja, Jolly Tiger, Your favorite Figgy! Zone 8a Camp Verde AZ

Frank_The_Tank

Registered:1463061605
Posts: 15

Posted 1464883927	Reply with quote #11

Good to hear Jodi...basically the same result we have had. Very cool! __________________ Broome County, NY USDA Hardiness Zone 5a/5b

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1464891062	Reply with quote #12

If I was going to expose a fig to ethylene I'd do it while the fig was still on the tree. I guess I'll have to find some. :) __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: 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.

Figgysid1

Registered:1413859653
Posts: 389

Posted 1464892504 · Edited	Reply with quote #13

Quote: Originally Posted by rcantor If I was going to expose a fig to ethylene I'd do it while the fig was still on the tree. I guess I'll have to find some. :) Same idea as me. ;) Just did this yesterday, I got a large plastic bag, put 15 overripe bananas in it and tied the whole bag tightly to the end of a branch with stagnant stage figs on it. I read it only needs to be on for 24 hours for it to be effective. We shall see. All figs on that tree formed at the same time, so it should provide a meaningful example of its effectiveness, if it works. __________________ (Zone 12a) Big Island, Hawaii, 2,400 ft elevation, Fern Forest. Avg. July High 77,Avg.Jan.Low 56 Precipitation days 290, annual rainfall 201.80 inches.

Jodi

Registered:1443230258
Posts: 343

Posted 1464897168	Reply with quote #14

Sounds like valuable info. Especially for late in the season when I seem to lots of late ripening ones. Looking forward to hearing about your experience. ;-) __________________ In the book the "The Meaning of Trees" it is said the fig regulates the heart and that the true essence of Figs is...food for the soul. Daisy's IBT cuttings will be available in January/February along with a few Lampeira Parda. Wishes for Martinenca Rimada, Black Ischia, I258, CddRoja, Jolly Tiger, Your favorite Figgy! Zone 8a Camp Verde AZ

GeneDaniels

Registered:1384021772
Posts: 1,014

Posted 1464961022	Reply with quote #15

Quote: Originally Posted by Figgysid1 Same idea as me. ;) Just did this yesterday, I got a large plastic bag, put 15 overripe bananas in it and tied the whole bag tightly to the end of a branch with stagnant stage figs on it. I read it only needs to be on for 24 hours for it to be effective. We shall see. All figs on that tree formed at the same time, so it should provide a meaningful example of its effectiveness, if it works. Yes, please keep us informed about how this goes __________________ Zone 7b (Central Arkansas) Seven trees in the ground: Hardy Chicago, Celeste(?), LSU gold, Italian Black, Southern Brown Turkey(?), Strawberry Verte, and Unk yellow. Trees in pots: VdB, CdD, and Sicilian?

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