Figs taste like melons?

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sonnya

Registered:1462722936
Posts: 52

Posted 1468445382	Reply with quote #1

I have had a couple real nice pretty looking figs and I have been just as excited to eat them. However, I get a taste of a melon and very bland......What up? Is this the taste of figs? __________________ Zone 8b Temple, Tx Kadota, Brown Turkey, Celesta, Chicago Hardy, LSU purple, Black Mission, Violette De Bordeaux, Texas Everbearing. I want enough figs to eat a fig each day.

Figgysid1

Registered:1413859653
Posts: 389

Posted 1468447100 · Edited	Reply with quote #2

Some do taste like melon. So far my melon flavor list is. Brown turkey Texas blue giant Magnolia White Genoa Wuhan Many others can have a watered down melon flavor if they received to much water during the ripening stage. Here is a link, it's a list of fig flavors. http://www.hawaiifruit.net/figtastescale.htm __________________ (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.

bigbadbill

Registered:1357527109
Posts: 376

Posted 1468448001	Reply with quote #3

I find that a lot of figs with a melon taste are underripe...not always, but many times the esters present are melon-like. This usually dissipates as they ripen and more berry and figgy tones take over. Again, this isn't always the case as I find Brunswick type figs to continue to carry this flavor throughout ripening. __________________ SE Pa, zone 6b https://www.facebook.com/offthebeatenpathnurseries

pitangadiego

Moderator
Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1468453680	Reply with quote #4

Often if they are under ripe they may have a cucumber taste, which might also resemble a melon taste. Under ripe may mean it was picked too soon, OR nit could mean that they ripened with insufficient sun and heat - so that they complete the ripneing "process" but do not have all the necessary inputs - sort of like leaving the sugar out of a recipe. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,712

Posted 1468456684	Reply with quote #5

Are you sure you're picking them at the right time? A day difference could go from a melon to a berry flavor. As mentioned, some figs naturally have a refreshing melon flavor. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

don_sanders

Registered:1429304713
Posts: 219

Posted 1468466823	Reply with quote #6

Haha, that first honeydew melon tasting fig is quite disappointing, isn't it? Your VDB and Hardy Chicago should have nice berry flavors. You'll probably like them much better. __________________ Don - Columbus, OH. Zone 5b/6a Wish list: Rafed/Adriano's Genovese Nero, Your favorite fig.

tennesseefig

Registered:1447835812
Posts: 216

Posted 1468469694	Reply with quote #7

Next time you should take a picture of the fig so others can tell you if it is ripe. __________________ Micah 4:4But each one shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of יְהוָה of hosts has spoken. Zone 7a, wanting: JH Adriatic, Smith, Strawberry Verte, VdB, RdB

FigWhisperer

Registered:1390447672
Posts: 106

Posted 1468485069	Reply with quote #8

We have been getting a lot of melon tasting figs this year, but this is due to the plant's age. Figs will show their true taste after the third year, that's when they start maturing. __________________ Frank Q. Figs: Food from paradise Wish-list:A good harvest :) Now you can follow http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesFigForest

SuperMario1

Registered:1441853363
Posts: 441

Posted 1468501416 · Edited	Reply with quote #9

I agree that generally most figs that have this flavor are under ripe, or at least not ripe enough to dissipate that flavor note. Some figs have a tendency to carry that melon flavor longer than others. Sometimes that melon flavor can be quite nice depending on the rest of that fig's flavors. It doesn't sound like that is what is going on for you though. Generally, every variety has the potential to make some tasty figs. You should experiment with ripeness levels of different cultivars to determine how you like "that fig". Depending on the variety, I prefer them at different stages of ripening. Some figs I leave on after they finish swelling and even after they shrink for a couple days and get wrinkly skin. Be prepared to fight wildlife if you like a particular fig at that stage though. Best of luck! __________________ 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.

arachyd

Registered:1345772821
Posts: 115

Posted 1468668897	Reply with quote #10

I have a very young tree I purchased as Italian Honey. The few figs I've gotten taste like cucumber/melon and not at all what I expect when the tree is older. __________________ Wish list: Dalmatie, LSU Gold, Ponte Tresa, 豐產黃 (Bountiful Harvest) Zone 7b

adoresfigs45

Registered:1421515059
Posts: 254

Posted 1468678763	Reply with quote #11

My Atreano had fruit for first time taste like weak honeydew it was very ripe when I ate them since it is my first fruiting fig I will eat them but I don't like them at all :(

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,363

Posted 1468698688	Reply with quote #12

If you're growing figs in pots the flavor will be all over the place from one season to the next. I've noticed that overwatering dilutes the flavor. Under watering can cause the fruit to drop, never ripens or its quality to suffer. Root overheating or root bound trees could result in poor quality of fruit also. The good news is that as the tree gets older flavor does improve. @Joyce Atreano is a great variety, just give it time. __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

heystevo

Registered:1428808274
Posts: 6

Posted 1469096219	Reply with quote #13

Quote: Originally Posted by SuperMario1 I agree that generally most figs that have this flavor are under ripe, or at least not ripe enough to dissipate that flavor note. Some figs have a tendency to carry that melon flavor longer than others. Sometimes that melon flavor can be quite nice depending on the rest of that fig's flavors. It doesn't sound like that is what is going on for you though. Generally, every variety has the potential to make some tasty figs. You should experiment with ripeness levels of different cultivars to determine how you like "that fig". Depending on the variety, I prefer them at different stages of ripening. Some figs I leave on after they finish swelling and even after they shrink for a couple days and get wrinkly skin. Be prepared to fight wildlife if you like a particular fig at that stage though. Best of luck! Little finches (birds) are a big problem now with my breba crop. I had so many different yellow figs, that I shared with the birds, but I was irritated when they started eating the hardy chicago figs, since there were only a few brebas. I will net some of my bushes when the main crop figs start. My verte brebas are ripening now, and the birds haven't discovered them yet. The green color of the ripe fruit helps. I am also gonna try using mylar reflective tape to scare the birds away. It's a little labor intensive, but should be worth the effort. I am surprised that I have had so many breba figs this season since our coldest minimum temperature this past winter was +2 degrees F......I did have some dieback, but not nearly as much as I expected. My favorite figs for flavor are Hardy Chicago and Verte. Hollier also rates very high when it's dehydrated a bit. It's one of the few "yellow" figs that has an excellent flavor. Most of my other yellow figs taste good, but very sweet, but not much fig taste. I have one fig that is not very hardy, so it's not often that I get a fig from it, but the flavor is a combination of coconut and marshmallow. I do not have the name for it, but am considering air layering it and growing it in a big pot, and maybe I can get figs more often from it. __________________ Steve Hagerman

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