Figs - harvest every year?

[Leezy2]

I've got a fig tree that's fruited for the first time this year. I think I've been given some duff info, I was told that the fruits set this year to harvest next year. They're not looking so good now after frost so I'm thinking I've been had! Advice without laughing folks!!

[Thelma Sanders]

You'll have to pick those all off, no chance of them over-wintering. They look as if you could maybe have eaten them this year. Never mind - on to next years!

Next years fruit buds will be present on the branches as tiny green buds and you should remove every single fig bigger than a pea. I also snap the final bud off of every branch, which makes more fruiting buds form.

[Leezy2]

Thanks Thelma. I thought it sounded wrong but figs are a new one to me. Next years new project is a couple of grape vines!

[fishpond]

I hope you can wait for 3 years for grapes.
I have 2 to go!

[DannyK]

Keep your fingers clear of the stalks as the sap is sticky and latexy. It's related to rubber plant.

The drooping ones are probably ripe.

[Snoop Puss]

Depends on the tree. Sometimes, but rarely, on our tree (and all those around us) we have tiny figs hold over for an early crop the following year, but usually the figs that develop in the spring are ready for eating September time the same year.

Wasps will often let you know if your figs are ripe - they love them. You can also tell by giving the figs a gentle squeeze and, of course, sampling them!

Good luck for next year.

[Scarlet]

I hope you can wait for 3 years for grapes.
I have 2 to go!

Yes, then you will have so many you won't know what to do with them!

[Issy]

I was told at The Malvern Autumn Show (bought one there) that you should cut the top off in the winter to encourage the tree to branch out and produce more figs.

[BUFFS]

I was told at The Malvern Autumn Show (bought one there) that you should cut the top off in the winter to encourage the tree to branch out and produce more figs.

just snap the end buds on each stem in February and give a handful of BFB, you will find the figs along the branches, not just the tips, that's it , just sit down and enjoy the summer...

[DannyK]

I wish mine were like this. Have got a lot of pruning to do!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB0D_tuKgtQ

[TrixC]

In hot climates, where figs originate from, it’s normal to get two crops a year - the small ‘breba’ figs that overwinter as tiny buds and then ripen in the early summer, followed by the main crop harvested in autumn. In the UK our summers aren’t warm enough so we only get the first crop. In autumn when the leaves fall you should remove any unripe fruit that’s larger than pea sized, so that the plant puts its energy into the breba crop next year.

[sparrow100]

In hot climates, where figs originate from, it’s normal to get two crops a year - the small ‘breba’ figs that overwinter as tiny buds and then ripen in the early summer, followed by the main crop harvested in autumn. In the UK our summers aren’t warm enough so we only get the first crop. In autumn when the leaves fall you should remove any unripe fruit that’s larger than pea sized, so that the plant puts its energy into the breba crop next year.

Depending on where you are you can get 2 harvests still - my neighbour reliably has 2 harvests on the tree his Italian friend gave him about 15 years ago.

[TrixC]

Interesting, do you know what variety it is? Where does your friend live?

[sparrow100]

If you mean me, he lives next to the allotment site, which is in South London on a fairly exposed site, though this particular tree is fairly sheltered. Luigi sadly passed on, but several of us have offspring from his tree on our plots. The figs come in July and then again in October - the second harvest is much smaller but it's a big tree.

[TrixC]

Yes, sorry sparrow, I meant to reply directly to your post. That’s great that so many of you are growing offspring from Luigi’s tree.

My parents’ have a massive fig tree in their garden in NZ which fruits twice a year and the second harvest is much bigger and the fruits tastier. But they are frost free and have volcanic soil, everything grows like a weed. They also have an avocado tree which is about 30 feet tall.