After Hurricane Katrina knocked down my neighbor’s big, old, rotten hackberry tree, I planted an “LSU Purple” fig in the newly-sunny backyard spot. Five years later, and I JUST picked the first two ripe figs off of this sorry lil’ tree. Yes, two. I think another three might ripen soon, but no more: 5 years…and my harvest is five figs. Whoopee. No photos, as I was so excited I devoured both in seconds.
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For some reason, after two skimpy years, my fig tree is going absolutely insane right now. I’ve got hundreds of figs; there are even some left over for me after the birds get their fill. We’ve been having figs with balsamic and creme fraiche pretty much every night. Delicious.
Sigh….one day, I’ll get to make some backyard fig preserves, or a fig upside down cake, or some fig gelato…
Come to Baton Rouge – my friend Kim will share Celeste. Her tree is loaded.
I think I found a fig tree on my dog walk. If so, I will alert you to its location as it is booming right now. They arent ripe yep but there are these green orbs dangling behind her leaves.
Where does one find an fig expert?
The LSU Ag Center, my favorite source for all things horticultural, has a publication on figs: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/food_health/food/preservation/home/Louisiana+Figs.htm
Just because you see green figs doesn’t mean they’ll ripen. Some trees are caprifigs, meaning they produce only male fruit that eventually drops off the tree. Keep walkin’ by the tree, and look for fat, glossy fruit (some figs are yellow/golden, some brown or purplish red). FYI, rats like figs, too.