North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Kevin Moore <aleguy33@yahoo.com>]

John, sorry for my late response, I've gotten behind in my email again. Your figs seem to be ripening and falling off the tree. Figs only get really large in areas where they are pollinated by a particular insect that burrows into the fruit. (Can't remember the name of it right now) Without pollination, the fruits only get about in inch or so long, but they do ripen and can taste just as good as the big ones. Unless you live in California, figs' natural pollinators just can't live in your area. Try tasting your figs when they start to soften and the bottom starts to open slightly or weep.
Kevin, z9
Southern Louisiana

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From: John S <swim_at_svc@yahoo.com>
To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 7:08:08 PM
Subject: [NAFEX] Another fig question

Based on enthusiasm here, I obtained a Chicago Hardy fig a couple of years ago.  It is container grown in about a 7 gallon pot.  Two years running, it has produced figs, but the figs turn brown when about 1 inch in size and fall off.  This happens in late July I've been thinking about getting it a bigger pot, but doubt that pot size is the problem.  Any of you cold zone fig enthusiasts offer some suggestions?