When is the correct time to remove the small figs from my BrownTurkey fig ?

Question

This is the UK - they will only mature and ripen once a year because the summer is too short. Unlike other countries where you're lucky enough to have two crops a year.

For interest: I decided that I'd leave them on year before last, hopeful that global warming would provide me with another lot. It didn't and I also didn't have my usual summer crop!

Answer 1

Pruning Fig Trees.
~Pruning best carried out in spring before new growth starts; figs fruit on last years growth so you shouldn't prune ALL of last years branches off or you won't get fruit.
~Best way - prune away any thin, damaged or overcrowded branches to keep the fan open which will allow light and air into the tree.
~AT THE SAME TIME AS PRUNING any large fruit embryos that were left over from last year should be removed; this may seem strange but only the TINY fruit embryos that were formed late the previous season will have survived; anything over the size of a pea that is on the tree in March is unlikely to develop fully, but will take the strength from the other fruits.
~ Embryo figs still on the tree in April will not ripen, damage caused by frosts can clearly be seen on the fruit but the tree will attempt to mature them at the expense of smaller more protected embryos. These figs should be removed to prevent waste of energy.
~ DONT FORGET TO KEEP WELL WATERED, particulary during dry spells.

Answer 2

FIG

(Ficus carica).– This is best grown in poor soil, such as gravel. Mortar rubble or chalk should be freely added to garden soil before planting.
The fig grows three crops of fruit a year. In this country only one matures, that is, the last of the three. Fruits are formed in autumn and mature the following summer. Any large fruits seen on the trees in September should be removed. 'No other pruning is needed. Under Glass figs are grown in large pots. The varieties placed in bottom heat in late October, will produce fruit in March.
http://www.spanish-property-today.com/spain/gardening.htm

Answer 3

Received wisdom: in autumn before the frost kills them anyway.
But: Experience from taking that advice; 2 figs this year! So I am leaving them on and only removing ones that go black. Ask again next year to see how I did.

Answer 4

I also had figs, Figs are ripe when the fig feels soft to the touch, when they start to weep at the base of the frute they are fully ripe, and need to be picked soon.

Answer 5

Take the ones that seem to have a slight cracking on the skin, or just try one to see if it is ripe, remember they dont keep for a long time so better to take them when needed.