Figs, Figs, Figs
Two years ago I blogged about my tragic lack of figs from the fig tree in the new house. It was extra sad because the fig tree in my old house only ever produced hard inedible figs, no matter what I tried. And I really did try everything, to no avail.
But for the last two years, I’ve sprinkled potash (and some all-purpose fertilizer) underneath the fig tree in the new house, and watered it in well, and last year I got a few more. So again, I added potash to the earth, and this year I was rewarded with a lot of budding little green figs. Hard little green figs, for the most part, but I lived in hope. But I’m going away in March on my annual writing retreat, and I was worried that I’d miss the fig harvest completely.
Then tonight I went outside to investigate the barking coming from my garden — Milly on possum patrol — I always bring her in by nine o’clock so she doesn’t annoy the neighbors. But seeing as I was there, I checked the figs, just in case. And lo! I found several, quite large and perfectly soft and ripe. I picked them, and here they are in the photo. I’ve eaten one already and it was as delicious as I remembered — almost jammy in taste and texture. They really are the nicest figs I’ve ever eaten, and I’ve eaten a lot in my time. I only ate one tonight — yes, I know, such restraint! — because I have friends coming for dinner tomorrow night and I’m keeping the rest for them. And will look for some more ripe ones in the morning.
I’m not sure what kind of fig it is, but I’m guessing it’s a White Adriatic fig. Whatever it is, it’s delicious.
Lucky Anne! Those are beautiful figs! You are more generous than I – I fear I would have eaten them all standing by the tree! I grew up with fig trees almost anywhere you looked, but here in the northern US, they can’t take the winters. So my wonderful husband grows 3 kinds for me in increasingly larger pots, which we haul into the garage for the winter months. Perhaps it’s because they are confined to pots, but last year we got only small, hard, never-ripening figs, after years of good production—such a disappointment! I don’t know about Australia but… Read more »
Thanks, Constance. Figs in stores here are also ridiculously expensive, I suppose because they don’t travel well. They are never as nice as just off a tree, either. I remember one time in a fruit and vegie store I saw some beautiful figs at a great price — something like $2.50 a kilo. So I filled a bag, picking out the ones that felt just right. But when I got to the checkout, it turned out they were $2.50 each! And I was too embarrassed to take them back so I paid it. LOL Your husband is a hero, tending… Read more »
I love figs! There are some enormous fig trees on the south side of a big stone building where I went to grad school in Washington, D.C.. Most students did not have a clue. I did run into our department secretary once under the boughs!
They are barely hardy where we live, but I keep threatening to pull out one of the big hollies on the south side of our house and give it a try.
Congratulations on your crop!
Fantastic you are amazing. Haven’t had a fig in years wish I could try yours Miss Gracie AMAZING – pat wood
I wish I could send you some of my figs, Pat. Thanks.
Thanks, Robin — it’s such a treat to go out every morning and pick whatever is just perfectly ripe. It’s funny that the other students didn’t recognize that it was a fig tree, but I shouldn’t be surprised. I didn’t know about loquats until my evening class students were gathered around a tree, helping themselves to the small golden fruits.
An update Ann: A person on out Facebook “Buy Nothing” page (a neighborhood group dedicated to sharing and reducing waste) pruned her fig and gave me a couple of shoots. So far they don’t look like they are doing anything, but cross your fingers for me that they sprout.
Best of luck with them Robin. My neighbor got a lot of figs from my tree this year. One from shoot that grew under the fence, and one from a cutting she made.
How wonderful. I remember, many years ago, the dh bringing and huge bag of them back from Libya. Just amazing.
Oh, how lovely, Liz. What a feast! One of my oldest friend’s mum was from North Wales, and when she had a stroke, her sisters came out from Wales for a last visit, and I gave them each a jar of home-made apricot jam, made from her recipe with the apricots from her tree. She lived not far from me and used to get me around every year when they were ripe to pick them for her. I remember one of the sisters saying, “Fancy that — apricot jam with apricots from the tree in her back garden!” as if… Read more »