Ripen Figs! 7 Tips to Boost Fig Tree Harvests in Cold Climates
7 tips to boost fig tree harvests in cold climates. Fig tree cold hardiness is one way to grow more figs. Here are 6 other things that will boost your fig harvest.
By Steven Biggs
Harvest Figs Earlier and get More Figs with these Tips
Ripen figs faster so you don't have lots of unripe fruit in the fall. Learn how to help figs ripen.
Not getting as many figs as you hoped for? Or stuck with too many unripe figs?
Fig tree cold-hardiness is only one part of getting a good fig harvest in colder climates.
If you want more ripe figs, here are other things to look at:
Grow early-ripening fig varieties
Prune your fig tree to get more figs
Wake up your fig tree early enough
Know when to pinch branches in the summer
Choosing the best spot for your fig tree
Extend your fall fig harvest
Keep reading if you want tips to get more figs and speed up the ripening process. Then you can harvest more ripe figs. Even if you're gardening where fig-growing is borderline—or where fig trees are not hardy and need winter protection.
7 Tips to Boost Your Cold-Climate Fig Harvest
Grow Cold-Hardy Fig Varieties
Some fig varieties tolerate more cold than others. That means that you’re less likely to have branches die back during cold weather. And a cold-hardy fig variety that loses fewer branches over the winter can grow you more figs!
Cold hardiness is especially helpful when you’re growing figs outdoors, where a plant gets exposed to more extreme temperatures. Having a cold-hardy fig variety becomes less important if you're growing potted figs that are stored somewhere protected.
A well-known hardy fig variety is ‘Chicago Hardy.'
Along with the cold hardiness of a variety, there are other things that affect how much cold a fig tree can withstand. Here's more on fig tree cold hardiness.
Find out some of the top cold-hardy fig varieties for cold climates.
2. Choose Fig Varieties that Ripen Early
A breba fig, growing early in the season on wood from the previous season. Breba figs ripen much earlier than the “main crop” figs that ripen in late summer and fall.
If you're in a colder climate, chances are that the limiting factor to fig ripening is the season length. There's never enough time for figs to ripen...never enough ripe fruit.
So pick a fig variety that ripens early.
Here are 2 types of figs to consider as you look for early-ripening fig varieties:
Breba Figs
If you're in a cold climate, make sure you have a fig variety that produces “breba” figs – the figs that form mid-summer on growth from the previous season. (Some people call the breba crop the "first-crop figs" or "early crop.")
They're the earliest. Period.
Find out some of the top breba fig varieties for cold climates.
Early-Ripening Main Crop Figs
Look for fig varieties with a main crop that ripens early.
The “main crop” figs are the figs that form on wood from the current season.
My favourite main-crop fig variety is ‘Ronde de Bordeaux.’ There are many other early main-crop fig varieties. Find out some of the top early-ripening fig varieties for cold climates.
3. Grow a Fig Bush
A well-branched bush has more branches than a tree.
And more branches means more figs.
Plus, if you're in a cold climate, more branches is like having fig insurance…so if some die off over the winter, you're more likely to have a few left to give you figs.
Besides, what are you going to do with a huge fig tree over the winter? A compact fig bush is easier to protect, whether you're wrapping it or tipping it over to cover.
Here's more information about what to do with fig trees over the winter in cooler climates.
Growing figs in a cooler climate?
Find out how to choose fig varieties, give your fig tree the care it needs, the best winter protection, and how to ripen figs earlier in the fig masterclass.
Growing fig trees in a greenhouse. These fig trees are waking up early. They're getting an early start with tomato seedlings.
4. Wake Up Fig Trees Early
Because season length is a limiting factor to fruit ripening, waking up fig trees early in the spring can give you more ripe figs in the fall. You're just giving them a longer growing season and more time to ripen figs.
The challenge for a lot of cold-climate fig growers in the spring is finding a spot that's protected. You need a protected spot to guard against cold winds and frost because once your fig trees come out of dormancy, the new tender growth is easily damaged.
One solutions is to create a temporary shelter for an early wake-up. Like a hoop house or lean-to covered with clear plastic. Or maybe you have a sun room or some sort of protected space.
Or, if you are growing potted figs, bring them outside on warm days to help them wake up. But put them back into a protected spot when it gets cold. (I call this the springtime “fig shuffle.”)
5. Pinch Fig Shoot Tips
Pinch fig shoot tips after 4 or 5 main-crop figs have formed.
The new branches on your fig tree keep getting longer all summer, with more and more little main-crop figs forming. But, realistically, only the first few main-crop figs will ripen in a cold climate.
So after 4 or 5 little main-crop figs are growing on a branch, pinch the shoot tip to slow down branch growth. Otherwise, when fall arrives, you'll have long branches full of unripe figs.
This pinching favours the development of those 4 or 5 fruit.
6. Turn up the Heat to Ripen Faster
Ripen figs faster! Paving materials take up heat by day and release it as temperatures cool in the evening, giving extra heat for the ripening process.
Choose a warm location. More heat means more figs ripening in your short season.
If you're growing potted figs, place them somewhere warm:
On a dark-coloured driveway or patio
Next to a brick wall or stone wall that captures and releases heat from sunlight
When planting fig trees in the ground, look for somewhere warm:
A south-facing exposure next to a stone wall
Next to a sunny driveway
You can also provide more heat to ripen figs with a simple structure such as a greenhouse with no walls. (Here's how one fig grower in the cool-summered Pacific Northwest boosts summer heat to ripen main-crop figs.)
Here's an innovative way to ripen figs in the Pacific Northwest, where summers are cool: A greenhouse that has no walls. This greenhouse is not for winter protection—just to pump up the temperature in the summer to help ripen main-crop figs.
7. Extend the Fall Fig-Ripening Window
Here's what my friend Joe does to ripen figs in the fall: As cool weather arrives, he covers the hoops with clear plastic to extend the fig harvest for a few weeks. Ripe figs keep coming!
If you want more ripe figs before your fig trees go dormant for the winter, delay dormancy to keep the ripening process going. Fig season doesn't have to end with the first fall frost.
You can delay dormancy by keeping your fig plants warm during cold spells. Cover in-ground fig plants with a temporary structure, or move potted plants into a protected location.
A hoop house is a low-tech temporary structure. I’ve also seen people make a temporary lean-to against a building, covered with clear plastic.
FAQ: Ripe Figs
I've heard that some fig growers put a drop of olive oil over the "eye" of the fig to speed up the ripening time. Is that true?
Pin this post about how to ripen figs!
Yes. Putting a drop of olive oil over the eye of fully sized unripe figs is a traditional method to speed up the ripening process.
I don't use olive oil. Simply too many other things to do in the garden. But the idea has merit because putting olive oil over the eye of the fig fruit helps to hold in ethylene gas, which is involved in the ripening process.
How can you determine fig ripeness?
Good question. Try to harvest at peak ripeness, because once picked, an unripe fig won't ripen any further. If you pick a fig and see white, milky sap, it’s not fully ripe.
A fully ripe fig is slightly soft. If you gently press on it, it might retain your fingerprint.
The neck of ripe figs bends, so the ripe fruit hangs downwards.
Ripe figs sometimes, but not always, have a drop of liquid coming out of the eye of the fruit.
What can I do with unripe figs?
There are a number of ways of preserving figs, including unripe figs. If you still have green figs and there's a frost warning, pick figs.
Here are ideas for preserving figs. (And for using fig leaves, fig sap, and fig wood to create delicious fig recipes!)
Videos to Help You Ripen More Figs
Here's a video that tackles what to do about unripe figs.
Here's a video with more tips about waking up your fig trees early, so that you're not stuck with lots of unripe fruit at the end of the season.
Find This Helpful?
Enjoy not being bombarded by annoying ads?
Appreciate the absence of junky affiliate links for products you don’t need?
It’s because we’re reader supported.
If we’ve helped in your food-gardening journey, we’re glad of support. You can high-five us below. Any amount welcome!
More Information About Growing Figs
Want to know how to use green figs that don't ripen in the fall? Wondering if the Chicago Hardy fig is a good choice?
Check out the library of posts about growing fig trees in cooler climates. Find out what other fig growers do, get ideas for winter protection, and get creative ideas to help you grow lots of your own fresh figs.
Not sure where to start? Check out with these posts:
Books About Growing Figs in Cold Climates
Growing figs in a cooler climate? These books focus on how to grow figs where they won't normally survive the winter. Learn how to conquer winter and harvest figs!
Fig Books
Fig Audiobook
Fig Masterclass
Growing Figs Where They’re Not Winter Hardy?
Find out how to choose fig varieties, give your fig tree the care it needs, the best winter protection, and how to ripen figs earlier in the fig masterclass.
Olives: Another Exotic Crop for Cold Climates
How to Ripen Figs Faster in a Cold Climate
Got Unripe Figs? Find out How to Ripen Figs Faster in a Cold Climate
By Steven Biggs
Why Won’t My Figs Ripen?
Lots of Figs...Unripe Figs
“Help! I have lots of unripe figs. My figs aren’t ripening!” I start to get messages about figs not ripening in late summer.
After a summer of caring for a fig tree, people want more than bullet-hard green figs. There’s nothing more disheartening that frost arriving before you’ve tasted any of your homegrown ripe figs.
For gardeners in cold climates (and moderate maritime climates such as the Pacific Northwest) figs not ripening early enough is a common challenge.
Luckily, there are ways to get your figs to ripen earlier. Keep reading to find out how to ripen figs faster.
Reasons Figs Don’t Ripen in Cold Climates
There are a few reasons figs don’t ripen early enough in places with short summers or mild summers.
A late start in spring
Poor choice of fig varieties
Not enough heat
In this post, we’ll look at adding heat to speed up the ripening process, so you can enjoy fresh figs.
Get more fig-ripening ideas in my post 7 Tips to Boost Northern Fig Tree Harvests.
How to Ripen Figs
To Ripen Unripe Figs, Focus on Heat
In areas with short summers extra heat is one way to get figs to ripen faster—before winter arrives.
Extra heat is also helpful in areas that have cool summers, like the Pacific Northwest.
To give a fig tree extra heat there are a couple of simple things gardeners can do:
Grow the fig tree in the warmest possible location
Capture heat around the fig tree
Let’s first explore location—and then think about heat-capture season-by-season.
Choose a Warm Location
Choose a warm location. More heat means more figs ripening during a short season.
Place a potted fig plant somewhere warm, such as a surface that catches and releases heat from the sun:
On a dark-coloured driveway or paved area
Next to a brick or stone wall
When planting fig trees in the ground, pick somewhere warm:
A south-facing exposure next to a wall
Next to a sunny driveway
My neighbour Natalie has a fig tree on a driveway, next to a stone wall. This is a warm spot that speeds up ripening.
Get Your Fig Trees Through Winter
And eat fresh homegrown figs!
Extra Heat in Spring
My fig mentor Adriano, next to the temporary greenhouse he used to get his potted fig trees growing earlier in the spring.
Extra heat in the spring helps to get your fig tree growing sooner…and that means it will produce figs sooner.
Getting fig trees growing early in the spring is always a balancing act. That’s because once they start to grow, the tender growth can be damaged by frost.
A greenhouse or temporary shelter is one way to provide extra heat in the spring to get dormant fig trees growing, while still sheltering them from frost.
Here are a couple of things I do in my garden to give fig trees extra heat in the spring:
I have some low-growing fig trees below ground level, in a trench. All I need to do to protect them for winter is cover the trench. I cover it with a clear sash—so as sunny spring days arrive, I can let light into the trench to warm things up earlier.
I have some fig trees shaped as ground-level cordons (one horizontal stem, a couple of inches above the ground). I can just pile leaves or straw over them for winter protection. Next to these cordons I have a low, south-facing stone wall. In spring, when I uncover these figs, I can lean an old glass door over top—with the stone wall at the back—to give the dormant step-over figs a warm space (The stone wall absorbs heat by day, releasing it by night.)
Boost Summer Heat
Bob Duncan pointing to a fig tree at his nursery. His climate is warm enough over the winter that fig trees don’t need protection…but cool summers mean main-crop figs don’t ripen well.
Here in Toronto I’m not worried about boosting summer heat. We have cold winters—but we also have hot summers.
It’s not like that everywhere.
Giving a fig tree extra heat over the summer is important in areas with cool summers, such as the Pacific Northwest, or other maritime climates.
Bob Duncan runs Fruit Trees and More nursery in Sidney B.C. He has mild winters, so his figs don’t need any protection over the winter. But he also has mild summers.
The mild summers mean that ripening main-crop figs (figs that form on wood from the current season) is challenging. Most fig growers in the Pacific Northwest, he says, focus on varieties the form a breba crop of figs (the early crop that forms on wood from the previous season.)
Find out more about breba figs.
Bob built a greenhouse with open sides to jack up summertime temperatures. The higher temperature within the greenhouse ripens main-crop figs.
Open-sided greenhouse. It’s not for winter protection—it’s to make conditions warmer over the summer.
Maintain Fall Heat
As fall arrives, nights are cooler and ripening slows.
Extra heat in the fall can speed up ripening of figs while also prolonging the ripening window.
To give a fig tree more heat in the fall, a temporary, unheated greenhouse works well. It also protects a fig tree from mild frosts and extends the harvest period by a couple of weeks.
Below, Joe from JCJ Acres has metal hoops over his figs, but only installs a tarp to protect the fig trees and ripen figs faster in the fall.
Other Ways to Ripen Figs Faster
Get more ideas to ripen figs faster in my post 7 Tips to Boost Northern Fig Tree Harvests.
FAQ: Ripen Figs Faster
Pin this post!
Will figs ripen off the tree?
No. That’s why a perfectly ripe fig picked straight from the tree is better than a store-bought fresh fig. Commercially produced figs are picked before optimal ripeness—so that they have a longer storage life.
Which months do figs ripen?
Here in Toronto, my breba figs ripen in late July and August. The main-crop figs ripen August until the trees go dormant, usually late October.
But when your figs will ripen depends on where you are, the weather—and the variety you’re growing.
What do ripe figs look like? When are figs ripe?
Here are tips to help when harvesting figs. Tell-tale signs that a fig is ripe are:
A soft neck, causing the fruit to droop
The fig retains the impression of fingerprints when gently squeezed
A drop of liquid coming out of the “eye” of the fruit (but not with all varieties)
If you pick figs and see white sap, you haven't let them ripen fully.
What does an unripe fig taste like?
The unripe fruit is not as soft and silky as ripe fruit. And the unripe figs are not nearly as sweet.
Are ripe figs green?
Sometimes. But figs come in many colours.
Here’s a guide to fig varieties for cold climates.
What can you do with unripe figs?
You can’t ripen them. But if they’re nearly ripe, I like to roast them. Find out how I use unripe figs. (Delicious!)
Video on Ripening Figs Faster
Find This Helpful?
Enjoy not being bombarded by annoying ads?
Appreciate the absence of junky affiliate links for products you don’t need?
It’s because we’re reader supported.
If we’ve helped in your food-gardening journey, we’re glad of support. You can high-five us below. Any amount welcome!
More on How to Grow Figs
More Fig Articles
Head back to the fig home page to search for fig articles by topic.
Books About Growing Figs in Cold Climates
Growing figs in a cooler climate? These books focus on how to grow figs where they won't normally survive the winter. Learn how to conquer winter and harvest figs!
Fig Books
Fig Audiobook
Find out how to grow figs in a cold climate while you drive, garden, or work out at the gym!
Fig Masterclass
The self-paced online fig masterclass gives you everything you need to know to grow and harvest your own figs in a cold climate!
Hi, We’re Steve and Emma!
We help people grow food on balconies, in backyards, and beyond—whether it’s edible landscaping, a vegetable garden, container gardens, or a home orchard.
Fig Masterclass
This self-paced, virtual Fig Masterclass is hosted by Horticulturist and Cold-Climate Fig Expert Steven Biggs.
