Racing the Winter

[Taverna78]

Ciao Everyone,

So out here in Chicago the seasons can change over night. We can go from 85F and humid to 40F the next day and then stay there. In reality we will get them snaps but most the time our super smart millionaire weather man is wrong 95% of the time and we really never known what's ganna happen till it do.
Being I haven't caught the smartypant Squirrl yet (ouuu he ganna get it to!) every figs I've tried I've had to pick off and ripen fully in brown bag to taste it. (Tis just by my home no farm. I need very big trap to catch my brother and his kids so I can taste some of them ahahaha)
so some of my trees at house still have tons of big unripe fig. Mostly all I-258. Now with bi39 I always put oil on eye to ripen faster. BUT i-258 eye is all closed. I really wanna eat them before the Squirrl or a cold snap happens. Being eye is closed oil will no work correct ?
Is there secondary way to speed ripening ?

i hope everyone is happy health and enjoying life.

[Fygmalion]

Fabio, I don't know for lack of experience but I really do wish you luck in maximizing your fig ripening and opportunities to enjoy... especially the really notable and/or favorites that you have... Fall is really advancing now... here in NY Putnam we are already experiencing overnight temps dipping to low 50's and high 40's and we had one night already at 43... I am hoping to don't have a repeat of a half dozen years ago where we had something like 8 inches of snow overnight on October 8th and since everything was still leafed at and relatively lush, everything snapped and trees were damaged all over the place... Winter preparations are already underway, the fig shuffle is starting and storage accommodations are being prepared...

[jmaler]

Wow! We had a 68 last week. 1st time since spring... we are looking for 60 wednesday am. I feel for you guys north of here.

[don_sanders]

Some say that pulling leaves will speed ripening too. Some just pull leaves around the figs to expose them to light. Some pull almost all of the leaves off of the trees.

Moving to maximum sunlight might help too if they are potted and in any shade.

Shuffling during the night is a possible option to keep going when the nights get colder.

[cjccmc]

Well if they are nice trees that have been working hard for you all summer maybe they deserve a vacation. Send them to me and they'll get a sunny spot here on my patio in SoCal. When the figs ripen I'll do a video taste test and it will be just like you are here ;-)

[Fygmalion]

Conrad, you truly are a saint amongst men! :-)

[jmaler]

Fabio, I can't help you catch squirrel but this idea may get you a few figs as it has for me.

[Fygmalion]

Excellent idea. Jerry! I really like that! Have plenty of those containers around as well and if it'll keep the @@@@@@@s away from the fruit, I am all for it! I am gonna add that to the 'good idea' bucket for future use!

[jmaler]

Tony, They are saved pint blueberry containers engineered with just the right amount of air holes.

[Taverna78]

I like tis

[tinyfish]

The cool nights suck.

[Taverna78]

I don't mind them when trees are at the correct stage at the correct time of year. I love sitting in a nice chair about 50-60F with a bottle of vino watch small bonfire at night time.

[Dave]

Magic Mike check out this video Is it true? Does it work? Fuhgeddaboudit..........................

[Taverna78]

Dave I seen tis before. I think maybe I am ganna try. I have live trap out now for Squirrl. Once I get him I will remove leafs

[luzzu]

Hi Mike
I tried taking the leafs off last year but it didn't make any difference up here in the cold country