Fig Time

Who knew that when I planted a one foot tall tree last July that I would have already had 2 harvests from it?  And now, it's fig time again!

The tree is well over 7 feet now and has branched out considerably from the one lone "stick" that it was last year as a sapling.

The tree drops all it's leaves twice a year after harvest, making it look pretty pathetic.   Eventually, as the fresh green leaves come out, the tree starts to look a little prettier.   After several weeks, tiny buds appear above where the leaf attaches to the stem.   Eventually those little buds become larger and larger, becoming figs.  When the figs reach the size of a small walnut the leaf directly below it falls off, leaving more nutrition for the developing fig.

It will still be another month before they are ready to pluck off the stem and use in my favorite recipes.  Pork loin roast with port wine and fig sauce.......fresh fig jam......warm figs with goat cheese and honey.....yum! 

But first I will have to patiently wait for them to ripen.....on the tree....and keep the squirrels and racoons away.....hmmmmm, just a girl and her gun.   Naw, just kidding.  It is true, though, that the figs have to ripen on the tree because they don't ripen if picked early and brought inside, so patience is the key.

I'll let you know when they're ready,
Debbie