Arizona Chickens

[desertmarcy]

... also while on the topic of figs. Does anyone know if the first set of fruit from trees is a little off? I see the pics of figs, and on the outside that's what my "first" figs looked like (prior to me realizing the tree was trying to commit suicide), but the insides weren't nearly that red. They were "slightly" pink, and weren't particularly good. I've never (I don't think) had a fresh fig before though so I'm not sure if I don't like figs or if the figs that were grown were just not developed enough.

Wait until the fruit starts to really droop from the stem. That's when they are ripe. If you pick them when they are still upright, they are edible, but not nearly as good and sweet.

 

[tsuninight]

Wait until the fruit starts to really droop from the stem. That's when they are ripe. If you pick them when they are still upright, they are edible, but not nearly as good and sweet.

They were. They'd turned kind of a dark purple and were more or less falling off the little tree. That being said I think the three was struggling then too. The thing had more figs than it had leaves. I bet if it survives next year they'll be better. I'm probably going to keep taking them off when they're itty bitty until the tree starts looking healthier.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

We got talked into a Fig when we were fruit tree shopping. My Lemon, Tangelo, ant Truvita (sp?) are all doing fine.. .but that freaking fig.... well it's just sad. I emailed the nursery after it lost nearly all of it's leaves and was told i needed to water it more. She told us we needed to do a 2-3 hour drip on it a week + normal watering. Plus I get trees don't exactly have survival instincts, but this one is more interested in producing figs that leaves. I have spent the entire spring and so far summer yanking figs off the stupid little thing since I figure they are water sponges and using up too much of a struggling trees resources. It's FINALLY growing new leaves.... I don't hold out a lot of hope for it, but I'm pretty sure if it does die I'm going with another type of tree. If it does survive I'm hoping it'll be the nice shade tree I was looking for that happens to provide fruit.

... also while on the topic of figs. Does anyone know if the first set of fruit from trees is a little off? I see the pics of figs, and on the outside that's what my "first" figs looked like (prior to me realizing the tree was trying to commit suicide), but the insides weren't nearly that red. They were "slightly" pink, and weren't particularly good. I've never (I don't think) had a fresh fig before though so I'm not sure if I don't like figs or if the figs that were grown were just not developed enough.

We found that in the growing season our fig needs about 30 min./day of drip (somewhat less than 5 gallons per day) and once a week we water it deeply. Any less and it doesn't produce as many fruit and any more the leaves turn yellow. The breba (early season first) crop often fails if temperatures are low or if other resources (e.g.) water are lacking. With good conditions, our breba crop is as delicious as the main season crop. Figs are best picked at their absolute peak ripeness of each individual, on our trees that perfect window of timing is just about 24 hours long. Watch for them to droop over. If it's not one of the best things you've ever eaten, your fig wasn't ripe. You'll know it when you taste it. Also, the color differs depending on the variety. I have a white kadota that is, well, white in the center. Surprisingly, it's even sweeter than the black mission figs. I don't even know how that is possible.

It's quite natural for many living things that are stressed to the edge of survival to put much of their remaining energy resources into reproduction. If they're going to die, those that put all of their efforts into reproduction prior to death may have greater odds of being represented in the next generation.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Wait until the fruit starts to really droop from the stem. That's when they are ripe. If you pick them when they are still upright, they are edible, but not nearly as good and sweet.

You beat me to it!

kind of a dark purple and were more or less falling off the little tree. That being said I think the three was struggling then too. The thing had more figs than it had leaves. I bet if it survives next year they'll be better. I'm probably going to keep taking them off when they're itty bitty until the tree starts looking healthier.

Hmmm...that sounds like a water issue. How often do you water it?

 

[pimachickens]

Since we're talking gardening...can anyone tell me how I can tell when okra is ready? I am growing it for the very first time, and don't know what to look for as far as ripeness.

 

[pimachickens]

Quote:

Yep. They sound great.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Since we're talking gardening...can anyone tell me how I can tell when okra is ready? I am growing it for the very first time, and don't know what to look for as far as ripeness.

You should pick okra within a day or two of the pod forming. If you wait too long it gets tough and woody. If you miss them and they get woody, pluck them off to encourage further production.

 

[tsuninight]

It's quite natural for many living things that are stressed to the edge of survival to put much of their remaining energy resources into reproduction. If they're going to die, those that put all of their efforts into reproduction prior to death may have greater odds of being represented in the next generation.

That's true, but as the person trying to keep the thing alive it's also infuriating. I'm just glad it seems to have stopped the fig production and moved onto leaf production. The thing was down to like 10 leaves that were all looking crispy at the end. It just surprises me that my Truvita tree has oranges that are steadily growing everywhere and doing beautifully and the Fig has just struggled like crazy. Ah well it will live or not live. I think it's chances are improving though since it's starting to have leaves again rofl.

 

[pimachickens]

Is three years old about right for an Australorp to stop laying? She is the oldest of my group, and I haven't seen an egg from her in over a month. Or should I be concerned that there is something wrong? She is acting fine in every other way.

 

[pimachickens]

Quote: Oops. I have been watching these pods for about a week now, so they probably aren't any good. Not that I would know...I have never in my life eaten an okra.