Chicago Hardy - 75 days to ripen?

[Figgin' A]

I've heard many times that Mt Etnas take 75 days to ripen. It stuck in my brain, and when someone recently asked me how long it takes for Chicago Hardy to ripen, I immediately responded 75 days. However, upon checking my records, I was surprised to find that it was taking significantly longer than 75 days.

Here is my Chicago Hardy that I picked today, the second one to ripen off the tree. The first one was yesterday. I woke up the tree Mid-March, first pea-sized figs formed on April 18. The first fig ripened on July 29. That's 102 days. As you can see, it's not even close to the 75 days everyone mentions.

I checked my records for the year before, and it's practically the same.

What has been your experience with CH and other Mt Etnas in the NE? How long did they take to ripen for you?

 

[ktrain]

I've never had one in 75 days...maybe right around 90 - 95
All my Etna trees are ripening right now except the 2 in ground.
They have a bit to go as expected.
Whoever is getting some in 75 days must have a sport. lol

 

[Figgin' A]

I've never had one in 75 days...maybe right around 90 - 95
All my Etna trees are ripening right now except the 2 in ground.
They have a bit to go as expected.
Whoever is getting some in 75 days must have a sport. lol

Here is one reference I saw on the other forum:

"
It's on the list of Herman2's observations:
70 days: Malta Black, Improved Celeste, Ronde de Bordeaux, St Anthony
75 days: Mt Etna type figs (Hardy Chicago etc)
80 days: Kathleen Black, Atreano, Dalmatie, TaKoma Violet, Violette de Bordeaux, Nero 600m, etc
85 days: Adriatic JH, Longue D'Aout, Sal's Corleone, other Sicilian type figs.
90 days: Battaglia, Vasilika Sika, Verte, Col de Dame, etc.
100 days or more: Black Madeira, I 258, Preto, Verdal Longue, etc".

The most puzzling part for me is that my CH and my I-258 have an identical ripening time from pea-sized figlet to full ripening.

 

[ETXfigs]

Here is one reference I saw on the other forum:

"
It's on the list of Herman2's observations:
70 days: Malta Black, Improved Celeste, Ronde de Bordeaux, St Anthony
75 days: Mt Etna type figs (Hardy Chicago etc)
80 days: Kathleen Black, Atreano, Dalmatie, TaKoma Violet, Violette de Bordeaux, Nero 600m, etc
85 days: Adriatic JH, Longue D'Aout, Sal's Corleone, other Sicilian type figs.
90 days: Battaglia, Vasilika Sika, Verte, Col de Dame, etc.
100 days or more: Black Madeira, I 258, Preto, Verdal Longue, etc".

The most puzzling part for me is that my CH and my I-258 have an identical ripening time from pea-sized figlet to full ripening.

Is your CH later than Herman2's, or is your I-258 earlier?

 

[TorontoJoe]

I use 90 days as my baseline.... Some ripen earlier..... and some never ripen..

 

[Figgin' A]

Is your CH later than Herman2's, or is your I-258 earlier?

CH is later, same ripening time as I-258 and and other late ripening varieties. My other Mt Etnas are also in the same ballpark as CH.

 

[Figgin' A]

I use 90 days as my baseline.... Some ripen earlier..... and some never ripen..

The good thing about CH in particular is that it ripens all figs in a very short time frame. At least mine does. So even if it’s late, there is a good chance that most/all will ripen.

I want to have this one and other amt Etnas ripen by mid September, late September at the most. And was hoping to do it without any head start but that probably won’t happen here. So need to figure out a minimal head start and want that minimal head start needs to be.

I have a suspicion that when I take them outside, I.e. at what average ambient temps, plays a big role and likely accounts for the delay. These go out much earlier than, say, I-258 because of some limitations I have.

 

[ktrain]

Here is one reference I saw on the other forum:

"
It's on the list of Herman2's observations:
70 days: Malta Black, Improved Celeste, Ronde de Bordeaux, St Anthony
75 days: Mt Etna type figs (Hardy Chicago etc)
80 days: Kathleen Black, Atreano, Dalmatie, TaKoma Violet, Violette de Bordeaux, Nero 600m, etc
85 days: Adriatic JH, Longue D'Aout, Sal's Corleone, other Sicilian type figs.
90 days: Battaglia, Vasilika Sika, Verte, Col de Dame, etc.
100 days or more: Black Madeira, I 258, Preto, Verdal Longue, etc".

The most puzzling part for me is that my CH and my I-258 have an identical ripening time from pea-sized figlet to full ripening.

Wow some of them listed are very surprising.
AJH in 85 days? That has to be a record.
In fact most of those listed 85 days and under are quite shocking to me.
I'd like to know how they are achieving these ripening times. lol

 

[superdave336]

Wow some of them listed are very surprising.
AJH in 85 days? That has to be a record.
In fact most of those listed 85 days and under are quite shocking to me.
I'd like to know how they are achieving these ripening times. lol

 

[Figgerlickinggood]

Here is one reference I saw on the other forum:

"
It's on the list of Herman2's observations:
70 days: Malta Black, Improved Celeste, Ronde de Bordeaux, St Anthony
75 days: Mt Etna type figs (Hardy Chicago etc)
80 days: Kathleen Black, Atreano, Dalmatie, TaKoma Violet, Violette de Bordeaux, Nero 600m, etc
85 days: Adriatic JH, Longue D'Aout, Sal's Corleone, other Sicilian type figs.
90 days: Battaglia, Vasilika Sika, Verte, Col de Dame, etc.
100 days or more: Black Madeira, I 258, Preto, Verdal Longue, etc".

The most puzzling part for me is that my CH and my I-258 have an identical ripening time from pea-sized figlet to full ripening.

You forgot to put Vince #3 on the list, what’s the time on it?

 

[JMF75]

85 days for a Mt. Etna/CH is doable but 75 for Malta Black ? I'm thinking someone started counting when the figlet was a tad larger.

 

[Figgin' A]

Here is another curious record. Three growers reported 60 days from pea sized to ripen, 75 days, and one 'a week or so after' the 60 day ripening time. https://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/788490-chicago-hardy-time-to-ripen

I can't get anywhere near those, though I grow figs in a very similar climate, and I wonder if those records are calculated incorrectly or misreported in some way.

CH is widely recommended for Northern growers as it has one of the shortest ripening times. That has not been my experience at all.

Looking at my records, my unpruned, headstarted CH in 2024 took 105 days from pea-sized to fully ripen. 102 days this year. Again, completely unpruned and headstarted in the grow tent.

The only thing that comes to mind is that I usually take these outside in early May when nights here are still cool. Perhaps that showcks them and delays ripening. If that's the case, then maybe I shouldn't even bother headstarting them and still have them ripen around the same time.

My other Mt Etnas have quite similar ripening times and also just started or about to start ripening.

 

[Figgin' A]

You forgot to put Vince #3 on the list, what’s the time on it?

No, that's not my list. My Vinnie took roughly 80 days to ripen this year, but it was indoors when it began to ripen. I'll have a better record next year.

 

[Figgin' A]

Wow some of them listed are very surprising.
AJH in 85 days? That has to be a record.
In fact most of those listed 85 days and under are quite shocking to me.
I'd like to know how they are achieving these ripening times. lol

The curious thing is that my I-258 and BM (Craven's Craving) really took a little over 100 days to ripen. So did all my Adriatics. So why are my CH and other Mt Etnas taking about the same time? Trying to figure that out. Am I doing something that extends the ripening time? If so, I want to figure out what to shorten that period.

 

[ktrain]

The curious thing is that my I-258 and BM (Craven's Craving) really took a little over 100 days to ripen. So did all my Adriatics. So why are my CH and other Mt Etnas taking about the same time? Trying to figure that out. Am I doing something that extends the ripening time? If so, I want to figure out what to shorten that period.

Heck yeah, I wonder if his are in pots or in ground.
That would make a difference too.
Inquiring minds want to know! lol

 

[NEIowafigs]

What about the term that some growers use called “set times”? They basically call this the time when the figlet stops growing and sits until it starts to swell. Is this being used when guesstimating ripening times?

 

[Bofig]

Curiosity has me asking, what’s your light schedules and heat for each of these off numbers. I’ve been told I’ll never ripen figs in zone 4b however with my winters as cold as they get my growing degree days range from 2500-3200 depending on the year. I also stage my trees to have light around 6:30-7:00 am until 8:30-9:00 pm on the longest days of summer. I seem to ripen almost everything that has a fig formed by early July while others will still ripen if formed by mid July. They do take a long time to get going in spring compared to warmer zones as may stays cooler than I like for figs and June things really pick up.

 

[ETXfigs]

My I-258 and Violeta are pea size right now. It would be nice if that list was accurate. With the Texas climate, I think I can ripen them in November.

 

[bushdoctor82]

My Family Etna and AJH track with the reference you posted. Typically, it sets figs last few days of May and ripe by mid-August (~75 days). AJH has been lagging ~2 weeks behind over the last few years (~85-90 days).

I agree that temperature swings may influence fruit set and maturation in addition to duration of full sun. My current GDD is 2,350 and I would guess I’m still at least a week out of harvesting. Last year on this date, my GDD was 2,360 and was beginning to harvest Etnas. Initial fruit set was later this season possibly due to a colder Winter or the temperature swings we experienced during April/May. My RdB is also at least a week or so out, but I attribute that due to being in a poor location and lack of full sun during the day.

 

[Figgin' A]

Heck yeah, I wonder if his are in pots or in ground.
That would make a difference too.
Inquiring minds want to know! lol

Mostly in pots from what I know.