GoodFriendMike
Moderator
It was done in the past. Many still do it. Do any of you do it?
Oiling
- Thread starter GoodFriendMike
- Start date
snarfing
Well-known member
like olive oil on the fig to ripen? i used chapstick since my thought was it would be food safe and wouldnt just drip off. no idea if it worked but i ripened a few figs with sub 65 days that had already swelled. figured it couldnt hurt
GoodFriendMike
Moderator
Yes. Many in the old days would add oil to the eye to ripen them faster.
rNexus
Well-known member
It may work fine in dry Mediterranean climate where there is less humidity to mold the olive oil.
Figgin' A
Well-known member
I remember reading about this in the Fig Botany book... here is what they say:
"The stimulation of fruit maturation is of
great interest to researchers and has been the
topic of several studies. As early as the 3rd century
BCE, growers applied a drop of olive oil on
the ostiole to stimulate fruit growth, termed oleification
(Chessa, 1997). Refined olive oil was observed
to be more effective than unrefined olive
oil or other vegetable oils. However, to date, there
is no clear connection between oleification and
the stimulation of maturation and ethylene production
in figs. Applying ethylene to fig fruits
during the late second stage of development has
the potential to stimulate ripening and growth.
Although, ethylene application to fig fruit may
only be effective in inducing ripening when
physiological conditions are acceptable for autocatalytic
ethylene production (Marei and Crane,
1971). Treating fig fruits with linolenic acid promoted
rapid ethylene production (Hirai et al.,
1966). Fig fruit growth can also be stimulated by
auxin applications which potentially induce
ethylene production in fruits and leaves (Marei
and Crane, 1971)."
Never tried this personally. I guess I don't believe in shortcuts.
"The stimulation of fruit maturation is of
great interest to researchers and has been the
topic of several studies. As early as the 3rd century
BCE, growers applied a drop of olive oil on
the ostiole to stimulate fruit growth, termed oleification
(Chessa, 1997). Refined olive oil was observed
to be more effective than unrefined olive
oil or other vegetable oils. However, to date, there
is no clear connection between oleification and
the stimulation of maturation and ethylene production
in figs. Applying ethylene to fig fruits
during the late second stage of development has
the potential to stimulate ripening and growth.
Although, ethylene application to fig fruit may
only be effective in inducing ripening when
physiological conditions are acceptable for autocatalytic
ethylene production (Marei and Crane,
1971). Treating fig fruits with linolenic acid promoted
rapid ethylene production (Hirai et al.,
1966). Fig fruit growth can also be stimulated by
auxin applications which potentially induce
ethylene production in fruits and leaves (Marei
and Crane, 1971)."
Never tried this personally. I guess I don't believe in shortcuts.
Figgin' A
Well-known member
I think that could be because oil expedites figs getting soft/squishy/latex-free, but not necessarily sweeter or more flavorful.
ktrain
Moderator
Yeah I gave up on ot after that.
Even what it seemed....maybe to work on, they weren't that great.