I think I did this wrong. This is a test!
Susan

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Hi Susan,

Congrats on the first crop of figs.

It's always hard to ID figs as there are hundreds of varieties. A picture of the mature fruit helps though, so you might want to consider posting one after your figs mature. If I were to make a wild guess, I'd go for Brunswick (aka Madonna / Magnolia).

You can propagate figs at any time of the year. If you really intend to dig the whole thing up and divide it like a clump of iris or hosta, I'd wait until it's dormant. If you mean digging up just a sucker/side shoot with roots, then that can be done now. Pot up the sucker, remove all but the top 2 or 3 leaves and keep it in the shade for a week or so to let it recover from the process. Figs can also be propagated using cuttings, or better yet by airlayering. There are lots of posts here describing the process, so you might want to browse the archive.

You'll also turn up quite a number of posts regarding how to protect the fig from winter temperatures. Generally I find that by the 3rd winter or so, the tree becomes more established and hardy and needs little protection. For small first year plants, I like to mound clay soil up against the base, or even cover it entirely in late November. Just be careful not to use real dark material to mulch it, as it will heat up during the day, then freeze at night. This temperature swing will wreck havoc on it.

Thanks Gene,

I dont think I want to try and divide while it is making figs, I'll wait till figs are done. I forgot the most important question, how do I know when a fig is ripe? Having never gotten any I have no clue?

Thanks,
Susan

It's easy to want to pick them too soon. The fruit will seem to hang there in suspended animation for an eternity, then suddenly it will swell and the skin color shifts, even if only minutely for the green figs. But even then don't rush to pick them. Wait until the fruit droops, and becomes soft and flabby to the touch. To the eye they will seem slightly past their prime. Even picking one day early can mean just so-so taste, compared to exquisite when picked at just the right time. Problem is that the birds and other critters are willing to pick them anytime -- so throw a net over it to make sure that you get some.