This summer has been unusually cool, but finally we got into the 80s last week and it is holding there. I expected my slow ripening figs to speed up, but they're not so far. Black Jack and VdB are still maturing with a miserly pace of one per day for the BJ, and one per week for the VdB--in other words, same as before. Doesn't increased heat cause figs to ripen faster? Or, since these varieties are supposed to be suited to coastal conditions, will they mature at the same pace regardless of increase in heat?

Another question for experienced figgies: Is there a general rule for the length of time from the first appearance of fig bud until the fig is mature enough to begin the ripening process?