Tracy,

It sounds like your neighbor has a nice tree growing there. Just so you know, the early crop is referred to as the breba and the late crop is referred to as the main crop. Another way of thinking about it is that the breba crop grows on the wood formed from last year's growth, while main crop figs grow on the wood formed this year. I'm new to Arizona, but have been told by a couple of long time Arizona fig growers that in this climate some fig trees will pump out figs almost all year long.

As far as ripeness goes you can look at pictures posted on this forum to see what a ripe fig looks like when it is picked. The color of the fig will depend on the variety. But usually figs will change color, swell up in size, become very soft and droopy looking, and will have cracks in their skin when they are ripe. Many figs will also form a drop of honey in the eye opening at the tip of the fig.

Good luck with your harvest.

Joe

If the tree produces good tasting figs I would root some cuttings. Better yet I would airlayer the whole branch and plant it in my yard in January.

And even with a cutting you root this year, you may well get some figs next summer.

How do you recommend doing the cuttings? I will look up instructions for air layering as I've never even heard of that. Amazing that they fruit so quickly! Any idea how soon to expect ripeness from now?