You can buy fresh figs all year round. However, they taste particularly aromatic in the main season between August and October. When harvested ripe, the slightly pear-shaped fruits impress with their juicy, sweet aroma, which enriches the autumn menu.
When is the fig season in Germany?
The main fig season in Germany is between August and October. Fresh figs are particularly aromatic and can also be harvested from your own garden. Dried figs are available in winter, while fresh figs are sold all year round.
Figs from your own garden
House figs ripen between mid-September and mid-October in our latitudes. Unlike many fruit trees, not all of the fig fruits ripen at the same time and the harvest takes place over several weeks. This is advantageous because the fresh fruits cannot be stored for long.
Fully ripe and juicy
You can initially recognize the degree of ripeness of the fruit by the fact that the fruit has reached the color of the skin that is typical of the variety. It should come off the branch easily. When harvesting, only touch the pressure-sensitive fruit at the base of the stem and do not unnecessarily bruise a fig that you want to store for a few days.
You can recognize overripe figs on the tree by the small drops of honey that emerge from the opening at the top. The leaves that were initially at this point have completely receded on the fully ripe fruits.
Shopping for figs
In Italy, Greece, France and Turkey, the fruits are harvested and sold until late autumn. When purchasing, check the ripeness of the fig by applying light pressure. It should give gently but in no way be mushy and soft. Dark spots on the peel indicate that the aromatic fruit has already spoiled. A white haze on the peel, however, is crystallized glucose and is normal for fully ripe fruits.
Tips & Tricks
Dried figs are in season in winter. Then you can get the dried, aromatic fruits from the previous season in stores.