Fig tree

Question

I have a fig tree from Portugal. The skin color is green and the inside is pink. The fruit is large and very sweet. The problem is that the fig opens before it is ripened and I have a constant battle with ants (red and black). Do you have a solution?

Answer 1

You may need to pick the fruit before it seems fully ripened. It sounds like you may be leaving it on the tree just a smidge too long. If the fig tree is not 100% suited to where you live, your local conditions may be throwing the ripening process off just a little. If you pick it a little earlier, this will prevent the splitting. While figs do not technically continue to ripen once picked, they do still soften and sweeten for a few days after they are picked, which is what you really want anyway. Try picking the fruit a just a bit before they feel they are ready and put them in a paper bag for a day or so after this. You should still end up with the juicy, sweet fruit you want without the ants and splits.

As an alternative, you can try some of the methods listed here. This is meant for vines, but will work on trees to:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/keeping-ants-of-flowering-vines-vegetables-and-flowers.htm