Figs – Preventing Sourness

Q: For years I have had wonderful crops of figs. Some years in August they have turned sour and fuzzy on the tree, a total loss.. Is there anything I can do to prevent this?

A: Souring usually happens when there is rainy weather during the last week of ripening. Insects and wind carry naturally occurring yeasts into the fig eye and nature takes its course. ‘Celeste’, ‘LSU Purple’ and ‘Brown Turkey’ typically don’t have problems with souring