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Many signs indicate that a fig is ripening. Getting to know your variety is critical, because each variety has different characteristics and, more important, progresses through the ripening process at a different rate. Dark Portuguese will need at least seven days after showing a color change, but Brunswick completes the process in about 36 hours. Generally, most of the flavor and sugars are developed in the last day or two of ripening, so just picking a day early can have a significantly negative impact on the enjoyment of the fruit.
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Figs exhibit a significant size increase when they begin to ripen.
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This usually happens concurrently with a marked color change. The color change is most noticeable in dark colored figs...
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...and least noticeable in figs, such as the Whites, which only exhibit a change to a lighter shade of green or turn a yellowish green.
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As a fig ripens and increases in size and weight, it will usually soften, which will cause it to droop or sag.
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The skin of some figs will split as they increase in size. This is perhaps the most notable attribute of the Black Mission fig.
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Celeste is another example of a variety that shows skin cracking, but not always.
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This example of cracking is Sultane.
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Some varieties will almost dehydrate on the tree, especially in hotter, dryer climates and will look visibly shriveled... and wrinkly when they are ready to eat. Celeste and Vista are two good examples. This is Flanders.
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Some varieties when ripe will exude a drop of honey-like nectar from the eye. This is Honey Encanto.
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A note about ripening: a cool period during ripening will delay ripening, and in some varieties, interrupt their maturation process, so that they will "ripen", but they will not develop the full sugars and flavors that they would have had if they ripened in warm weather. Black Madeira is a good example of one that ripens without flavor after a cool spell.
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