Why would a fig tree produce bad fruit? (growing, trees, tomatoes)

[sushiqueen]

We have a fig tree in southern Maryland and traditionally every year we've gotten great figs from it. Last year for some reason the fruit wasn't sweet - almost like the figs didn't ripen or mature before aging to the point of falling off. We don't know why this happened but we want to make sure it doesn't happen again if we can. We don't know if it was something with the weather or something with the land. There is a gopher on the property and maybe he ate the roots of the tree? Any ideas from the experts?

[AnnieA]

I have a brown turkey fig growing in my yard and some years the fruit seems to be better than others. I really dont know what causes that. But some years I have better luck with my tomatoes and cucumbers than others and for no discernable reason.

Do you cut back your fig ?

[sushiqueen]

We don't cut it back - should we be? Thx for your reply.

[AnnieA]

Sorry, I was away from the board, getting temporarily banned on another....LOL

I dont know whether you are supposed to cut back or not. I have and gotten more yield but then I am not a believer in cutting back things much. Kind of like the murder done to crepe myrtles for years with the severe cutbacks. It resulted in spindley trees/bushes with weak limbs.

So, off to google for the, hopefully, clear answer.