You want to wait until its drooping and limp... preferably starting to wrinkle and getting ugly with some cracks in the skin :) Thats when the best flavours come out. Having said that... its the hardest thing for me to show that patience and I usually pick them too early.

I have a fig that started to droop and turn colour almost 2 weeks ago... I am still letting it ripen more yet.

Tyler

This post was edited by tyler_j on Sun, Sep 28, 14 at 9:05

Depending on your temps at this time a color changing and swelling fig can stall with cool temps , a hangmans neck where the fig droops downward a great deal and feels pillow soft is good time to pick.
Some crack some do not and most will wrinkle there skin
if left on branch long enough.
Martin

The temp here ranges about 50F to 78F. I'll wait for the fruits to get a little softer.

RedSun ,
here is what i mean in saying term Hangmans neck.
This is Hardy Chicago

Martin