Fig Jam DIY

This is a back dated post, been wanting to put this up for a while already.

A while ago I mentioned that I have a fig tree in my backyard. This season the tree was blooming with figs and figs that I am not able to finish. Been giving it out to friends who love them and since there are still leftover that I'm not able to finish at all, I got the idea from the farmer's market to make them into fig preserves. This way it will be able to last a little while longer and I don't have to spend extra $$ to buy preserves from the shop.

There are many version of fig jam and preserves out there and since I have decided to keep it as simple as possible, and also reduce the amount of sugar in the jam, the recipe is pretty basic.

Fig Jam Ingredients:
Bunch of figs
1/2 cups or less of sugar depending on the sweetness you prefer

Take a bunch of figs as many as you like, and cut them into half. Scoop out the flesh and be sure not to include too much of the outer part (white color) of the fig because it can be a little bitter tasting.

Combine those flesh and sugar into a pot and cook them on medim heat in order to reduce the liquid in the flesh.

Once it get to the consistency that you prefer, cool them down before you put them into sterilize jar. You can store them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

It wasn't as tough as I thought it would be to make jam. Of course mine might not taste as good as those sold out in the market but I'm glad I give it a try. Fig season is almost over and there are barely any fruit on the tree now and it is ready to be trim for the next season.

Harvesting Tomatoes

After 2 months, at last I have harvested my first batch of tomatoes from the garden. However, there are only 11 of them in the first batch, barely enough for one person. Nevertheless, I'm very happy to be able to eat tomatoes planted by myself. Hopefully in couple more weeks there will be more to be harvest.



There are a second tomato tree that is growing now, although I did not plant it myself, it's growing healthy by itself. It's already flowering however I am not sure whether it will bare fruit since winter is almost here. Hopefully it will turn out to be ok.

Make way for tomatoes

I'm so excited to see those little round tomatoes growing on the tree after a month and a half taking care of it. Here is the proof:


Still wondering when it will turn red and becomes edible. Probably it will take another month. I really think I don't have a green thumb because this is the only plant that is bearing fruits out of all of those I planted. I'm not giving up though, as long as they don't die on me, I will try my best.

I planted some yellow cucumber couple days ago and it was growing nicely for now (more picture next time). However, it seems like there is something that is eating the sprouting leaves away. I'm so curious to find out what it is that I tempted to put a camcorder outside, but it seems like a silly idea since I won't be able to see since I don't have light at the garden. Hopefully it will turn out ok.

Germination process

There is a patch of land on the side of the house which is left empty. Since everyone is talking about organic food, I thought maybe I can grow my own vegetables and fruit as well. It is still a little ironic to me because I'm working in a high tech world and at the same time now I'm thinking about growing my own vegetables.

I have decided to start from the very beginning, seed. I saw the lady's finger or better known as okra here in US and brussel sprout seed while browsing through the shop so I have decided to try them. Being a gardening dummy, after surfing the internet, I learned a new word, germination. I have decided to give it a try instead of just planting the seed out of the package. After a couple days, miracle happens, it actually works. I am expecting that I would have to at least try it multiple times before I succeed, that is why it's a miracle :). Here is what they look like now in the pot.


This is sunflower, I love them since I think they bring a smile to my face so I have decided to grow some at my house to brighten any dull day.

This is brussel sprout, or miniature cabbage.


This is the okra, I still remember I used my brother used to grow them in our backyard when I was little.

I will have to transfer them to the patch of land. Preparing the land now and trying to see what else I can grow. Time to go gardening shopping now for other seed since I'm succeed this time.

Fig time

Remember the fig tree that I mentioned in my previous post? Previously I said I'm not sure how to tell if a fig is ripe or not. Now I think I know.

Last Wednesday, while checking on garden, I saw a bunch of half eaten figs on the ground, oh what a mess. I guess the fig is ripe and those squirrels are the first one to taste it. By looking at what they left behind as an example, I poke around on the tree and pick some before it is all gone. My first time eating fresh fig. I didn't expect that it will be that sweet. What a surprise.


Actually this is ripe enough to be consume.


This one is getting there too.


These are those I picked, however I think they are a little too ripe. Maybe I should have try to pick them a couple days earlier. Trying to beat the squirrel to those fruits are a little tough, just hope there will be plenty for them and us.

Plants overloaded

I'm not an expert on plants at all although I have a backyard full of different trees and flowers. Today while watering the plants, I found myself a little surprise hiding in the midst of everything. I have an apple tree in my backyard and it's already bearing fruits although not many of them. Not sure whether they will taste yummy when it's ripe. I just have to wait for it.


There is also a fig tree which is also bearing fruits already. Not sure how to tell whether it is ripe or not. Maybe I should try to make fig jam out of it when it is time. Hopefully there are still some leftover after those squirrels have their share.

Albeit being in the sunshine state where orange tree is so common in every house, I do not have one in my house. Here is a picture of my neighbor's oranges and some of them actually grows toward my backyard :), oranges anyone?

Maybe not everyone know this, I have a soft spot for nature photography. I love to capture everything related to nature, especially flowers. To one point, I'm always thought of as wasting my memory for unnecessary photos. Here are some of them that are blooming right now.






It is time to pick up some knowledge about gardening and also plant species so I can identify what do I already have in my garden. I would love to have some lilies too. They are just so pretty. Any gardening advice is welcome :), I really need them.