If I put the figs near a wall for winter protection, they will only get 5 hours of sun or possibly a little more. Can you grow figs with that amount of sun?
I don’t see why they wouldn’t grow. Fruit that tastes good is another question. Maybe some other folks have experimented and can weigh in.
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If they are only getting 5 hours of sun in this location what is the wall protecting the figs from?
The wall is a thermal source right? (A brick wall heats up during the day and in theory keeps the surrounding air warmer by a few degrees) Could also be a wind block
My step dad moved a fig to the east side of their house so it doesn’t get much sun at all. It lives and grows, but it’s probably 15 years old and gets maybe 10 figs total on it a year. The fruit production is awful.
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@Zone6
Will it have 8-10 hours a day of temperatures above 72°F from April through September?
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A brick wall that faces due south is ideal.
The rightside wall of my home does that.
The ground there also slopes to the south which again is ideal.
That is where I planted my big ole chicago hardy… it produces around 400 figs yearly.
That is also where I have my grow greens all winter hot bed.
The snow melts first there… it gets all day sun.
TNHunter
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Im curious- I have a few spots in my yard available for a fig. One is on top of a South facing hill (cold air goes down away from the fig) and the other is next to a South facing brick chimney but at the button of the hill. Both would get similar amounts of sun (8-10 hours). Which do you think would be a better spot for the figs?
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I’d put near chimney to try and shield from winter die back since will keep it slightly warmer during winter vs on a hill on its own
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Have you ever noticed where the snow consistently melts first. That is a good sign for the best location for a fig.
For me that is just off a tall brick wall that runs near direct east/west… faces to the south and the ground there slopes to the south.
TNHunter
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Winter wind break and heat sink for cold protection.
Maybe part of April and that would go for anywhere I’d plant it. It is also warm here early October.
Do you plan on protecting them?
They’re going to die back to the ground in most winters in z6 otherwise. I think I’d rather have a full sun location to maximize new growth from the base and fruit ripening.
Dang!!! That’s your Hardy Chicago?! Do you do any winter protection? That thing is huge!
From what I remember I think his either dies to the stump or he cuts it to the stump every year and that like 12 ft of growth is from 1 season and just repeats the cycle.
@EmptyBadger … yes that is my chicago hardy.
When it goes dormant for the winter… usually early December… I cut it back to 12-16 inch stumps… and I protect those stumps over winter.
I usually keep 4 or 5 stumps and the next spring will let each stump send up 2 shoots.
Those shoots grow 8-12 ft in a season and it produces around 400 figs in a season.
I have little shoots starting now.
TNHunter
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