The low cordon sounds intriguing, and I’ll look seriously at it. I truly enjoy pruning, and that system looks fun and artistic. I really wouldn’t be upset if I lose a little vigor or productivity because space is not a constraint for me.
Everything in my orchard is planted on hills, which may be a challenge for bending and burying.
New to the fig world. Just planted a bare root Olympian from Indiana Berry in May. Took about 6 weeks to get a sign of growth. Lots of scratch tests! Here’s what it looks like today. I wasn’t sure, but I just removed all the wood chips immediately around it. It was quite moist. I also piched it around 4 times. After reading this thread, it seems quite daunting growing figs… even though I’m in 7a. However, I’m probably going to attempt putting at least a couple more in the ground here. Definitely an HC. Not sure about the other(s). Open to suggestions!
VdB has survived in 3 gallon container outdoors for two years now in Kentucky. Burnt to ground, but came back nice. No fruit.
(Of course, both winters milder than normal at 13 and at 9 for lows.)
Chicago Hardy and one I’ve lost the tag to had about the same results.
How are all you fig growers doing in the cold climates? I used to grow white figs and black figs in L.A. for decades. But moved to the Rustbelt and that was it for fresh figs for me.
I’m in 6 - 6a now. Tired every fig I could except Olympian. Was very hopeful with Chicago Hardy, but they all died back to the ground in winter. Some came back up in the Spring, to give it another go, some didn’t. But none ever produced fruit as they all died back every winter. I gave up a few years ago and planted something else.
I also tried the growing in pots routine. But did not work out for my schedule. I guess it would work if I had a big greenhouse and auto watering system and no deer.
What has it been like for you with your cold weather figs?
Yeah in ground is not good here, zone 6. But in pots I get about 300 to 500 figs each year. Lot’s of work. Luckily I have an attached garage. Stays about 40F in there. It’s perfect to overwinter. Now growing pomegranates in containers too. I have a couple sub tropical mulberries in there too.
Drying some for winter treats, I do this all late summer, my dehydrator never stops.
Why poms in pots? They’re much more cold hardy.
Well when Scott in zone 7 had problems often dyeing to the roots. I decided in zone 6 to go with containers and full winter protection. Plus we can have very cold nights. Not every winter but getting to -12F is not unusual. Not frequent but can happen. We used to be zone 5b. Thanks for posting as now I’m going to take some cuttings and try in ground. Maybe protect them a year or two and then plant out.
Figs are the only thing I grow besides onions and herbs that deer here don’t seem to revel in destroying. My CH made it through it’s first (pretty mild) Winter here in SE PA 7A with some tip die back but otherwise fine. I wrapped it with a tree tarp thing, I’m not sure how much or how little that helped. It’s got a few breba figs growing on it now. I rooted a Celeste cutting in March to see how that does this year.
What variety pom are you growing? I’d like to do this also in 6a.
I’m growing a number of them to see what works best around here. What does ok in containers. Most so far are rather tart as they barely ripen in time. It is the last fruit I harvest in late October before the first freeze. So far the best performers are
Al Sirin Nor
Grenada
and
Hyrdanar X Goulosha
Surprisingly
Parfianka only produced one fruit but is was amazing.
The dark fruit is Parfianka.
Did you get Belbek? It’s one of the earliest in the season when it comes to ripening, and it’s cold hardy as well.
No, I didn’t know about that one. I’ll pick it up. Yes the early ones tend to set and keep fruit better. Grenada sets early. I got 8 fruit last year. Sumbar I think too will do well my plant is small still. Most I’m trying I got for postage. So easy to root them. All of mine except one were from cuttings I rooted. If I had a greenhouse I could get some excellent fruit. They could use the early start.
I’m just playing with these plants. Production is low they don’t grow great here.
I should be getting ‘Belbek’ within a year or two from now, most people still do not have it yet.
Can Ronde De Bordeaux and Violettre De Bordeaux left outside in the pots. PNW 8B (Portland, OR).
Im in 6a CT. I have 4 trees inground and will add another 3-4 this year. I have a 4 year old Chicago Hardy, 3 yo Letizia (similar to Chicago Hardy) and Florea and a 1 yo Ronde De Bordeaux. They all died back to the base their first winter but not after. I grow them as a bush. For winter protection the branches are bent down to the ground and covered with moving blankets and a tarp.
I’ll be using insulation and a thick tarp to put them up against a sunny wall on the shed this coming year.
I’ve got a ch outside right now but it’s struggling, we still have a few nights in the mid 30s and it’s not too happy about that. limp leaves, not dead but limp
what is that some sort of tent?
Thanks! I need to look into some of these. We do have pretty humid weather, though.
Outsunny 6’ x 3’ x 3’ Portable Greenhouse, Garden Hot House with 2 PE/Plastic Covers, Steel Frame and 2 Roll Up Windows, Clear Amazon.com
