Yep -13F most likely a pinocchio. I laughed when I read that.
I’m planning on doing the prune and 55 gallon steel drum shuffle to over winter in the barn tack room. I can keep that room above freezing pretty easily.
@JesusisLordandChrist
I very much disagree with labeling figs as “cold hardy” or in differing zone tolerances. I find just about every one labeled on a nursery website to be very dishonest (with Figs and Mulberries). They are often inaccurate by several zones, and give people a false impression of fig care. Most fig wood is tolerant of conditions within 5 or 10 degrees of each other (centered around 14F), regardless of variety.
Fig growers, if they would like to get fruit, need to know a bit about their zone and conditions. Figs in pots (as many need to grow them) can handle certain temperatures, figs in ground (because their roots are more protected in ground), can handle slightly colder temperatures.
Winter protection methods, the amount of heat you get in the summer, the duration of your warm season are all things that will have more of an influence on the variety of figs that it would make more sense for you to grow. A growing zone label would be both confusing and wrong.
There are also many varieties out there that are rumored to have survived down to very low temperatures. While that may be true, in many cases, it is anecdotal evidence that is heavily influenced by certain microclimates and the age and thickness of the tree.
If you are looking for varieties that do better in cold climates, I would suggest any of the ones mentioning “early”, or something like Chicago Hardy or any of the other “Mt. Etna” varieties.
The roots of fig trees would have to be heated as well, if the temperature gets under 0 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the roots can handle only so much, just like the part above ground, can only handle so much cold. The only way that a tree could survive when it’s -13 degrees Fahrenheit outside, is either with some major heating both above and below ground, or if the cold was so short, that it did not freeze the ground severely. I’d say a one in a trillion chance.
Thanks for the info Your profile says you are in the same zone (7a) that I am. Curious how you overwinter figs? If you dont mind sharing.
@JesusisLordandChrist Sure, I grow about 30 fig and mulberry varieties in ground. I protect them by pruning them to about 4-5ft high, wrapping them with chicken wire cage, at least 6in around them. Then I fill the cage with dry leaves, and cover with either a white contractor trash bag, or tyvek house wrap. I try to keep them covered as shortly as possible (usually mid Dec. to early March).
I grow another 130+ fig varieties in pots ranging from 3gal to 20 gallon. Those I protect in several different areas. Some I bring into my greenhouse, which I maintain between 30f-55f all winter. Others I bring into a few simple structures I created near my house, and wrap the outside with either tarps or wood. This keeps a bit of the heat from the house trapped around them without letting the temperature get too warm and bring them out of dormancy. Another good option for a lot of people is an unheated garage.
I left an Olympian fig in a pot outside in Colorado that got to -15. It died back and came back. I accidentally killed it shortly after it came back though
Oh no. How did you kill it? Figs are so tough to kill but when they’re little with white roots quite the opposite. Luckily Olympian is a very common one up your way.
I was going to repot it but… it was too heavy for me so i managed to pull it out but left it at the same time…
Then i tried to break off the part that was alive to try to repot it so that it could be more straight because I’m neurotic like that and i want everything perfect looking so… it died.
I’m learning to be okay with plant imperfections