I like to start strolling through big box store plant areas this time of year. Sometimes you can catch sales and discounts. Today I noticed figs at one of the big box stores. I find it hard to believe that figs could survive here.
Correct not in 4. Unless you protected them in winter.
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With protection early varieties are the easiest, but I would imagine any that would ripen before mid December would also work if you covered with glass / poly.
Some photos of Improved Celeste and Chicago Hardy. Currently I just cover with the boards anytime it would be <20 outside, remove when above that.
Tangential in the V2 next to the figs I’m planting the Columbia series blackberry, Izu, Cardinal persimmons and an Autumn Beauty jujube. The V2 is a bit wider, no ledge and has a port for 6” earth tube for ventilation. This version will collect data for V3 which will have some sort of lighting element on the top for citrus / avocado
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That is an impressive set up! But more than I’m willing to commit to.
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That’s awesome! Have you considered heading with compost? You might be able to make compost during the winter and heat your trees with it and the juices that leak will fertilize it so you can use all of the compost elsewhere in the spring.
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i had a chicago hardy i picked up from tsc. it grew well but died to the ground most winters so no fruit. after about 4 yrs. it finally died. i would blow snow over it in winter but still froze.
For the currently planted plants (figs, mojo mulberry, persimmon, blackberry) the natural temperature hasn’t been a concern. On the coldest day, -29F on 2025.01.24 with only the boards covering the air temp was 31.9 and the soil temp 2” down on the raised ledge was 34.9.
These could be higher if the boards were covering all days but venting for humidity/mold control prevents that. For example even in January there were 10 days it was uncovered (…and this year’s crazy February most of the month was open as well)
For the V3 with Citrus/ Avocado it will certainly need something. In theory keeping it covered and cold could make the citrus go semi suspended and defoliate but given the cold overlaps with the ripening period that’s counterproductive
Was thinking building something similar to a concentrated solar power station might work, basically point a large number of mirrors towards a small glass point on the lid of the pit and then diffuse that internally to give both lighting and solar gain while also minimizing exposed surface area with a low R value