Looks like my inground figtrees going to get clobbered again. After a unusual fall/ winter start, high sixties and seventies it’s going to dip in the lower teens.
They are not even ready for winter, still has green tip.
Container figs will be brought in the garage today for the first time, usely bring them in when night temps are in the lower twenties. Got plenty of container figtrees, not worry all that much.Get plenty to munch on from them.
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In Zone 7, your figs really need to be covered. If it has been warm, your ground temperature is probably high, maybe 40-50? An airtight, insulating cover that is open to the ground (e.g., an inverted barrel) would keep your trees cool on warm days and warm on cold nights.
Z7 equates to average winter minimum temperatures ~0 F, which will kill any unprotected fig tree to the soil line, no matter how dormant it is. Growers who cover their trees as described measure a warming benefit of 15-20 degrees F. So the outside air is 0 F, the ground is maybe 30 F, the inside air is ~15-20 F.
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With polar Vortex now more common might pull out all inground figs. Every year the bushes getting bigger. Pulled one half of my ingrounds out last spring. Use to make preserves till last year. My container ones supplied us more than needed, plus we have store close by that sells preserves only, really good stuff and reasonable. Lately we were buying apples from Walmart, for me they were pretty good, I was really surprised. Last one I tried was Juicy, was pretty good and juicy.
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Many hobbyist growers are going the other way, thinking that global warming will make the environment in the northern U.S. more amenable to figs. The past two winter lows here (borderline 6/7) were ~ 15 F and 10 F. This year so far it has yet to get colder than 20 F. But volatility of temperatures is a very valid concern. In Z7, some winter protection can make all the difference.
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Apples from Walmart (or any supermarket) are really a gamble. If what the store gets were picked at the right time, they will be good, but if they are picked early, they usually are disappointing. I am growing my own apples to hopefully avoid that. Really sad to hear that you are looking to pull figs out of the ground. I just don’t have the space to add more potted plants to my collection, so if winters keep getting colder, the figs will just be decorative.
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Bob, how big are your fig containers? They look very nice!
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Amy from years ago? It’s about time you showed up again, miss our friends. Don’t know where they hang out. I hope this is YOU. Those containers are 15 gl, squat. HD, with large lips to lift. Also have others, 15 gl containers, made in Italy, very nice more to your liking with large handles.
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Loll Bob, yes it’s that Amy! How are you my dear friend? I don’t know where all our friends are anymore they all disappeared! I keep looking for Jane and Brian but they just vanished! I just hope that they are safe and healthy!
I am not surprised to see your huge fig trees knowing that you have such a green thumb. Bob, they must give you quite a harvest each year! What are you doing with all the fruits? Figs, persimmons and pawpaws!! Your neighbors must love you!
Believe it or not, I am extending my fig collections because I am tired to spend money on a box of figs that are not ripe enough.
I bought a couple of varieties but I am still looking for Smith which you recommended. I thought if buying some cheap 5 gallons buckets but yours look very good! Oh god! 15 gallons? You must be the cousin of Hulk to be able to lift that!!
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Amy, you can make your soil(media) as light as you want, use a good amount of perlite, Turface, cheap garden soil with a lot of small pinebark. When you buy a 15 gl container you don’t have to fill it to the top. As the tree get bigger you can raise the volume. Your tree’s in small containers need to be root pruned often. I have mentioned this before, figs growing in small containers is ok if they have larger drain holes and let the roots out to grow in mulch surrounding the containers and cut the roots of in the fall to bring them in.
If you live in a colder zone, me in zone 7a, I bring mine in the garage for the winter. I don’t take a chance with my valuable varieties. Yes cordon growing is excellent too but 25 below too risky!
For me small containers are just great for winter storage. Some of my new 2021 trees grew to 8 feet tall by the end of last fall with smaller containers.
Glad you are here, members here are very great and helpful, you will find out.
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Yes, I will try that this summer. I think that my mistake was that I am not finding my fig trees enough. I just watch a video on YouTube suggesting to fertilize with 15-30-15. I have a Violet de Bordeaux is my most productive tree.
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Amy, what zone are you in? Have you considered using a cordon system just above ground level and offering winter protection?
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Disc4tw, I live in Montreal, Canada and it feels like I live in the Great North some time loll. Last night, it was -25F!
I know that some people succeed to grow fig trees in ground here by burying them for winter. My trees are still small so I think that I will grow them in containers for a little while.
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Here are some pictures of part of my fig group. One is figtrees being pruned while being repotted to lighter medium, coming of the assembly line, all done for production in 2022.
The next one, this figtree transplanted in the spring, grew a full year, by November it grew to 8 feet tall, outside roots held the tree from toppling from strong winds.
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It was - 3 F this morning in Pittsburgh! I bet that with the proper protection and a blanket of snow you could get away with in ground cordons. The benefit there is that you will want to prune yearly to maintain form and can start cuttings if the original dies.
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You are right Disc4tw, I saw some families here protecting their in ground fig trees by burying the branches or building a shelter. I prefer to put mines in containers so I can wake them up earlier in mu greenhouse and have more chance to get them ripe before winter!
I just enter the wonderful world of figs and wow… so many varieties to choose from!
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