95% if not all fig tree died in Queens NY. Disaster

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noss

Registered:1244523274
Posts: 2,122

Posted 1400046033	Reply with quote #51

The best of luck with this tree, Pete. I pray that trees that are looking dead will come to life this year. Never give up on a fig tree until you leave it past where you think it could never come back because fig trees are amazing. I'm so sorry for the grave losses of all these heirloom trees and I hope many will bring surprises for all of you. noss __________________ noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1400048320	Reply with quote #52

Noss, Thanks. So far all the large trees in The Bronx that I've posted about are all alive. There are buds currently swelling (emerging) on the lower portions of most of the large trunks. There has not been any losses as yet... I've pruned back the trees (6) to train them in the Bush form similar to the attached picture of another Unknown Fig tree that was pruned by its owner to an easily maintained shape.

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1400071208	Reply with quote #53

Pete that looks like approximately 90% of the tree's total mass has been pruned away. I am glad these trees survived, but it still counts as a disaster to me. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

DatesNFigs

Registered:1355761080
Posts: 43

Posted 1400081684	Reply with quote #54

Because of this thread I've been driving around Queens trying to find an in ground fig tree that has survived this past winter. So far I have been unable to locate a single in ground fig tree that has broken bud. Luckily I was able to keep my potted figs sheltered from the worst of the winter weather and most of them have broken dormancy and are doing well. __________________ Drew Zone 7b - Queens NYC

rafaelissimmo

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Posts: 1,473

Posted 1400083753	Reply with quote #55

Datesnfigs my lone in ground has broken buds on half the branches, but it was wrapped. I have yet to see an unprotected Queens tree break bud either. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

FrozenJoe

Registered:1244509224
Posts: 1,115

Posted 1400086290	Reply with quote #56

Fig trees can grow back from the roots even after you think they are dead. That's what happened to two of my young fig trees that got top killed by a December frost. All my other fig trees starting waking up in mid February. The two that were top killed did not start growing again from the soil until mid April. That's two additional months. For those of you in the NYC area I wouldn't lose hope until July. __________________ Joe Phoenix Area (Zone 9) I am MrFrozenJoe on YouTube. I am arizonafigs on eBay.

persianmd2orchard

Registered:1342002131
Posts: 431

Posted 1400090162	Reply with quote #57

Rough winter here in northern VA. Good to commiserate here. I'm still watching and waiting, had a number of new and old plants in ground this season. The little ones I covered up so far seemed to look a tad better than the big ones I left uncovered. Still waiting to see what happened...

stefpix

Registered:1340649999
Posts: 159

Posted 1400139192	Reply with quote #58

The spring has been not warm at all. last night was 50. I think it may be still too cool to properly break the dormancy after a long winter. there is a fig tree in a community garden on my block. it is protected by 2 buildings but i see no leaf buds yet. __________________ -- stefano

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1400157723	Reply with quote #59

Hi ascpete, If you still have the sticks and have some place, put some in the dirt... You might get surprises ! Your goal was to reshape the tree, but still heart breaking to see such a huge pruning . I would have done some airlayering before doing the pruning. You could have ended with at least some 6 nice fruiting trees. If it was my tree I would later remove some of the sticks coming from the dirt . IMO, left like that, the new bush will be too dense . So you would still have the airlayering option ahead . Unless the tree is completely lost, which happened to me on 6 inground fig trees in February 2012 - We hit -25°c at night that winter . __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

ForeverFigs

Registered:1351425467
Posts: 1,062

Posted 1400190778	Reply with quote #60

I have been riding around the last several days to locations in my area of existing, inground fig trees...so far I have not seen any trees that have survived the winter without severe structural damage, or total loss...as stated in a previous post, I have lost seven inground trees on my own property, and another one at my father-in-laws house several miles away...I have been living on this current property for 28 yrs. and have never before seen a damaging winter like this one. __________________ Vince Edison N.J. Zone 6b Wish List: LaRadek's EBT

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,727

Posted 1400195564	Reply with quote #61

I'm in zone 6 and we had it as bad as you folks did. My 20 year old in ground HC started budding out a week after I fertilized it. On a whim I added extra mulch to the bush last November. Now I see that the only parts that survived were the parts under the new mulch. If I were tending to the trees I'd fertilize when the high temps will stay over 70 and next fall mulch a lot. Letting them grow as a bush will provide a lot more nodes to recover from so I think that's a good idea, too. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

rafaelissimmo

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Posts: 1,473

Posted 1400280903	Reply with quote #62

Life!! (71st Street near Northern Boulevard). Attached Images image.jpg (141.86 KB, 94 views) __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

Nichole

Registered:1333814555
Posts: 878

Posted 1400393001	Reply with quote #63

Wow, rough winter. Mine was bad but yours was so much worse. Hope the recovery is looking a little better every day. __________________ Seattle area - Zone 8b http://www.niroha.com Fig Inventory https://sites.google.com/site/nicholesgardeninventory/fig-trees Wish list: Barbillone, Black Triana, Brooklyn Dark, Brooklyn White, Figo Branco, Figo Preto, Grantham Royal, Grisse de St Jean, Honey Jumbo, LSU Gold, LSU Scott's Yellow, Matta, Noire De Caromb, Panevino Dark, Roja, Syrian Long, Uncle Corky's Honey Delight

pino

Registered:1383190021
Posts: 2,118

Posted 1400440939	Reply with quote #64

Up here zone 6a way my two in-ground (in the field) 19yr old black Italian U. are breaking bud/leafing out and most branches seemed to have survived this brutal winter seemingly better than past winters. Can't explain that other than I took a little more care last year in covering. Used lots of leaves, straw and mulch around the base. However my in-ground dalmatie is winter killed dead to about 2' above ground but is now breaking bud vigorously below that. Don't know if I will get figs from the dalmatie this year. My figs over wintered in the barn have yet to break dormancy although they don't look dead. I saw many days the temperature in the barn at 12F during the winter on the wall near the figs. The figs had some covering but no source of heat. Next year I will put in thermostatically controlled source of heat. My figs stored in the passively heated sun room are doing fine. Brought them out to my improvised temp greenhouse and they have leafed out and are packed with brebas and are growing vigorously. Does anyone know how figs behave are affected at these low temperatures? To me it looks like the colder and longer the cold the deeper their sleep. To some point then of course they die. I suspect that winters also do some permanent damage to the figs and at some point the trunk fails. I grow my figs as bushes so each plant may have 10-12 trunks and every year I cut off the ones that look weak or damaged. __________________ Pino, zone 6, Niagara, JCJ Acres Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.

Joe_Athens1945

Registered:1396815560
Posts: 365

Posted 1400443345	Reply with quote #65

Quote: Originally Posted by pino Up here zone 6a way my two in-ground (in the field) 19yr old black Italian U. are breaking bud/leafing out and most branches seemed to have survived this brutal winter seemingly better than past winters. Can't explain that other than I took a little more care last year in covering. Used lots of leaves, straw and mulch around the base. However my in-ground dalmatie is winter killed dead to about 2' above ground but is now breaking bud vigorously below that. Don't know if I will get figs from the dalmatie this year. My figs over wintered in the barn have yet to break dormancy although they don't look dead. I saw many days the temperature in the barn at 12F during the winter on the wall near the figs. The figs had some covering but no source of heat. Next year I will put in thermostatically controlled source of heat. My figs stored in the passively heated sun room are doing fine. Brought them out to my improvised temp greenhouse and they have leafed out and are packed with brebas and are growing vigorously. Does anyone know how figs behave are affected at these low temperatures? To me it looks like the colder and longer the cold the deeper their sleep. To some point then of course they die. I suspect that winters also do some permanent damage to the figs and at some point the trunk fails. I grow my figs as bushes so each plant may have 10-12 trunks and every year I cut off the ones that look weak or damaged. I think, in the end, figs are semi tropical and not designed to take the stress of very low temperatures - to answer your question. As you say, the longer and the deeper the cold, the more they are apt to die. It is nature's way. Joe __________________ Athens, GA USA Zone 7b My young trees in the ground and in pots: Brown Turkey, White Triana JM, Magnolia, Strawberry Verte, Violette de Bordeaux, Panache, UK Brooklyn Dark JP, Ronde de Bordeaux. Wish list: St Rita

rafaelissimmo

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Posts: 1,473

Posted 1400887087	Reply with quote #66

Here is an in ground tree at 148 Street and 12th Avenue in Whitestone, Brown Turkey, was protected by the owner this winter, this is the first tree I have seen so fully leafed out here in Queens. Attached Images image.jpg (133.07 KB, 90 views) __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

pino

Registered:1383190021
Posts: 2,118

Posted 1400891455	Reply with quote #67

Very nice looking fig tree Rafael. You must be having some great weather or the owner did a super job of winter protection! The tree is likely very cold hardy given this winter. __________________ Pino, zone 6, Niagara, JCJ Acres Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.

rafaelissimmo

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Posts: 1,473

Posted 1400891698	Reply with quote #68

He wrapped it in a carpet with a rubber trash can on top Pino. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

pino

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Posts: 2,118

Posted 1400892705	Reply with quote #69

must have looked funny with the can on top but what the heck it worked great! __________________ Pino, zone 6, Niagara, JCJ Acres Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.

BronxFigs

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Posts: 1,864

Posted 1400902723	Reply with quote #70

Just today, as I was driving by, I saw a skinny, pathetic excuse of a fig tree growing right up against the brick wall of a house in Throggs Neck, Bronx NY. It had a few small leaves poking out from the skeletal branches. The drastic hacking, and butchering, on most of the in grounds here in this area, has begun. These, once beautiful trees, have been pruned back and reduced to just a few gaunt stems, sticking up out of the lawns and gardens. But still, no leaves are to be seen. Frank __________________ Bronx, NYC Zone-7

jimmychao

Registered:1347690066
Posts: 285

Posted 1400917387	Reply with quote #71

I plants hundreds of tree in ground last September, they are all less than 1 yr old about 1 ft tall. I only add about 6" mulch in November to protect root. Most of the top was eaten by deer during the winter. I thought they are dead because they look bone dry. But when I remove the mulch, more than 50% of them are sprouting. My yard is wide open, -20C for a couple weeks. These small trees only in gorund for about 1 month before winter came, their roots are shallow for sure, yet they survived. I don't think the cold kill them, but the strong wind dehydrated them. the portion that protected by mulch is hydrated. I will do a few test at the end of grow season. I'll store cutting in -80C freezer in ice. I believe as long as the cutting is hydrated, it will be fine. picture is the sign of life of the tree I mentioned. __________________ Jimmy Northern NJ - zone 6 ebay ID: jillji Wish List: Aubique Petite, Japanese White, Jolly Tiger, Maltese Beauty, Norland, San Giovanni...

BronxFigs

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Posts: 1,864

Posted 1400929137	Reply with quote #72

Hello Jimmy- Nice to read that you have managed to keep all those younger, in-ground trees alive and that they are now starting to sprout some new leaves, and stems. I have no direct evidence, but I also think that dehydration has caused most of the damage and terrible die-back. The strong, freezing winds really destroyed too many trees over the last winter. Maybe it's possible that the frozen ground around the roots did not allow any moisture to get into the semi-dormant root systems (in certain climate areas) and caused the above-ground wood to desiccate, and die back. I could be wrong. I just know the frozen ground/containers and freezing bitter winds, were not a good thing for fig trees. The results are now too obvious. Thanks for sharing. Good luck with the new fig season. Frank __________________ Bronx, NYC Zone-7

loquat1

Registered:1312036896
Posts: 585

Posted 1400931880	Reply with quote #73

Wow, sorry to see this level of carnage. Puts my Gk Yellow 'woes' into perspective. Hope at least some of you are pleasantly surprised later in the season. It may not be the complete solution for the severest winters, but I repeat again - have none of you ever heard of 'fleece'? Works a treat over here, but then again, doubt if it would have helped much in the kinda conditions you had recently. Still worth trying tho, especially on containerized trees. And multiple layers might offer just enough protection to ensure survival. __________________ Costas

RichinNJ

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Posts: 1,687

Posted 1400935420	Reply with quote #74

Interesting link on covering in ground figs http://www.newenglandvfc.org/2013_conference/powerpoints2013/Greenhouse%20Grown%20Figs.pdf

Figs4Life

Registered:1361572751
Posts: 666

Posted 1400937840	Reply with quote #75

Quote: Originally Posted by RichinNJ Interesting link on covering in ground figs http://www.newenglandvfc.org/2013_conference/powerpoints2013/Greenhouse%20Grown%20Figs.pdf thanks for the link Rich __________________ Wish List: - White Greek - Maltese Falcon - Excel - Celeste FL Follow me on youtube for more Fig videos: Silver Destiny My name is George & I live in NY zone 6B

Figs4Life

Registered:1361572751
Posts: 666

Posted 1400944692	Reply with quote #76

I'm starting to see some life in some trees in my neighborhood ! I hope I see in mine too. A lot of trees are going to turn into bushes this year __________________ Wish List: - White Greek - Maltese Falcon - Excel - Celeste FL Follow me on youtube for more Fig videos: Silver Destiny My name is George & I live in NY zone 6B

Sburdo

Registered:1334627697
Posts: 165

Posted 1400948750	Reply with quote #77

Earlier in the year I thought I fared better. But that appears not to be he case. I wanted to give an update so as not to mislead anyone. In grounds Celeste - dead; Negronne - dead; Black Mission - dead, VDB - lost most of it, growing from the bottom; Panachee - cut back four feet of die back, just saw a bud today at about two feet from ground, Italian Red - growing ok, but suffering a bit, Atreano - doing very well, Hardy Chicago - lost eight feet of die back, now growing from bottom. Pots - in unheated attached garage 25 gallons - most did well, lost a Wuhan and Black Madeira 5 gallons - lost 90% of everything 1 Gallon - lost everything Going to concentrate on 25 gallons and cut way back this year.

RichinNJ

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Posts: 1,687

Posted 1400949925	Reply with quote #78

Quote: Originally Posted by Figs4Life Quote: Originally Posted by RichinNJ Interesting link on covering in ground figs http://www.newenglandvfc.org/2013_conference/powerpoints2013/Greenhouse%20Grown%20Figs.pdf thanks for the link Rich You're welcome

RichinNJ

Registered:1374784282
Posts: 1,687

Posted 1400950147	Reply with quote #79

Quote: Originally Posted by Sburdo Earlier in the year I thought I fared better. But that appears not to be he case. I wanted to give an update so as not to mislead anyone. In grounds Celeste - dead; Negronne - dead; Black Mission - dead, VDB - lost most of it, growing from the bottom; Panachee - cut back four feet of die back, just saw a bud today at about two feet from ground, Italian Red - growing ok, but suffering a bit, Atreano - doing very well, Hardy Chicago - lost eight feet of die back, now growing from bottom. Pots - in unheated attached garage 25 gallons - most did well, lost a Wuhan and Black Madeira 5 gallons - lost 90% of everything 1 Gallon - lost everything Going to concentrate on 25 gallons and cut way back this year. I will have many #5 gallons to put I to the garage this year. I will have to be diligent about keeping the kerosene heater on and the temps up

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1400950211	Reply with quote #80

Steve, I didnt fare any better with most of my potted 5 gallons and 1 gallons in an unheated, insulated attached space, I lost all of those. The 5 gallon and 1 gallons that were in a minimally heated space fared much better, the 5 gallons and 1 gallons have already leafed out some with several breba. Lesson learned... Install a thermostatically controlled heat source (Electric Ceramic) in the winter storage area for those brutally cold periods.

rafaelissimmo

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Posts: 1,473

Posted 1400950228	Reply with quote #81

Steve Buy a kerosene space heater with thermostat w timer, I think you will find you do not lose any containerized plants in winter, it is a relatively small investment compared to your collection and its value, both sentimental and monetary. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

RichinNJ

Registered:1374784282
Posts: 1,687

Posted 1400966221	Reply with quote #82

Quote: Originally Posted by rafaelissimmo Steve Buy a kerosene space heater with thermostat w timer, I think you will find you do not lose any containerized plants in winter, it is a relatively small investment compared to your collection and its value, both sentimental and monetary. I agree with Rafael I spent a few dollars and a lot of time keeping the garage warm and it paid off with nice big plants this spring. It was well worth the effort and expense.

Sburdo

Registered:1334627697
Posts: 165

Posted 1400982623	Reply with quote #83

I definitely have a prejudice against kerosene heaters. I remember houses burning down from these. Are they much safer than they used to be? No amount of figs trump safety.

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1400984142	Reply with quote #84

Steve this year I used an electric heater but supposedly that is more dangerous than kerosene. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

susieqz

Registered:1372082549
Posts: 971

Posted 1400990247	Reply with quote #85

once upon a time, electric heaters were dangerous because they didn't have an auto shut off when knocked over. they do now. i use them every winter. __________________ susie wish list: nothing. i can't grow cuttings . right now, i have 6 trees showing no signs of fmv. i'd like to keep it that way' i was told that if i couldn't deal with fmv, i should grow peaches, so i got a peach tree to live with my clean figs.

RichinNJ

Registered:1374784282
Posts: 1,687

Posted 1401014709	Reply with quote #86

I had a wick type heater that did not heat very well and had allot of issues with the wick hardening up needing to be replaced often. I used kerosene from a supplier whose contact information came with the heater. I switched back to a 55 kbtu tube type forced air heater I have been using for years. Once the garage is warmed up it will stay warm for many hours.

LizzieB

Registered:1397581699
Posts: 84

Posted 1401020523	Reply with quote #87

zone 7a NC my sweet monster tree is just now starting to sprout now. Mostly from the roots. One branch has little green nubs but only about a half a foot up from the ground. Was a 15 foot healthy tree in the fall. __________________ Luise Area 7 a, Central North Carolina W-S Celeste UNK, 15 year old disease free, very abundant, nice sized fruit. I've got the fever, as Ms.Javajunkie gifted me so very many cuttings. Experimentation in progress... all of my own cuttings got slimy. Ms.Javajunkie gifts are showing tiny leaves and roots. So very excited Black Greek, Po di Limone and Black Triana are growing in little cups.

RichinNJ

Registered:1374784282
Posts: 1,687

Posted 1401021377	Reply with quote #88

BTW the grapes ( Mars, Marquis and Reliance) we planted last year a going crazy this year even though I pruned them and trained them "Top Wire Cordon" method this winter. Looks to me like they are a year ahead of schedule in growth and we will get grapes this year.

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1401023309	Reply with quote #89

The fig trees that I usually visit have all started new growth, IMO they will produce figs before Fall, but most may not ripen since they are breaking buds more than a month late. .

Joeturbo26

Registered:1398466224
Posts: 73

Posted 1401116704	Reply with quote #90

Quote: Originally Posted by rafaelissimmo Here is an in ground tree at 148 Street and 12th Avenue in Whitestone, Brown Turkey, was protected by the owner this winter, this is the first tree I have seen so fully leafed out here in Queens. Raf, I think we have the same fig spotting route lol. I saw this tree the other day. As for many of the other ones in and around whitestone, bayside, flushing etc. I'm still seeing little if any budding. Granted I usually don't get close enough to check out the base of the trees for growth at ground level. Great now I'm craving a fresh fig. Lol __________________ -Joe- Queens NY Zone 6b-7a depends on who you ask!

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1401117116	Reply with quote #91

Joe most of the old timers around here have cut their trees down to stumps and painted the stumps with tar. From the street you can't even tell there used to be a fig tree there previously... __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

Joeturbo26

Registered:1398466224
Posts: 73

Posted 1401117321	Reply with quote #92

The other day on 154th & 12th ave I noticed a whole bunch of trees in the front yards ... Lifeless with CD's hanging from them. __________________ -Joe- Queens NY Zone 6b-7a depends on who you ask!

71GTO

Registered:1290311646
Posts: 1,002

Posted 1401117622	Reply with quote #93

Is the tar just to keep Things from eating the healthy tree? __________________ NJ z7a Wish list :

rafaelissimmo

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Posts: 1,473

Posted 1401118495	Reply with quote #94

I think it's to seal the wound __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

rafaelissimmo

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Posts: 1,473

Posted 1401974803	Reply with quote #95

In post # 42 on Page 1 I showed a picture of a bare tree. 3 weeks later, take a look at her leafing out nicely. Now that is a cold-hardy survivor, no protection whatsoever last winter. JoeAthens that's the tree we talked about, alive and well! Attached Images image.jpg (180.92 KB, 72 views) __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,727

Posted 1402001613	Reply with quote #96

Great tree! We need cuttings of that one in our breeding programs. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1402002975	Reply with quote #97

Bob it is a nice producer, mostly "unifera" with a rare breba, plump nice sized green figs with red center, owner used to be an italian immigrant. I posted pics a year ago asking for identification of unknown, but no one was able to help me id. You can look up the thread. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1402004239	Reply with quote #98

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/help-identify-delicious-northeastern-fig-need-id-6489235?pid=1279220832&full_version=1 __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

RichinNJ

Registered:1374784282
Posts: 1,687

Posted 1402013532	Reply with quote #99

Quote: Originally Posted by rafaelissimmo In post # 42 on Page 1 I showed a picture of a bare tree. 3 weeks later, take a look at her leafing out nicely. Now that is a cold-hardy survivor, no protection whatsoever last winter. JoeAthens that's the tree we talked about, alive and well! Thanks for sharing that Raf.

susieqz

Registered:1372082549
Posts: 971

Posted 1402015500	Reply with quote #100

very impressive tree raf. i hope you can find a way to propagate it for those of us with nasty winters. __________________ susie wish list: nothing. i can't grow cuttings . right now, i have 6 trees showing no signs of fmv. i'd like to keep it that way' i was told that if i couldn't deal with fmv, i should grow peaches, so i got a peach tree to live with my clean figs.

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