Hello!  I am a complete novice at figs, so any advice would be very welcome.  Last fall we put my Black Jack fig (which had lived in a container for about 7 years) into the ground.  We had a fake spring here, it put out it's leaves & buds, then froze again.  :( 

Last year: 

This year: 

It's come back, but leaf size is small compared to last year and no figs.  Any suggestions?  Was the shock of going into the ground too much?  Wait till next year?

I bought a mission fig and put it in late last year.  It froze to the ground, thought I had lost it, but sprang forth on it's roots and now is very bushy.  When is the best time to prune? 


Last, I just bought a Panache fig.  I couldn't resist, it just looked so pretty and the price was right ($20).  It's loaded with fruit, my plan is to keep it watered (seller said to water every day).  When would be the best time to put it in the ground? 


I'm on the central coast of California, zone 8B, long hot dry summers with frost around October/November.

I hope I'm not asking too many questions, just would love to get my trees looking good. 

Maya,

Welcome to the forum. If you planted your Blk J. in early spring then it should be fine. But if it was planted in july or Aug then, yes. Just keep the soil moist all the time and water it well, it will be fine. You will get figs from it next year. Was there any root pruning done on that tree during the 7yrs that was kept in a pot?

Looking at your 2nd and 3rd pics. I can tell you those plants need some water. When you plant a fig or any fruit tree in ground you need to keep the soil moist for the first year or so. My in ground trees each gets 4 gallons of water daily (in Z6).

Also if possible change the pot for your Panache to a white colored one or wrap it with AL foil or put it in a box. You want to minimize the absorption of sunlight by the dark/Blk colored pots. Roots will absorb nutrients and grow best in a cooler environment (soil) than a hot and enclosed environment.

You can prune them when they go dormant.



Navid.

Hello Navid,

Thank you the welcome and the advice! 

The Black Jack was put in the ground last fall, I think around September.  It had been root pruned twice while in the pot; when it was finally put in the ground we made vertical slices along the sides and the bottom. 

More water I can do.  :D

Regarding the pot for the Panache, does it make any difference if I wait until the fruit ripens?  I plan to put it in the ground, should I just go ahead and do that now?

Maya, you are welcome. You have done perfect with your Blk. J., the root pruning and making the vertical slices before planting it in ground.

But, since your tree has figs on it at this time and we don't want to stress it too much (it may drop its figs), just place the pot in a large box or wrap AL foil around it. Also, add 2-3 inches of pine bark mulch on top of the soil. Doing so roots will be cool and can absorb/transfer the nutrients to the plant much better. Plant it in ground next spring, not this year.

I agree, cutting the roots now in order to plant properly is a bad idea. You can let roots grow out of the pot into the ground though, as long as you do not have to move the pot, that will help the tree get the water and nutrients it needs.

Also, black pots can be spray painted white...it helps immensely with temperature.   The photos of the Black Jack in the pot, WOW.   Welcome to the forum!!

Welcome--you've come to the right place! Lots of excellent advice.

Thanks again for the warm welcome!  I feel I have a lot to learn.  Can someone point me to a good place on the web to learn about shaping/pruning my trees?  I'm thinking in particular of my Mission, is there a particular number of shoots one should strive for?  My husband is into bonsai and suggests odd number branching, and while I want a visually balanced looking tree, I also want to know how to prune for best fruit eventual fruit production. 

I tell you, looking at some of the fig photos on this site has my mouth watering over here.  Fig season is too short. 

Alan, I appreciate the suggestion, but in reality I don't see myself cold training.  One of the reasons I'm not growing lemons, I know I'm not committed enough to catch each frost and wheel my tree into the garage, it's just not in me.  I may just place it close to a barn wall and hope for the best.  Our winter lows here average 25 degrees F, though with the weather as crazy as it's been, who knows. 

Maya, you can prune them in fall when they go dormant. Usually figs are very forgiving when it comes to pruning specially the Blk Mission as it can grow 6-7 feet/season. You can trim them however you prefer, but if it was my tree I would open up the center of it by cutting off the branches/suckers.

By pruning the old wood in fall you will lose some of the breba crops but you would still get the main crop.

BTW, Blk Mission is more cold sensitive than other fig trees such as Celeste or Hardy Chicago, so you do need to winterize (protect/wrap ) it for the first 3-4 yrs. After that it should do fine in your climate.


Navid.


P.S. Another excellent tasting fig is VDB. It will do perfect in your climate in ground or in pot.

I think I'm getting the fig bug, Navid!  I did a search on VdB and it looks very good..., another to look for when bareroot season starts.

Good to know about Blk Mission, I will have to research wrapping trees. 

Thank you again for your advice, next year I should have figs!

Maya, you are very welcome. I might have an extra VDB that I can send it your way. I'll email you latter.


Navid.

That would be so cool, what a generous offer, thank you. 

My figs are appreciating all the extra water, they're looking happier already. 

Hi Maya, sent you a PM yesterday.


Navid.