My fig trees have been spent of figs for a short while now hence the title.
Now its weather watching and the waiting game for when to bring them in for the season.
Last week Oct 6th we did get a mild frost around 37 when i checked , jeep windshield and grass had it.
This morning as i type this its 30 out now , all plants are outdoors except 3 which are 2 in cups and 1 in a gallon container.
I do have room in garage for all trees i made sure of that and even could fit a few more if i choose do to a little thinning out of plants, and next season perhaps i thin out again. EL.Sals was a dissapointment this season do to lousy weather and to me just a sweet tasting fig and will consider its fate in the coming years depending on how i like the others. We had some rain at the worse time and Sals split along with my unknown for the second time in its 7 growing seasons much worse than Hardy Chicago. Growing in containers can sometimes be a challenge with rain coming at the wrwong time but that happens not to often like this year or once before since growing trees. Vdb is a keeper so far as i enjoy its rich taste that is balanced well with the sweetness which is good because its not just another sweet tasting fig it has flavor added and is sorta reminicent of Hardy Chicago to me in this way of balance of taste even a little crunch. I look forward to next season to get a better gauge on my others as they mature and how they taste in my climate and manage themselves.

Best Health

Martin, too bad your season is so short, however, you do a wonderful job of growing figs. I for one, always enjoy your posts, detailed descriptions and great pictures I think it's great, the way you are so kind and generous with your support of all of us here on the fig forum. I want you to know how much you are appreciated.

Ciao Martin,  you know I appreciate you, I can't say anything more on that subject.  It is very interesting, my fig trees are just showing signs of dormancy, none of them are producing any more fruit whatsoever, there is a couple, Kalamata, Valle Negra that has a few little figs on but I will knock them off, But...................  My Chieti is still making ripe fruits. I am continuously amazed at this tree from the family orchards back home, I know the color is different this year, still purple but with green mixed in. I ate one yesturday or day before and despite the rain and cold settling in lately, it was still absolutely DELICIOS!!!!!!  I know that this time of year especially when the weather gets cold and the like, the figs loose alot of flavor, but not this one. It was great with a taste of Raspberry.  I like a more figgy taste rather than sweetness all the time, so it was really good.  there is 4 more other Chieti's outside still trying to get ripe, I hope they make it for it is supposed to have little snow flakes Monday night here in W Central Penna.  Ciao!

Martin,

I only picked 12 edible figs yesterday, so am not to far behind you. There are a lot of figs left only a few of which will still ripen, and several trees are reflushing with new figs which have no hope. Black Madiera is still setting new figs, and has only ripened 4 so far. Should have several hundred of them for the compost pile.

Though some yellowing of fig leaves was observed, most of
my figs are still mostly green. Still harvesting a few lingering
figs; in spite of our NorthEast 2009 short/cold/very-wet summer...

Man, there is one big tennis-ball-sized fig just waiting to
ripen any-time-now (UCR 278-128 - I think)....

Martin,

I see you are in line for the earliest snowfall on record in Chicago tomorow. Time to move to the Left Coast.

Just for the good sake of your plants, if it was 37 out then you did not have a frost, not possible.

I ate this Brown Turkey today, Martin. They are huge, but not very good this time of year--too much rain. Peter's Honey, in contrast is still very good. But it will all be over soon.

Someone can sure as heck have frost @ 37 degrees
here is a quote from someone that knows!!!!!


Frost occurs when water vapor in the air freezes onto a surface. This can happen even when the air temperature is above 32 degrees because many objects cool faster than the air. When their temperature dips below freezing, moisture from the air will accumulate as ice crystals through a process called ``deposition.'' This can occur when the air temperature is as high as 36 or 38 degrees

Thanks for the kind words and comments.  ; ) Jon your right its quite possible about snow flurries. 
Yes there was frost on my windshied at 37 temperature as the wipers would not scrape it off windshied and it was on grass as well. But 37 is not enough for me to consider, actually 37 is a heat wave come winter months !
Recently all trees saw temperature of 30 for a low and last night it dropped around 25 to 26 in my area, so they experienced 2 decent frosts which is what i let happen each year. They will be brought in today as leaves are curled good now.
I was in Ypsilanti, Mich yesterday all day and temps were warmer there during daytime and night time lows as well but it still was cold sitting on aluminum bleachers at Eastern Mich University, daughters school placed 5th out of 17 in BOA marching band HS competition im happy to say.Indiana was first and Ohio was second deservingly. Come Christmas time the band will be marching at Disneyland in Florida in there parade which the kids will remember for a lifetime. Was a long drive especially coming back home but all is well. This mornning when i awoke i looked at trees and i started to bring them in, the large trees are coming in later today. We have been below normal daily high temperatures since fall began actually each darn day by 10 degree's or more, fall sure came in with a bang this season and time will tell what this winter will bring. After today when all trees are put away Snow Blower comes out of shed and into garage as well.
Pictures will still be posted this winter of trees in garage snoozing im sure this winter by me and hopefully others as well including some new folks as i always look forward to reading the forums in winter time.
So please lets keep forum going strong this Winter with lots of pictures of newly rooted scion and such and look forward to a new season.  ; )
Best Health

Ciao , it is supposed to have snow flurries monday night here.  It is fun in winter looking at pics of all the newly rooted sticks.  Its become a way of life now. Ciao

OK, I am confused. If the air is above freezing (say 36F) how do objects cool to 32F and below, in order to form frost? If I put something in my frig (which is say, 42F) it won't get colder than 42F.

I have seen some situations where water on a roof has been frozen, but the air temps are above 32F, and I didn't understand that, either. What is the actual mechanism for freezing/frosting above 32F?

"GOOGLE IT"

OK,
i did not google it im still tired somewhat from trip gosh im feeling my age.
Anyhoot i think even though temp is above 32 that windhsiled of mine and the grass was colder than the air temp and when the moisture touches it then  that becomes frost?
Either way i have seen this thruout my life in my state, another good example where i grew up our front porch had wrought iron railings and those always frosted above 32 degree air temp, perhaps because the subject is actually colder and the air makes the moisture on it and then because subject is colder it makes the frost.
Just a guess .
If its not right it sounds good !!!   ; )

It is possible to have snow above 32 but for frost to form on a object, the object needs to be 32 or it will just form dew.

So we are back to the question of how get the object colder than the air around it.

Beats me Jon,

But all of my life it has been frosting when temps were above 32 degrees around these parts, so Martin ain't alone on this deal.

I'm thinking black Madeira might be a good fig for my climate as we are still high 80's low 90's day temps with mid 70's as night temps still have 2 months of growing weather as our cold usually doesn't start till Jan. I have not seen any nurseries that carry this variety can some-one point me in the right direction. Jon i see you don't have it listed either as a potted plant and the restrictions on shipping to Fl is cost prohibitive if I read that right. Is it the same restrictions for cuttings as plants.

Jon this will help explain things about frost.
Im not sure if they have them signs in your area that state this
Caution bridges freeze before roads.
Im sure Cecil when he drove truck experieced this scary situation, i even have in a car right near house where we have a overpass bridge over  I-80 that you drive over to get to the ramp, speed limit is 45 and ya better slow down as sometimes that bridge will have slippery surface but the street before and after it is just fine. Here is something interesting.

Thanks Martin for your reply what I have observed in my short time growing is open eyes will definitely be affected as my Brunswick was in rainy times, but if ripening in drier parts of the year they are a good eating fig. I will do some more research on the Madeira but our long growing season should be a plus the rain might be a minus so I have to weight both but I sure would at least give it a trial for a few seasons at least.