Hello fellow fig friends! I just moved to a new house (5 acres!!) in the Cali desert. Zone 9b, with winters about 15 degrees and summers at 105 the hottest. The soil is very sandy and rocky with some clay. Which fig strains would be ideal for this area? Is it better to use containers or in ground in 9b?

My only gripe is, there are so many darn gophers!! Does anyone know of any successful ways to deal with gophers? Aside from using my high powered 1400 fps air rifle!

Your climate is perfect for most figs.

As for the gophers....

Howie!  I'm happy for you!  We are looking for acreage too, but not in the Desert.  I'm typing to you from the desert.  We run the AC every day and half the night.  It's HOT!  It rarely freezes, but has been known to do that.  Figs seem to love it!

Enjoy your battle with the gophers!
Suzi

Hi Howie.  Welcome to the forum.  I am in a similar climate to you.  I think that it is easier to put figs in the ground in the desert.  In containers they need to be watered more often and you run the risk of overheating the roots.  The varieties that I have that seem best adapted to this climate are LSU Purple, Desert King, Black Madeira, and an unknown that I have from NJ.  Good luck with your new place.

You could try a gopher basket or make one yourself. 

The best way for controlling gopher here are trapping, ..and not killing any snakes.

As to the best varieties in your area, I don't know. But you might want to look over the thread stuck at the very top of the page to see if anything there pertains to you. Some of it's kinda old however.

'Best figs at your location' - http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Best-figs-at-your-location-4800578

I want to get me one of those Rodenators for the ground hogs around here wow! Thanks Dave

Hi Howie!  Welcome to the forum!  Wow 5 Acres - you could have a fig haven there!

I don't have an issue with gophers (that I know of) since I am in a tract house, but  did have a juvenile opossum in my garage in early April.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. 

@DesertDance Im not that hot, almost!

@FrozenJoe I have the LSU Purple, I'm dying to try the Black Madeira.

@ohjustaguy That rodenator is crazy!! Upon closer look they seem to be ground squirrels. They look so cute Id feel bad blowing them up!

I'm growing figs in AZ and it gets up to 120 degrees and they seem to do fine as long as you slowly introduce them to the sun.    Pomegranates are another tree that does well in the heat and has beautiful flowers.   I only mention another tree since you are so lucky to have 5 acres.   You can start your fig orchard and get one of every variety and let us know what works for you.  

I plan on growing as many fig trees, as my wife will allow! I just put some of my plants in ground. Anyone know how much I should water in the desert?

Keep the roots damp the first year Howie.  Whatever it takes.

At our new place here in central Az, temps in the 90's and 100's, I have rocky clay soil, have mulched heavily with straw, and water a couple of times a week.  In a year or two, I hope to cut back on the the water.

At our old place in Lake Havasu, it was hotter and the soil was rocky and sandy.  When the temps got over 110, I watered my new plants every other day.

A moisture meter can help, but in the desert...when you see otherwise healthy leaves start to wilt...it's time to water.  Even if you just did it yesterday.

Mulch heavily.  Use shade cloth the first couple of weeks after you put them in the ground, and keep those roots damp the first year.  

It wouldn't hurt to have your soil tested, at (least the ph), either.   That can save you a lot of work and $. 

I would  agree with above.   Water frequently until established.  After that, water deeply and infrequently.    How long depends upon your conditions.  If you get a metal rod and can stick it 3 feet into the soil, then that is how you know you've watered enough.   Mulch does help a lot.   I'm glad you are planting some fig trees.  More people should plant them especially in the desert.  

Thanks for the info. I dug a 2.5 ft deep hole filled with ph'd soil and buried my 3 gallon pots about 3/4 deep. My mini orchard is coming along nicely! One other potential problem, Its so windy here. Would it affect the plants??