UPS delivered my Marseilles and Celeste today. Very impressed with the good packing job by EL. The Celeste has 3 small figs on it and roots already growing out of the bottom of the pot. The Marseilles also very healthy. So, need some advice ...

Should I pot-up and keep indoors for the winter? The paperwork says they are hardened off so should I move them outside and let them go dormant? I'll post some pics when I get a chance.

Here are the new family members ...

If they are outgrowing their pots, I would upsize the pot now, and protect them from the elemants this winter.

If I keep them inside this winter, they will not go dormant and drop leaves. Will this affect their ability to produce fruit next season? I am assuming since the Celeste has 3 figs on it that it will produce next year (I'm sure the little figs will not ripen this year).

Steve, i see you bought the gallon plants it looks like mine is the quart size but no harden off paperwork came with them. I wonder but they still look small if yours are from last year cuttings if not how do you think they figure out plants are hardened off , maybe because lots of the trunk is now brown maybe? Im scracthing my head hopeing to learn something here. I had thought and probably im wrong that hardened off meant for plants that went thru at least one cold period. Im sure someone will help you. I did read somewhere that figs here need to go thru cold period to set them up properly for growing season again though i do not know how that works actually.

Yes they are the gallon size and are about 2 FT tall. Attached is the paperwork they included about hardening & dormancy - hence the question about should I put them outside rather then keep them in over the winter. I also recall that they should go through the dormancy period to be ready for next season.

Steve is a new Daddy again!
 
Good luck with the new babies, that Celeste is darn hard to beat for Preserves!
 
Cecil

My wife just keeps shaking her head at me and smiles. She's interested in the whole fig experience but doesn't let on. Yup, I smoked a cigar after the UPS stork dropped them off.

Ha Ha,
A cigar Huh?
 
Speaking of Wife's, I have had mine 54 yrs tonight at 8 PM CST
 
One of us deserves a metal, now would not be a good time for me to run a poll!
 
 
Cecil ;)

54 years is an amazing accomplishment. Congratulations! And yes, we all know your wife deserves the metal (all the wives do for putting up with us). Best to you and your family.

HAHA
 
I think your right about who should get the metal Steve :)
 
Thanks for the kind words.
 
 
Cecil

Steve, if it was me i would keep indoors if possible only cause i hate to spend money on same thing over again if i could have prevented it in first place but Steve thats just me. If your tree's look strong nice brown trunk they probably could go dormant and do ok, im just a scardy cat.

Also yes the woman desrve the metals , i have these 50 ppound bags of the new soil mix in garage and mentioned to the misses and she say why not get the big blue plastic container and mix the stuff up and keep in lided container, mind you i bore her when i talk about figs all the time she does not like them, but puts up with me.
Cecil, well i wont say anything but 54 years congatulations to the Misses and You.

Oh i forgot i was reading my post and siad looks like mine are in quart pots of course they are it should not read like that cause i forgot comma.

Thanks Martin
 
The better 1/2 just walked by and read what you guys said, grinned & walked into the kitchen :)
 

Cecil

Martin,

I'm a scaredy cat also and I was thinking to keep them indoors growing as much as I can. I'm hoping someone here gives me the confidence to let them go dormant and store in my shed along with the other figs. The paperwork from EL indicates that they were outside and are about to head into dormancy. That would explain the color of the leaves. If one of our resident experts could give a recommendation I would appreciate it.

Yeaaaa! No more waiting by the window :)) They are beautiful trees Steve.  Mine came yesterday too. Let me start a new thread.