Hi, can anyone suggest a good fertilizer for newly potted figs and one Chicago hardy in the ground. I am in zone 7 Long Island. Many of these were cuttings potted a months or so and all look very vigorous. How often should I fertilize? Also my three year old Chicago hardy has not woken up at all and has a deep cooper color? Does that seem normal? Thanks

Barry

Hi Barry,
I would make a small cut on the Hardy chicago, take the tip of a branch off, see if it has any sap running, check to see if it is still green under the outside skin.
The one plant I had outside this past winter is dead to the ground, despite winter protection.  Time will tell if it comes up from the roots again.
Fertilize as often as the product you have recommends. Watch how much your plants grow, you do not want long inter-nodal distances.  Stop the fertilizing about 4 months before normal dormancy sets in.
That gives the new growth time to harden off before the cold weather sets in.

Since they are newly potted I would recommend using fertilizer at 1/2 strength or less and see how they react.  A lot of people hate it but I like regular MG for young trees as it makes them grow like crazy.  

I would think by now you should be seeing some growth in zone 7a, I am in 7b and all mine died to the ground but are showing growth now. Some more than others, but all are growing.

As for fertilizer, I would give the in ground a good shot of MG now and some slow release like Osmocote. If it is alive the roots are expanding now and  you want to encourage that all you can. If it is dead, put out a request on this forum for a replacement cutting and I am pretty sure you will get something. This place is full of good people.