in 2012, i left the trees out once the temp reached 40. didn't take them back in when temp dropped below 32 and some of the buds were frozen. that was a set back. 

in 2013, i kept the trees in till the night temp was above 50. no freezing, but the breba crop was lost. mainly not paying too much attention to water need and some of the older trees were getting rather tight in the containers. 

this yr, i'm doing fig shuffle. and this is getting rather boring. now i have it down to a set up where it takes maybe 30 min to move 60 or so trees in and out of the garage. but after 3rd time, i'm going.. will they really freeze over in 2-3 hrs when the temp is below 32? 

after this week, there is another day or two when night temp is below 32 next week. i'm thinking very hard between pulling them in or leaving them to sink or swim. 

For most plants (this is more for temperate, hardy plants) 30 degrees is the danger zone. Just like how salt water freezes at lower temperatures, plant tissues have a little more wiggle room...but you might lose tender buds, immature leaves, and the breba.

Hi Pete,
for 30 minutes of your time its well worth moving them back in.
Its a pain but well worth it.

One season i finally thought i could move them into back yard which was done then a week or so
later i had to take them into garage for 1 measly night.

Had peace of mind .
Mother nature can be unpredictable still in our times.

Sometimes moving them also leads to accidents that can damage the figs and not to mention your poor back and knees.
Have you though of setting up a temporary greenhouse in a protected corner where they can get some sun and stay until the chance of frost passes?

Hi bullet08,
For just one night, I would group them and throw a plastic over them - that will protect them from the freezing .
That should be enough.
Then, if you can/want to do the shuffle, it is probably better.
My cultivars are all cold hardy - so they would stand that - I know because they do .
Each year here, we get "light" frost until 12th of May and my fig trees start to break bud in mid April .
But I saw in another post that some of your trees, already have nice leaflets ... The choice is yours :)

Pete, a couple of weeks ago I was trying to encourage you to get involved in an exercise program.  I'm proud of you! lol

Having made it this far, one more shuffle is worth it.  I'm not sure I'd set out to do it again next year, though. . .

Tough problems lead to creative ideas....

yeah... i'm getting hand truck this fall.

So I'm rather new to the 'shuffle' but since my trees are all pretty much leafing out right now, what would happen if I simply leave them in the garage for a month with just daylight coming through a clear window?  My garage is about 60-65°F this time of year.  I'm shuffling 8 plants in 5 gallon buckets right now but not sure if I want to do this with the others just yet, although they're leafing out.

I cut back on numbers of trees. Place the trees in such a manner where I can put a tarp/blanket
over easily. I also have a temporary tarped shelter where I only use for figs from late April to
early June.

Pete I'll save you the trouble of dragging them in and out. Shuffle them once by shuffling up my way.
Problem solved! You'll be my new BFF.
Thanks bud!

I'm wishing it was warm enough her to do the shuffle.

Pete, paradise is the solution to that problem.

jon, i agree. as soon as i figure out how to grow all my food and meat sources, and figure out how to pay tax man, i'm there :)

I am really impressed with the number of folks who have garages full of overwintering fig plants!  it just occurred to me, anyone ever put the pots on a trailer?  Honest, if anyone has done this I am sure it's someone on this forum :>)

Just pull them out when the weather warms - back them in if you get a cold snap.  Perfect!

(You could probably even manage to take them on vacation with you if you could figure out how to block the wind burn.  LOL!)

fignebago?

pete, I most of my plants sitting in milk crates. I can squeeze 2 maybe 3 smaller plants in one crate. If you have a lot of smaller ones maybe thatll save you a few trips.
Also, singing the fig shuffle song makes it go much faster.

Frank, if you shuffle them and they open buds into full sun they won't stretch and the leaves will not burn. If you leave them in the garage you get low light spindly growth and leaves that will need to be acclimated to the sun and possibly still burn off anyway.

Pete, this thread is a classic example of our First World Problems we have to live with everyday. Tough lives we lead.  :)

Thanks Calvin!

"heigh-ho, heigh-ho

It's still too cold here is CT to bring out the figs that are in the garage. I'm planning on building a hoop house and if I can get that constructed over the next few weeks the figs will go in there.

was gonna take them out today again, but decided to wait til tomorrow. it looks like it will be below 40 all day long. 

I don't shuffle.  I use Christmas lights, blankets and tarps/plastic sheeting.

looks like after next week, everything down here will be above 35. hopefully, no more fig shuffle.