Topics

Hardiness considerations

If a fig tree will do well in a more northern climate, is it doomed in my DFW TX climate of triple digit temps and fairly dry? 

I am asking because some of the cultivars I have been reading about doing well in more northern climates sound terrific!  However, I don't want to waste my time if they will not thrive in my area.  Watering is not much of an issue for me - I make sure they get watered if Mother Nature won't!

Tiny font time! LOL. Not automatically so, JoAnn. Just like they can't grow certain cultivars due to lack of heat units and short seaon, there are cultivars that struggle (fruit-wise at least) in our heat.

Jo-Ann,

Hardy Chicago is one of my best trees.  I wouldn't worry about it too much.  If there is a cold hardy fig you want to grow it should do fine in Dallas.

Sorry about the font size!  I switched form Firefox to IE and the font came out HUGE!!  I couldn't link a photo in another post from photobucket with FF so I switched to IE.  Sometimes this site drives me nuts with the limitations on FF.

Hope this one is better ;)

Hi Jo-Ann

It's not so clear cut as to say a tree which thrives in one environment won't grow in another.  Most of my trees seem to do pretty good in the heat.  I have been observing four which seem to struggle:

Marseillaise Black - This one is growing very slowly.  It is 4 years old and other trees the same age are 3-4 times it's size.  I have 1st year cuttings with more top growth on them than it does.  Also. I only have two trees which seem to be struggling with leaf rust, this is one of them.

Osborne Prolific - Same as MBVS... short and covered in rust.  I actually dug up some of the roots on this one to check for RKN today.  It's clean.

Verdal Longue - I'm not sure if it is a heat issue or it just wallows in it's FMV.  We'll see how it goes from here

Armenian - I posted about this tree a few days ago.  It must have read it was potentially on the chopping block, then decided to start growing some fruit.

I'm not sure how many of the problems are due to heat and how many are due to other factors.  There are other trees in the field which came to me from cooler climates which are outpacing LSU Purple and LSU Gold.  If all else fails, take comfort in the fact that figs originated in the Mediterranean heat.

~james

Figs are mentioned early in the Bible, and I'm pretty sure there was no snow in the Garden of Eden.. (Ask Eden;-)  But they did use those fig leaves, so I think they all are happy in a Mediterranean climate.  It's just some will endure cold climates better than others.

Good luck with your fig adventures.  I'm so looking forward to tasting my Hardy Chicago and Marseille vs Black!!

Suzi

Thanks for the input!!  What the heck, I guess I'll try whatever strikes my fancy!

If a fig isn't doing well in a hot climate I would adjust its environment.  Maybe it needs afternoon shade, maybe it needs its roots shaded, maybe it needs faster draining soil or more retentive soil.  Or some combination.  I seriously doubt that a great fig in a cooler environment can't grow in a hotter one.

Reply Cancel
Subscribe Share Cancel