I have only four trees in the ground.  Two are in a flower bed on the S. side of my house and benefit from the warmth radiated by the brick walls.  Two more are on the S. side of my metal barn, which is as cold as a witches teat in the winter. 

Those in front of the house are a Celeste and a Joe Morle Paradiso; the Celeste two years in the ground, the Paradiso three years.  The Celeste was cut off to barrel height, a barrel put over it and the barrel packed with straw.  The Paradiso was cut off as well, then packed with leaves raked off the lawn.  Both trees survived the -15F temperature we endured  this winter, but the Paradiso (that packed in leaves) is coming out more quickly and vigorously than the Celeste. 

Out by the barn were a Hardy Chicago and a Pakistani Black, the UCD fig.  The HC is going into its third season, the Pak is going into its second season in-ground.  They are about the same size.  The HC was packed in straw inside a barrel, the Pak Black was trimmed to half-barrel height, covered with soil and a half-barrel put over it.  The unheated barn provided protection only from the wind.  Both trees exhibit much freeze damage, some branches killed to the ground but some alive and sprouting.  Interestingly, the Pakistani, that covered with soil, suffered more damage and is coming out more slowly than the HC. 

I have to conclude that (1) older trees are more frost resistant, (2) Leaves are better insulation than straw, (3) HC is one tough little tree and (4) it takes a lot of dirt to cover a fig tree so that it will tolerate sub-zero weather. 
Ox

Ox,

I know that some disagree but Morle's paradisio, at least the one I bought from him was brunswick, which does well in my zone without covering (zone 7).  I agree with both statements#1 and 2

Brunswick !! I hope not. Will keep an eagle eye on it. My J.Morle Paradiso is small, about 4" -- it resprouted.  I thought it was dead. If it is a Brunswick it will go to the compost pit. I have got rid of many Brunswick, courtesy of Zergas.

If More's Paradisio is not a Brunswick....they are definitely very closely related. Morle's Black Mountain fig is the same fig as his Paradisio....at least the one I bought from him a few years ago.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

What is wrong with a Brunswick? Is it the open eye?

It is not just the open eye....it is the skin characteristics too (thin and not elastic enough). They will split faster than a speeding bullet during rainy periods and turn sour. They will draw fruit beetles from miles away into your orchard whenever they split and sour.

Now Brunswick (AKA Magnolia) was a good tasting fig in my yard.....that is, ONLY when the rains didn't fall. Brunswick does well in drier climates. I have a "Magnolia Bronze" fig that seems to be different than Brunswick (Magnolia) and it can handle more rain. Right now I am believing that it is one of the "D'Or" figs......not the Goutte D'Or (AKA Doree) strain. Don't recall the names of the other two D'Or figs right now. 

Dan
Semper

Wow that doesn't sound good. I think one of the trees I bought last year may be a Brunswick. I am a little nervous now.

If you live in a rainy area.....you will be disappointed with a Brunswick. IMO, it the worst fig when it comes to splitting/souring.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Ok well I guess I will let it go this year and see. I don't think I would consider nj rainy.

The area of New Jersey where Herman2 (Vasile) lives is rainy. The figs that do well in his yard also do well in mine.......and visa versa.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Oh, I am only 30 minutes away from Herman. I guess I will see what happens with the tree. I am not totally sure what it is but the trees leave look similar to a Brunswick. It has not fruited for me yet and I don't remember what the parent trees looked like

Not all long fingered fig-leaf trees are Brunswicks. Yours might easily be another cultiviar that will do just fine for you. If you can find trees growing in your area that do well......those have a history and you will have an indication of how they might perform in your yard. Any one that does well for Herman2, should do well for you.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Thanks Dan, the guy I bought it from had a bunch growing and said his fathers friend brought them from Italy for his father 40 years ago. I tried the figs and they were good. I don't really remember what they looked like. He didn't mention any issues with tree. I hope it is something different because I bought them because he told me they were cold hardy and won't need to be wrapped. This variety and another lived through this winter with nothing and they are budding all over and seem to have little damage. this winter was a bad one to

Oh.....then DEFINITELY you want to give your new tree a chance. With its known heritage as coming from Italy, it might be a type of fig few people grow in the US. Let us know how it performs for you.


Dan
Semper Fi-cus

71 GTO:Brunswick,Madona,Red Italian,Quarter pounder ,and other name that in fact are what we call Brunswick,are all incompatible with the new Jersey Rainy climate,however dry you think it is.
I too had fig beetle present,while growing Brunswick type figs,so after you ID it corectly,if it is,discard,no reason to play with it.
It will bring fungus to your other other wise good cultivars,and will sour them.
Do a search about Brunswick leaves and appeareance and you will know more.
My opinion is that Morle Paradiso is a Brunswick by looking at leaves and fruits.

Thanks Herman, I guess I always felt like rainy would be Seattle. I know you told me when I stopped by to get rid of it if its a Brunswick. I am kidn of sad because it is exciting that it lived through the winter. I guess between now and when I get see some fruit to ID it. I am going to try to will it to be something else, lol!

Here's the Paradiso Genoa fig from Joe Morle.

Frozen Joe:  I am on the cold edge of zone 7, about 35 miles S. of Tulsa, OK.  For the first time since I've been in OK the temp dropped to -15F for one night this winter.  Several days below zero. 

Vasile:   May be the individual tree or the climate, but I think my Paradiso puts on a darker fig than the Brunswick pictured here.  It DOES have a big eye and it DOES sour in rainy weather, but all big-eye'd figs sour.

If the Celeste and the Paradiso disappoint me, I will yank them out and put in my Plattner B. Violetta. 

By the way, fellows; some of my potted figs put on breba's and so far are holding them.
Ox

Some varieties will hold them till ripe some will drop them in about 45 days,but before getting ripe,so once you know it drops,then next year take it out yourself,so the tree will concentrate energy producing the main crop.

Thanks Herman; that is good to know and I will keep an eye on them.  They are looking good, but so far we've not really had any warm  weather; a day in the seventies, a week of cold, then a day of eighty, more cool weather.  I count on heat arriving on May 15 just like I count on tornadoes in Ok on Mother's day. 

My garden is still a mud pie after last week's weather and more rain is expected tomorrow.  Fig cuttings in a white plastic barrel out behind the barn (like a little covered greenhouse) are sprouting but I potted them in soil this year so will not know roots until they hit the wall.

Snake ate all my chicken eggs today; cougar killed a couple of my neighbor's calves and slashed his bull's shoulder, cut up my dog two days ago, got the neighbor's dog yesterday.  Got the govt. trapper coming next week to see what he can do.  I've not seen the beast but neighbor kid and the fellow behind me have seen him.  Apparently the West is still a bit wild.

Hello Ox,

Where do you live?

I hope the trapper will be able to trap and relocate the big cat.

Thanks,

noss