Hello Everybody
New guy in the Forum

I've had a fig tree for the last 25 years that i bury in the winter (I'm in zone 5) but I don't know what type it is.  After some research, I think it's a Lemon Italian Honey but I'm not sure.  Any help from forum members would be greatly appreciated.  
     

The breba ripens by the end of July and the main crop usually by mid September.  The fig has a very thin skin, light green in color, amber pulp but very very sweet.

I will be pruning it in the next month or so if anyone would like some free cuttings.

Yes it is Italian Honey.

Wow!  that was fast!

Thanks very much!

Welcome to the forum Ralph, a place where members share info and try to help one another out.

Very nice to offer cuttings.  Will PM you. It's a very nice looking fig.

Welcome to the forum. I would like to trade some cuttings with you. You know this is addictive. Just a warning but a great hobby. Welcome again!

Welcome to the forum and very kind of you to offer some cuttings.

Are cuttings allowed from Canada into the US?  If so, I'd be very interested since I am also in a colder location, a 5b.
Welcome to the forum!

Thankyou everyone for the warm welcome.

While I'd love to send folks cuttings, or even trade cuttings, I'm in Canada and I don't know how to ship them to the US. 

If anyone can give me some advice on how to do this it would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the Forum.  That's a beautiful fig tree you have there and thanks for offering to share.  That is very thoughtful of you.

Linden

Ralph,
Welcome to THE forum, where it all happens :)

Great fig and you seem to have  the burrying down. Please show us photos of that process when you do.. we would love to watch it and learn with you.

Hi Ralph,
Welcome to the F4F forum.  Nice fig tree you've got there.  And it's nice to meet another "tree bury-er".  I'm in zone 5, across the border in NY state.  But been helping my dad bury his fig trees near Buffalo since around 1966.  It's a lot of work but it's been a successful strategy over the years.  Now I grow around 75 or 80 varieties in pots as well.  (The work is less intense on my back compared with burying, but a comparable amount of work overall).  So, I'm glad to find another guy who buries trees!  

There are a few other members on here from around the greater Toronto area who you'll probably meet, plus a couple from the Niagara peninsula.

Again, welcome and congratulations on a nice looking fig tree.

Mike   central NY state, zone 5a 

Welcome Ralph! Nice to see more Canadians on board :)  PM sent.

I'm completely charmed by fig-burying. That's what attracted me to the idea of growing them -- a friend's stories about her Italian uncles burying their figs all over New York and New England. I'm in Northern California now, so burying isn't required.

Welcome, your tree looks great. I also would love to see and learn more of your tree burying strategy.

About what percentage of the main crop ripen for you?

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Regarding the burying process.  There really isn't too much to it.  I will post pictures for you in the next month or so when I bury my trees. 

This is what I do:  I've dug a hole - 8' long, 4'wide and 3' deep.  Keep in mind that the initial digging of the hole is somewhat labor intensive so you need some good friends and a case of beer to make it easier on your back.   But once dug, I use the same plywood to cover it for the summer.  I've also put a piece of astro turf on top to protect the wood and for it to be pleasing to the eye....otherwise my wife wouldn't be happy.

I have supported the sides with large cement patio stones, which I secured with rebar to keep them in place, so that it doesn't collapse.  After the leaves fall off the trees, I prune them to fit the hole.  I will tie up the large tree with rope to fit the width of the hole.  I dig out one side of the fig tree, under the root ball so that I can bring the tree down.  It's almost like a hinge. (In the spring, I replenish this dirt to support the tree) Since I have another tree on the other end of the hole, I put the larger tree down first, and then the smaller one on top.  I then cover the hole completely with a 4x8 sheet of 3/4" plywood.  I then use a plastic pool cover, looks like a huge bubble wrapper, to cover the plywood.  I then shovel dirt all along the edges of the plastic cover to ensure a good seal.  I don't get carried away with the dirt around the edges...just ensure that it's a good seal.(Only cuz I have to dig it all up in the spring!)  My tree is over 20 years old and I've trimmed it year after year, but it's still a VERY large tree.  Because of this, and also the fact that I'm not a spring chicken any longer, I use a come-along ratchet lever to bring it up every spring.  Now some of you are probably saying..."Wow! this is way too much work!"  but in reality, it takes me 2 hours in the spring and 2 hours in the fall....and I do it by myself.  In the end...I have a beautiful tree with great figs...which I love!  And I'm sure you know....there's nothing like walking up to your fig tree, first thing in the morning and enjoying fresh figs for breakfast!

The main crop usually ripens about 70 - 85% depending on the summer.  This summer has been very unusual for us and hardly any of the main crop has ripened.  The weather the next few weeks should be what we expected during the month of August so we'll see how many of them ripen.

Regards!

That's an ingenious approach leaving the 8'x4'x3' hole there permanently.  Annually the work is mostly to dig the tree and get it to flip down!
What zone are you in?  Do you use any compost to generate some heat for the figs during the winter?

Hi Pino
I'm in Brampton ont zone 5

I've never used anything to heat it

I think you should do two things:

1. Find some way to finagle a news story of  your tree-burying ceremony.

2. Make sure progeny or protégé participate.

Wow that looks amazing!