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Here's something you don't see often: WHITE FIGS.

As some of you know, I have some fig tress in my cellar that have a hard time sleeping.


I can't seem to get it cold enough down there.
Half of the trees are dormant,  the other half...not so much.

I posted about this problem before, and the prevailing advice was just to leave them to do their "thing"

Well, this is their thing, new buds, new leaves and the cutest looking totally white figs you have ever seen. ( I would imagine due to lack of light)

Some look like White Italian Eggplants.



 
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That's not good.  They need to be kept in a colder spot.
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Time for grow lights?

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Not good indeed Nick. If they continue to grow with no light they could expend too much energy to recover. Growing plants need photosynthesis to survive.

Grow lights or forcing them back into dormancy (colder temps) seems like your only two options. I could be wrong but that would be my thoughts. 
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Since they're out of dormancy I'd bring them to the sunniest spot you have and let them grow normally for spring, but it's either in or out.  Left like this you risk losing them.  That's my opinion but I'm not the expert.
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If Nick rubs out the buds before they develop into anything big wouldn't that help to keep the trees from using energy?

Another option is to take cuttings from the growers and put them in the fridge or start rooting them now.
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That's neat and crazy!
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What is the temperature in the basement?
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Wow, Ghost figs from the oldghost!!
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Make friends with an Italian butcher and winter your plants in a meat locker.
Your white figs reminded me of the cave-dwelling creatures that we see at Mammoth Cave in Cave City, KY.... white crawfish, frogs, worms, fish with no eyes.
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Make figplant Parmesan. I'd knock the fruit and leaves off and make a few cuttings too.
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I moved them over to the front side of the cellar.


I didn't want to do it before cause it's a shared area with the cellar door open most of the day
and a couple of 40 watt bulbs on.
But it gets real cold there.
I measured it at 35 to 40 today.

The two trees with the most growth ( the  Abebereira and the Altreano )
I moved upstairs to apt and placed them at the window, will let them get a some sun and see how they do.
If the figs start turning their normal color I will leave them there the winter.
If not, I will put them down stairs with the rest.

Here's a shot of the new area, and another shot of my little

" White Italian Eggplant Figs ".


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They look like beluga whales to me.

That spot is perfect! I doubt there is really any danger of it getting too cold down there, the pipes would freeze!
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Would it be possible to leave them outside with the pots covered with leaves and or a blanket?
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Hi Nick,
sounds like area of the cellar is nice place and you can even throw a tarp or something over the plants to keep the doorway breeze off them on colder days.
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Thanks for all the advice.


I THINK those fig trees will be OK now.

The new spot is definitively much colder. ( around 42* today down there)

I didn't want to use that area, but it's either that or have white figs growing in the winter.

Not certain if I should throw a light covering over them?

Maybe Burlap. To shield them from the light?

Wind isn't much of an issue, just wondering if they need to be kept in the dark?

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  • Rob

Nick,

They do not need darkness to be dormant.  If they were in their normal climate and growing outside, they would receive sunlight all winter and still be dormant.  So I think as long as it doesn't go much below freezing you will be fine.  25 or 30 is fine for the tops but I wouldn't want the soil to freeze in an extended cold snap, so just keep your eye on it.  Other than that they should sleep happily there.

Rob
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Post # 15 Nick for the colder days but in hindsight your colder days may not be that cold like here .

As for light mine get light in the garage thru the upper door pane it does not bring them out of dormancy cause of the winter temps here.

They respond to light is my belief going into dormancy with less daylight hours coupled with cold air temps
and
in spring months they respond to light with longer days of light and warmer temps and therfore start to wake up.

Some folks like i help them in that spring process.
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I see a restaurant hood. If so you may be nel de culo

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  • ank

This is how my Italian Honey looked in March, right from the crawl space.

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  • ank


Sorry.
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