How did they survive ?

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drivewayfarmer

Registered:1260287641
Posts: 773

Posted 1403908331	Reply with quote #1

About two weeks ago I went to look at a shrub border at work where I had put in about 12 one year old figs last year. I meant to dig them up for storage over Winter or protect them in place somehow, but just never got to it and had totally written them off. After this past tough New Hampshire Winter, I was amazed to see that some were sending up shoots ! They were given no protection at all and are at the top of a southeast facing slope. Two of the ones showing the most regrowth are Excel. I need to check my map to figure out what the rest were , just haven't had the chance. __________________ Kerry Zone 5 NH Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra .

schaplin

Registered:1392175246
Posts: 662

Posted 1403910465	Reply with quote #2

Wow that is amazing! __________________ Wish List: @Hmari, @Maltese beauty, @Col de Dame Grise, @Bryant Dark, @Lynhurst White, @Melcedonia Dark, @Panevino Dark, @Paradiso

RichinNJ

Registered:1374784282
Posts: 1,687

Posted 1403912816	Reply with quote #3

New Hampshire... It's cold up there

FiggieFive_0

Registered:1392277468
Posts: 259

Posted 1403914655	Reply with quote #4

Amazing, especially since you guys had some epic cold spells this past winter. I've found that excel figs are one of the most resilient of all figs. Congrats, Kerry! __________________ Nate Faith, Family, Friends, and Figs (not necessarily in that order).

GregMartin

Registered:1370378358
Posts: 550

Posted 1403914866	Reply with quote #5

Thank you Kerry! Love to see hard winter trials, intentional or not. I know at my house (just over the border in Maine) we had -6F on 12/14/13 with only a dusting of snow over the ground. Then we got 10" and maintained that or more throughout the winter to help protect against the -17F nights that followed. So did you also have many that died? Will be very interesting to see which varieties pulled through and which didn't. __________________ zone 5 Maine Seeking: Saint Martin, Naples White, Black Tuscan, Bécane, French Alps, Abruzzi, Tenica, Wild Mountain Figs from the coldest corners (Iranian, Turkish or other...would love seeds too)

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1403915483	Reply with quote #6

I'm happy for you. Being underground or under mulch makes a huge difference in fig survival. Snow is even better. But if I were you I'd move south :) __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

drivewayfarmer

Registered:1260287641
Posts: 773

Posted 1403918305	Reply with quote #7

Bob , that move is under consideration , but won't be possible for quite a while. Greg , I think I planted between 12 and 16 plants , I'll have to go count the dead ones ,check tags and check the map. As I recall the snow cover was much less than I expected the few times I looked at the area during the Winter. It is a little windy there. I didn't pay that much attention because I thought there was no chance of survival at all. __________________ Kerry Zone 5 NH Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra .

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1403922809	Reply with quote #8

Kerry, Thanks for sharing the info and pictures. What were the container sizes of these transplants? or What were the sizes of the root mass? Thanks.

drivewayfarmer

Registered:1260287641
Posts: 773

Posted 1403924093	Reply with quote #9

Pete , they were transplanted out of 1.5 gallon pots well filled with roots. __________________ Kerry Zone 5 NH Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra .

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1403924406	Reply with quote #10

Thanks. I'll be watching to see the names of the other cultivars that survived.

HarveyC

Registered:1212433117
Posts: 3,294

Posted 1403941947	Reply with quote #11

Subscribed. Need to follow this for the list of survivors and casualties. __________________ Harvey - Correia Farms Isleton, CA (Sacramento County) USDA zone 9b, Sunset zone 14 http://www.figaholics.com https://www.facebook.com/Figaholics

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1403961647	Reply with quote #12

Happy for you Kerry! A side note, that Verte I bought from you a couple years ago is rocking! It stayed in a container it's first year. I set goals for it since it went in ground late last summer, and every day I stand in the same place, and look at it's progress. It's first goal was to reach the bottom of the deck. Then the deck floor. Then the bottom of the railing, then the bottom of the railing on the other side of the deck. Then the bottom of the seat of the chair on the deck. It's almost there. It's like it grows an inch a day now that the weather is warm. It never went dormant, Kerry, so maybe it's one of the others you put it in your little hedge. It doesn't seem to mind cold weather. It's ultimate goal is to block the sun from the dining room window, so that tree is destined to be a big tree one day. Good luck with the rest of your survivors! Suzi __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

greenbud

Registered:1397009790
Posts: 230

Posted 1404001241	Reply with quote #13

I love to hear success stories in cold climates. Seems like an against all odds situation. Thank you for sharing. I will look forward hearing what other varieties are extra tough.

PhilaGardener

Registered:1389014416
Posts: 199

Posted 1404006583	Reply with quote #14

Hooray!!! Those look great!!! __________________ Philadelphia Gardener Near Philly, but winters still feeling like Zone 6!

drivewayfarmer

Registered:1260287641
Posts: 773

Posted 1404077593	Reply with quote #15

Went to work early today so I could have time to check on the surviving/resprouting trees. Originally 14 were planted and now I see more have started to come back with sprouts , so all but 3 have started to regrow. Here is what survived in order of pictures below : Lyndhurst White , Giant Black German ,Excel, Excel ,Salem Dark ,Sweet George , Sao Miguel Azores Dark ,Gino's Black Sprouting , smaller than the others so I missed them at first, but no picture : Desert King ,and 2 Sal's EL (GS) Those that died were :Vista , Gino's Black , Sal's EL(GS). __________________ Kerry Zone 5 NH Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra .

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1404078579	Reply with quote #16

You just never know. Off topic, but we planted a few cuttings for the Pakistan Mulberry, really far from the house and down low on the hill. They did get drip irragation. One is just a monster! Alive and well. The others are pretty dicey. JD went down to cut the water off, and he saw big green swelling buds on one. So They all have their own timetable. Your dead may rise! Suzi __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

GregMartin

Registered:1370378358
Posts: 550

Posted 1404078586	Reply with quote #17

Hi Kerry, again, thank you for this super information. You gave me a fig labeled "Azores Dark" last spring. Is that the same fig as "Sao Miguel Azores Dark"? If so I think I've gotten each of those varieties from you except Excel! Very excited :) My assumption is that these varieties have a great fighting chance trained in step over espalier form up here for us with a mulch raked over them in the fall. Do all of these varieties ripen ok for you in NH? __________________ zone 5 Maine Seeking: Saint Martin, Naples White, Black Tuscan, Bécane, French Alps, Abruzzi, Tenica, Wild Mountain Figs from the coldest corners (Iranian, Turkish or other...would love seeds too)

Pattee

Registered:1345750012
Posts: 1,417

Posted 1404079680	Reply with quote #18

Amazing Kerry ! __________________ 7a & 9b ►I assume all my figs carry FMV ◄ Seeking : Italian 376,395 , Galicia Negra, Negretta,UNK Pastilliere ,Pananas Purple, Malta Blk+purple/red, Italian + Calabrian UNK's , Catanzaro, Malone, Sucrette(Baud) "We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to the meeting of hearts?" - Gandhi

drivewayfarmer

Registered:1260287641
Posts: 773

Posted 1404082451	Reply with quote #19

Suzi , Got to love those mulberries ! Greg , yes that is the same AD , I just put in the full name in case anyone else had gotten the same variety from Dominick. Something he got from another grower in Mass. I haven't gotten fig from the AD or Excel yet , but they were young plants. Of the rest my favorites are Salem Dark and Gino's Black. __________________ Kerry Zone 5 NH Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra .

zone5figger

Registered:1395082963
Posts: 250

Posted 1416229452	Reply with quote #20

Update wanted- Did any of those fruit this year? __________________ Jesse- zone 5, 1000' elevation

drivewayfarmer

Registered:1260287641
Posts: 773

Posted 1416269114	Reply with quote #21

Some of them formed fruit , but none of them ripened fruit. Regrowth in general was just ok. I think I'll leave them unprotected again this Winter to see if they make it through . __________________ Kerry Zone 5 NH Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra .

zone5figger

Registered:1395082963
Posts: 250

Posted 1416297378	Reply with quote #22

Still impressive that they survived at all. __________________ Jesse- zone 5, 1000' elevation

drivewayfarmer

Registered:1260287641
Posts: 773

Posted 1437705353	Reply with quote #23

Some of these survived, enough to come back from the crowns at least, another bad Winter here in NH with no protection. Azores Dark set fruit early enough that it may ripen a few. __________________ Kerry Zone 5 NH Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra .

james

Registered:1189185103
Posts: 1,653

Posted 1437707222	Reply with quote #24

Kerry, I think that is proof positive of the power of karma. I hope it follows with you for a long time. __________________ In containers - Littleton, CO (zone 5b) In ground - N.E of Austin, TX (zone 8b) 2016 Wish List: Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr, Viōlette Dāuphine. Iranian figs are always welcome.

tmc2009

Registered:1305513080
Posts: 854

Posted 1437749391	Reply with quote #25

I wondering if putting pavers around them would help them survive or warm them up earlier in the spring. __________________ Tom Massachusetts Zone 6b

JohnnieB

Registered:1365275627
Posts: 155

Posted 1437753534	Reply with quote #26

I am amazed at how tough these young trees are. It gives me hope to put a few in ground in my 5B location. __________________ Wish List:St. Rita,LdA, and any unknown heirlooms

zone5figger

Registered:1395082963
Posts: 250

Posted 1437760400	Reply with quote #27

Bravo Kerry,and thanks for the update on these zone 5 suvivors! __________________ Jesse- zone 5, 1000' elevation

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1437773447	Reply with quote #28

hi drivewayfarmer, Time to buy some cheap 80liters/20gallons trashcans to help protect during the winter. That is my way of doing. __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

drivewayfarmer

Registered:1260287641
Posts: 773

Posted 1437774988	Reply with quote #29

Thanks James ! jdsfrance , I purposely left them without protection this past Winter just to see how they would do. I might protect the Desert King this Winter to see if the breba will survive with protection the way I cover my in ground figs at home , with bags of soil mix and Tek-foil material. What surprises me most this season is that the best of these plants have already surpassed the growth they made last season , which wasn't much really. I imagined there would be a gradual decline in growth getting wacked back so hard for 2 serious NH Winters. This is at work , so it is nice of the owners of the garden center to let me play around with this. __________________ Kerry Zone 5 NH Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra .

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