how long do they live? i don't want to start making backups yet. i like what i have but space is limited and my wife is already saying that we are running out of room in garage during the winter.

when would be a good time to start making the back up plants? 3 or 4 yrs to see if the tree is worth keeping? or as soon as you find that the fruits are good enough?

pete

Pete,

I'm new to the forum and a relative newcomer to figs, but my mother-in-law has a fig tree (type unknown, but thought to be from Calabria) in her yard that is at least 70 years old. What's more, it has survived a move and quite a few zone 6 PA winters uncovered. It is still very healthy and producing fantastic crops.

Like you I also have limited space so my policy is to save cuttings from the fall pruning in the refrigerator as insurance against winter kill.

Aaron