Hi all,

Assuming the cuttings continue to stay alive before it finally warms up enough here in northern Indiana...I have a planting question. We are just building a new barn on our property and I want to landscape with figs which I will also protect in the winter. Will certain colors and types of mulch or stone be better? I believe the vineyards in the area use a type of stone to reflect heat and light into the under canopy of the grapes but I don't know what it is. Thanks!

Using dark colored rocks or mulches helps absorb heat. This can help with adding some heat (I wouldn't expect miracles) for ripening or some slight season extension.

If memory serves, grapes ripen best when they get sunlight on the berries, so using a reflective material (probably a white gravel or plastic) would aid in the process.

I think I will use hard wood mulch for the last 1-2 inches of space in the #5 nursery containers I'm planting figs in.

Thanks! I haven't been to the local vineyards but my dad described it as stone underneath. I guess I can always do some of this each option to see what works. Definitely not stone in the container grown ones. They will be heavy enough already!

I would use dark mulch as it is also a great way to feed the figs as it breaks down. because they grow so fast, figs are heavy feeders so I believe in giving them lots of "food" via mulch and composted manure - both are dark and should help by absorbing some heat.