Starting to do fig shuffle in and out of garage but here in zone 7a ( Long Island NY) temps for next 7 days not expected to drop below 40 at night and will be in 50s to mid 60s during days. Is it just too risky to leave potted figs outside now day and night? Looks like some have bud's swelling. I already uncovered my in ground Chicago Hardy but that plant is about four years old. Thoughts?

Yes my question also this morning bgli. We are having a lil unusual cool spell here in middle Arizona zone 8. Lows still hovering around 32. What night time low is safe for newly potted figlets, 1 yr olds and 2 yr olds? Looks like a forest in my living room with all the leafing Figs!

Even though temps hit 70s yest and today it is waaaaaaay too soon here.  We will get frosts and I am not exposing them to cold snaps after they start budding out.  Not going to haul 70 or so pots in and out of the garage too many times.

I like it to be mid 40's at night with young plants.

Ah 40's that helps Brian.  It sounds like we are chilly here in the Southwest and you are warm in the Northeast Ed.  All topsy turvy again.  Wishes for an amazing spring and summer of fig growing and fig eating.  '-)  

Thankfully, we have had nights in the 50's so it's been good.  However, we are heading for another spell of rain so I'm leaving my cuttings inside my temporary greenhouse/shed until weather is more stable.  It's been strange; some 80's and then it drops to 60's then it rains then it gets in the 70's then it rains...so this weekend (last I looked) it's supposed to rain.  I wish we just could have a normal winter/spring/summer...whatever this weather is supposed to be...lol

I wait until night temps are in the 50's. I am very tempted to bring them out but I'll wait a couple more weeks.

I'm doing the shuffle as well out here in western PA.  the weather is supposed to be very warm the next 10 days (60's/70's day, 40's/50's at night). I'm going to just leave outside as well unless is gets into the low 40's high 30's.  I'm thinking if it's May weather, then they can stay outside without much problem.  Stop me if I'm wrong though!

Warm here in PA, but there will be cold snaps still. If your trees get hit with frost, it will set them back and possibly ruin your chances for a main crop on late ripening varieties.

We are experiencing similar temps and conditions here now too bgli.

I am leaving my potted trees outside against a south facing wall for now but if temps look to drop much  below 40 they go back inside.  Am watching forecasts like a hawk and constantly checking temps when I get up at night. 

Don't get too anxious just yet.  I just looked at March and April's temps for 2015 and I saw a lot night-time lows in the 40s throughout April for zone 7.

I think the name of the game is to keep an eye on temps.  We know cold snaps are a regular for the next two months and for anyone putting pots outside now, we just need to be on standby in case a snap comes.  My big thing is that my garage was not cold enough and my figs started to leaf early, giving them the sun and heat is really nice for them for this time of year.  That being said I hear what you are all saying and will keep a lookout in case I have to move them inside occasionally.

I hear you, Phil.  My garage is a bit warm too.  A lot of mine leafed out in January.  It will be worth the trouble if you can shuffle them, as you mentioned.  Here's to a warm spring!

I've moved all mine out of the basement and into a temporary greenhouse on the south side of the house. If temps dip below 45F I'll move a double halogen work light into it to keep them warm. If temps drop below 40F, the plan is that I'll bring them back in to the basement.

48 isnt too old to do the shuffle.....

I moved mine out Monday, up potted a few to 30ish gallon containers. I'm gonna regret to that when the temps drop back down and have to carry them up and down steps......

Agree and will leave the plants outside and keep eye on forecast. If nighttime temps expected to drop below 40 I will throw blanket over most and take my best figs back into garage. Have to assume this early warm up might lead to better crop for some shorter season varieties.

Same here in NJ. I've pulled them out of the garage, and they seem to be budding out already. Night time temps are on in the mid 40+. and day time temps are 60+.