I bought an unknown fig tree in last Oct from a guy never met before (I bought it through internet) without any fig and leaf. The guy shown me the green fig to taste (frozen) and was tasted good, so I bought. I see the buds are not very green and wonder if this fig tree is still alive and able to grow or not. Please see images attached for reference. Hope the feed back is positive.

Don't worry, your tree looks fine to me.

Take a small pocket knife and "skin" a very small portion of the trunk. If there is green under the surface, it is alive. If the place you skin is dead, try a little further down.

From looking at your pics I would guess your tree is just fine. I don't know what zone you are in, but it is still very early in the season. Even then, sometimes a fig will stay dormant for many months after transplanting.

It looks alive
to put your mind at ease do what Gene Daniels suggested

Thanks to all for your wonderful feedback.

Did you buy it from Roberto?, He gave me frozen fig to taste as well, I bought 2 small trees from him, I guess that you must buy the big one that I was not able to take it home.

Problem is that, He told me to put them in ground, and I did, and They woke up from dormancy then cold winter came, all branches tips are damaged,  I dig out the small one and it seems dead because it has many worms around roots area, it is a bad sign of rotten roots. Other bigger one from him look better but I will wait and see, Anyway, I think your tree should be fine,  It has been stay outside all times in winter time for 5 years.

Your fig branch tip look good to me, it should be fine.



 

Hi Ricky : Yes, I bought this unknown fig tree from Roberto in last Oct. It looks like you bought the two smaller trees before I bought the bigger one as I did not see the smaller trees while I was there. What varieties of the two you bought from him ?

He also told me to pot the tree in ground to ensure I would have figs to eat this summer but I told me I must plant in pot due to my yard is very wet. I put it outside and wrapped with burlap under roof shelter the whole winter. Since I found most buds are yellowish and not greenish, I started to worry if the tree is alive or not.

Hi,
Those buds look fine. It is just too soon for them to be growing (here at least).
I don't expect leaves before end of March or mid-April.
Even if it is dormant, keep that tree well cared - don't let the soil get bone-dry and don't let the soil get swampy .
Patience, patience, the season is almost upon us ...
The scary thing is, that I see here and there figs that are popping ... I'm hoping they stay and grow, and won't dry and fall to cold ... One can hope ... I'm in Zone7 not in Zone10 ...
My trees don't have patience either ...

ITS ALIVE !!!!

Figpig is right, mine looked like that the whole winter now it's leafing out

Hi Pacifia:

Both frees are same variety as your 5 years old tree, Frozen fig taste like "Desert king" but tree is much more vigor,  I bought it to try my luck to test my failing garden.

Due to confirmed wet winter soil now, I built a 6FTX8FT raising garden for them yesterday filled with 300+gallon sandy top soil and I lay down 1FT deep drain tile at lower side of garden.
Question is that,
1). Are they still alive?
2). How long should I wait for them?

All branch tips are rotten, so I cut them off
 

 
 

 

Hi Pacifia:
I visited couple big nurseries 2 weeks ago, They was selling "Desert king" in 2 or 3G pots/3-4FT for $39, However, I find a seller that He is selling it for $12 now (2G pot about 2-3 FT tall), it is from air layering and well worth the money.

I find "Desert king" from North Vancouver last year Sept, Seller didn't care them very much, no water and caring whatever, fig trees was crying for help, I bought them home with few dollars and now they are sprouts now.

My in ground "Desert king" is quite small as 2 ft tall, I use it to test my soil, It seems fine, of course, It doesn't have new leaves yet, I think  that it might bear 2 - 10 figs for me this summer. real Desert king is very productive here.

 
 




 

Hi Ricky, 
Last July I saw a few Desert King in Garden In Garden on No. 5 Road and they were abt. 6 - 7 ft tall at C$58.00. I called them 2 days ago and they said they might have them again in end March or early April, so I will buy from them when available. Fig For Life highly recommended that we should try this variety in Vancouver, B.C.