Has anyone ever kept figs in public storage or anything like that? I usually keep my figs in my detached concrete garage. It gets very cold in there and I hardly every provide a heat source. all my decent sized and larger trees survived this past winter. I only really lost one tiny tree and a few that were weaker died back, but that was it. Now it looks like we are selling out home and may be displaced for who knows how long. I can probably keep them here until some time in December early January. Then they may will need to find a temporary home. Do you think a public storage facility, like one of those outside not climate controlled units would be ok? They would be in total darkness, which should be ok. OR does anyone else have any ideas or experiences moving and relocated your trees/plants?

I hate moving.

Wonder what the temperature would be like in one of those things.  That and drying out would be my two major concerns.  I guess if you visit every few weeks with a few gallons of water and sprinkle on them, that would be OK.  Would want to make sure they don't heat it, and then would wonder how cold it would get if not attached to a heated building.

I would follow my normal winter watering routine. I'm not sure about te cold that is what worries me. I mean my garage was down in the teens and low 20s last year for prolonged periods last year no problems. Hopefully it won't be to long in there

I have a storage unit for all my "stuff". I think I might be able to fit one 3 gal pot in there. I've thought about this option and it seems to be a good one even though I have not done it. My storage unit is outside and not climate controlled. There is a lightbulb with a pull chain in there. I just screwed in a converter that gives me a lightbulb and an electrical plug. From there it's easy to add the thermostat and heater. Set it to whatever you like. It's even free electric!

I'm going to check a unit out this weekend. Maybe on of those oil filled heaters would be ok. I need to rent a big unit. To put a car in there...

Hi Marcus.
I'm going thru the same thing.
I just gave my large ones to family members, and took cuttings.
I think with a small heater set on low it should be OK,
That's what I do in my garage,good luck.
Vito

I think Climate Controlled Storage Unit would be ideal for Cloning setup, free electricity and heat... just bring water.  WOW, I think we just tapped into a very cheap resource for a mass production resources, LOL

I asked about climate controls units. The guy told me they are kept at 85 deg. That is to hot for dormant trees

Perfect for rooting new cuttings.

Thanks guys. Vito I just got them to a decent size. I don't want to give them away. We are staying in the same town. Just upgrading. I've already thinned out a lot of trees. I'll figure it out.

They are fine,just ask for a middle unit facing the south,you may want to put up a foam broad wall between the door and figs to keep any snow drifts out and winds. You can also us cardboard boxes from Lowe's or Home Depot that they have leftover from dropping off appliances.

I'm going to see what they have available. I'm thinking maybe I rent a big space to keep my car and garage stuff and if its big enough I will keep the trees in there or maybe the trees get their own space. I don't know...

All my trees are out of the storage unit. I think they all made it. It was a pretty bad winter. They were in there with no heat or light for months. I see some buds swelling now, but I'm guessing Some damage may show up as it warms up.

I would worry about mold since they seem to be sealed units.  Also around here it would be too cold without heat.

Just a thought but around here there seems to be a lot of unused large empty barns and farmers always need more money for those never ending farming expenses. 

Hopefully, this was a one time thing. We closed on the sale of our home early January and our new house is still a work in progress... These units are not that air tight. The only thing that I wish I could have done more was get into the unit with some water for them, but it was packed so tight I couldn't get in there until a few weeks ago. 

Thinking about doing this for the winter this year. Was your unit climate controlled?

No, the climate controlled units are two warm. It was just a regular outside unit. There was insulation board in between the walls and ceiling. I opened it up once when it was really cold out and it was warmer in there for sure. The sun beating on the roofs warm them. I didn't loose a single tree in there.

It sounds like you had the volume of space filled up.  It seems like that would help with temperature swings, as well.  I wonder if is feasible to rent space in a commercial greenhouse.

Thanks for the info. Extra Space Storage in my area has a climate controlled 10x10 for $219 a month. Their website states that they maintain temps between 55F and 85F. I'm guessing their thermostat is set at 55 on the low end and 85 on the high end. Going to call and verify temps.

James - Renting greenhouse space is expensive. It's costing $75 a month for my 3 citrus trees in 20 gal pots.

It was a 10x30 I had a car and all my garage stuff in there it was full, but not stacked to the ceiling. I'm sure it helped to have that much stuff in there.

Would it help to have a couple drums or tanks of water in the storage unit to moderate temps, assuming there is room for it?

I hate to rain on everyone's parade but one thing to think about is mice.  All these units whether indoors of out have mice.  It's a terrible problem and all storage places can't seem to get them under control.  Placing figs in storage is an excellent idea but you're gonna have to some how still cover the tree up to keep the mice out or they will eat the bark on your tree from the base all the way up to the tip.  So, you're gonna have to wrap it with something smaller than  chicken wire.

just my 2 cents.....
cheers,

This topic was from last fall. I had them in storage all winter and in my case the trees survived better then ever. Moving isn't great at any age, unless you have plenty of money for movers and storage or not much stuff.... Trying getting engine blocks, fig trees, tool chest, random heavy crap in a storage unit pretty much by yourself. The only good thing I can say is that I've had to learn to work a bit smarter and also that I need less junk in my life.