We have had a deep freeze the last few weeks here in North Jersey and my mature plants are in the garage. I purchased a DuroHeat 23k btu heater from HD. I've been fueling it with kerosene from a local station whose sticker was on the box when I bought it.

I've run about 20 gallons of kerosene thru it keeping the garage "warm" and have had to replace the $10 wick 2 times. What a maintenance nightmare.

It struggled to keep the garage anywhere close to 30 f.

I returned it today.

I have a 55 k btu tube heater (Reddy Heater 55000) that warmed the garage up to 55f from 25 this morning in like an hour.

This heater has had nothing done to it for 15 years and is far superior in keeping the garage warm compared the the DuroHeater. I think I will buy one of those "Thermocubes" and run the tube heater that way from now on.

Wow, Rich, that heater must be junk.  I have an old kerosene heater that hasn't been used in awhile, but I remember going at least 2 years between changing wicks.  It ran nearly 24/7 during the cold central NY winters, heating my tiny apartment.  I guess they don't make 'em like used to!  A small heater like that is no match for a garage, especially if the walls are uninsulated.

Its been a miserably cold winter here too in Delaware.

Do you have any in-ground figs?  If so, what varieties survive the cold?  I'm just getting started growing figs, literally my first cuttings are rooting and getting their first leaves.  I got cuttings from an unknown in-ground tree in NJ, so I figure that will survive on the south side of the house if I can get it through its first few winters.  Also have some Chicago Hardy cuttings started and some Celeste cuttings in the fridge.

Phil

Have you tried creating a greenhouse for the figs stored inside your garage for the winter?
Maybe just a few Christmas lights inside the greenhouse would be enough to keep 32F for the figs.  A digital thermostat would also help so you don't have to have the lights on all the time.

Do you use clear kerosene only? I only use clear kerosene in mine. However, the kerosene is only as a back up that I wound up passing along to my parents. I use an electric ceramic heater mostly.
And as for back up, which has been needed this year for these very cold nights, I have a propane heater which works great, but is a pain to have to refill tanks. Still, the electric heater has been the cheapest for me to run,however, my greenhouse is only 16'X8'.

Btw, I am curious about the 2 "Kearny" figs? My family is from Kearny originally! I lived in Kearny as a little girl. Where did the figs come from? Street by any chance? I have a "thing" for unknown figs from Hudson County.
Christy

Hi RichinNj,
Is your garage well insulated ? ... Just asking in case you have some time left this next summer ... It could be a good idea to insulate it ...
I do agree with you heaters are just a pain ; the easier to run being the electric powered ones ...
As a backup plan, you could buy a generator ( they are gasoil/fuel powered and supply electricity - one fuel refill lasts for 6-8 hours generally... Just an idea ...

Hi drphil,

If you have access to the tree take a root sucker. They would be easier to grow as they are already rooted .
I would advise you to buy a tree as well from a nursery, just for you to get figs quicker ...
Most of the trees, I buy, come with hanging figs ...
Good luck with your trees.

i remember having kerosene heater when i was much younger. my father used to light them and we could keep a pot of tea or hot water on it all winter long. some japanese brand, lasted forever. never remember my father doing anything to it other than putting fuel in it... yeah.. they don't make things like they used to.