Well it's hailing.  I was excited for the rain but not so much running out into the hail to cover the trees.  I put them under the mesh patio table then put a stucco lath panel across the top.  We'll see how they do in the morning.

Sounds like a Hail Mary plan.  Hope it works.

This morning I pulled the 6 ft.+ fig outside and put my San Marzano tomatoes, sweet pea tomatoes and other plants I started to get a little sun and breeze.  It started getting dark and I hauled them back in before the grape sized hail started plunking.  Somewhere south east of us they got hail bigger than golf balls from this storm.  Zone 4  so. WI

Thanks for the post James!
I've been watching the news and nervously reassuring myself that I can believe them when they say all the severe weather is done for the night. I read this and ran out and wheeled all my trees into the garage. So far it's been nothing but tame rain and noise, but at least I'll sleep without worries tonight.

had hail few weeks ago. didn't think it would do much damage. didn't see after the hail. closer inspection few days later showed few leaves having damage. hope yours come out ok. 

Hope your figs are OK!  I lost a fully planted Spring garden to hail about 15 years ago and won't forget standing there and watching it happen :<(  Good luck!

James:

Hope your stuff is OK. We're so prone to hail here in western TX this time of year that I hope it doesn't rain. On ave 6-8 hails a yr but only 1-2 cause much damage. I have hail netting over watermelon and grapes right now. Will have it over stone fruit next year.

James, 

That sux, hopefully that hail doesn't cause any permanent damage, and the rain will stick around.  We are getting our first rain today in almost a month, fingers crossed no hail.

Thanks everyone.  All of the trees are okay.  I only saw one leaf with some light damage.  It is sunny now, but the we are supposed to get some more rain/storms this afternoon, but it looks like we might be done with the hail.  In the future I do not think I will run out while those icy pellets are falling again. 

The Weather Channel is prediction severe weather (including hail) for those of you in middle of the country.  If you live within a north/south line through central Texas and another one at the Louisiana/Mississippi boarder up through Canada you are at risk.

Jeez, that's rough! At least no major damage. I had a car nicely dinged up once.

Here we go again... Guess which direction it's headed.

Nothing up here. Guess it is heading south :)

Hope you get nothing of consequence.

Well it was heading right towards us then made a sudden turn to the east. Golden had hail and we were supposed to get hail, then poof. Nothing. My guess is Lockheed/Martin used their super secret alien weather manipulating technology to alter the storm's course so it doesn't interfere with their plans.

Yep, I think of adding to this post all the time this summer. I do the fig shuffle still at least once a week because of the dang hail. Knock-on-wood we haven't been through the shredder like some of areas around Denver. My poor trees do still get a bi-weekly hail beating though when I'm away at work or elsewhere. Every tree has at least a few ragged torn up leaves or holes punched through them. I've had one terminal end bashed off..oh, and a handful of small figs bashed off as well(like it wasn't enough that we have to defend our figs from animals and insects).

Andy, I've been wondering how you've been fairing. They have gotten some real severe hail up north of us, it sound like it must have stayed to the east of you.

James/Andy, how have your trees been doing for putting on figs this year? I feel like many of mine should have put on more and sooner.

Hi all,
In the middle of France, yesterday :

http://www.lindependant.fr/2014/07/06/trombes-d-eau-et-grele-l-aude-sous-les-orages,1904852.php

I was shocked by the the pic of the car in the middle of the street ...
For this time, we have something bigger than you :) , but you can have it if you want ... :P

That is some crazy French hail.

Calvin,  all of the trees I have in Denver are in their first or second year.  It took a while for them to get going, but they are growing well.  I do have a handful of 2nd year trees with a few fruit on them.  Overall, I am happy with their progress especially since I started with dismal expectations.  Currently, I am battling a dark leaf hopper with green and red stripes.  I think they came in with some squash/pumpkin plants that Barbra bought (or the timing is very coincidental).  If anybody has an idea of how to control them, I'd really appreciate it.

That hail looks nasty! I had read on the National Weather Service that northern New Jersey could see some hail tonight during a severe thunderstorm. I ran it by my coworker, who has been storm chasing (tornadoes) in the Midwest for over 20 years. He assures me the probability of hail tonight is low - which is a relief because I don't want to move/protect dozens of plants. But what if it does hail...? Wait and see :)

My first experience with hail :(

It's funny. I realized that through the storm I checked my figs for damage before my car! Lol. Priorities!