Good Morning Everyone,

I never thought I would be asking something like this but bad experiences with peppers and tomatoes makes it necessary. Cooked them right on the plant.

Figs are for the most part "full sun" but here in SE Texas like many other southern locations it gets really hot and stays that way. I am wondering if there is some kind of rule of thumb as to how much shade is too much?

If they can go even somewhat "partial sun" I have a ton of room to put them in.

Tami, You probably have more than enough sun.

Full sun basically means no shade from 9 in the morning till 5 at night - or all day, It is much more important in cooler climates and shorter season climates. If you are working with some partial shade, I doubt it would be an issue for you.

Thank you Jon, I want to make sure they get enough but I worry about burning as well. Not to mention there is tons of real estate available if they can do part shade.

I was wondering if this link is still viable http://encantofarms.com/Fig_Cuttings_Available_2013.pdf ? Does the X in front of the numbers mean out of stock?

Jon is correct.  I know of many trees in the south part of Houston which grow in the shade of other trees, houses, etc. all day.  Even still, they get enough light/heat to be healthy and very productive.  The basics for the south (Kadota, Alma, Celeste, Brown Turkey, Mission, TX Everbearing, LSU varieties, etc.) will grow in whatever situation you put them in.  The varieties which are more acclimated to other parts of the country and some of the more boutique varieties may prefer the partial shade area... especially if it reduces the amount of light hitting the tree during peak heat/light.

Thank you James, you just made my day!

I have plenty of real estate for the part sun varities :) my trees are all large so they get sun under them for a good part of the day.

I can now start staking out where I'm going to plant things.

The formal definition is at least 6 hours of direct sunlight exposure per day

The 6 hour rule seems to work for me, I choose the morning sun as the afternoon is way too hot.  I have determined the shadow patterns and use them when possible.  All my trees are in pots so it is somewhat easier but it is also more critical as the pots offer little protection from the ambient or reflected heat.  My feeling is to err on the side of shade.

I am feeling so much better about planting after you all took the time to help me out with this. I have lost plenty of in ground plants from the afternoon sun so I was a little leery.

I think I have the beginning of a plan :)

One thing to work on: keeping the trees healthy, and give them enough nitrogen to develop a good canopy. It you have enough canopy, it will provide enough shade so that the figs do not get sunburned.

i typically leave my trees out in full sun all day long to get roasted. so far haven't had much issue with them and they are in containers. some leaves do get sun burn, and i do need to water them more often. but they seems to enjoy the sun.

Some additional info here:
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/peren/msg0412060022688.html

Where they are grown commercially in California's Central Valley, they get something like 10-12 hours of sun, depending on the time of year. In the summer they are basically in the sun from sunrise to sunset.

I am with Pete I put mine in direct sun all day long, some miss a couple hours so that means about 11-13 hours of sun a day.  One tree I have in ground is in 9-10 hours of sun in the spring but 7-8 hours in the fall when the sun changes the angle, usually when the bulk of it's figs are ripening but they seem to taste just as good as the mother tree and she's in full sun.

Couldn't eat another bite.   :)

Thank you Gorgi for the link. It was immensely helpful. That's what I was getting at with us being so much closer to the sun. It's not so much the heat as the intensity. I believe a little shade during the middle of the day wouldn't be so bad.

Got full sun? Good link for a new spot where you haven't had time to learn the pattern. Cool how much it changes month to month.

http://suncalc.net/#/35.1147,-80.801,21/2013.06.21/20:25

GREAT Thread javajunkie.  I think were all learning something from this one.   As I run out of "full sun" areas in my yard I am also considering less desireable spots.   Info from those posting on this thread helps.

And yes...learning the pattern is important.  It's amazing how much the shadows from neighboring trees and structures change and move as the seasons progress.  

Thanks to all of you.