Everything in the greenhouse was looking so good.  Buds starting to come out, everything happy.   Had even put some 6 month trees out there.   

The forcast was for 33F, but it's usually a few degrees higher in the green house.   It got down to 26F. I didn't go out and check on them yesterday morning after the freeze. 

Went out and looked this morning.   Every leaf was hanging straight down,  completely limp.   Imagine steamed spinach.   Every bud shriveled up and turning dark. 

I'm so depressed today.

James, I understand enough to feel your pain.  It sounds like they are really set back but hopefully they will recover.  This could happen to any of us.  I guess you always have to assume that the temperature could go 5 degrees lower than predicted and plan accordingly.

Lol.  Typed on my phone.   I'll spell check it when I get back to the office. 

It was your phone - good.  I thought at first you might be drowning your sorrows! :)

lol.. i fixed it.  I hate typing on the phone.

Your plants should be allright. I ran into similar situation years back. It fried all new growth & a
whole season of figs lost.

I feel your pain.  Live and learn. 

I find in the country the temperature is always a few degrees lower than forecasts.  They seem to forecast for cities not rural areas unless you have a farm weather advisory channel.

But not to worry 26F should not be enough to kill the tree.  It will just burn off the new growth and may set back the tree a little.  You will need to provide some TLC (i.e. cut off the killed growth..)
 

they will recover and put on new buds. best to avoid below 32.

Here are images of 3 actively growing trees that were in the green house.  All were growing fantastically until the freeze.  Sorry, the first one ended up blurry.

From left to right, JH Adriatic and 2 Joe Dark's.
   

I've had the exact same thing happen to my hydrangeas. Although not figs they are a woody plant.
I cut off all the damaged foliage. They grew back some new leaves but no flowers. The following
year they started flowering again. I would suspect the same sort of thing would happen to yours.
It's sad to see all that hard work put in just to have that happen. But the good news and most important
is your plants will still be alive.

Man, I'm sorry that happened to your plants, DallasFigs.  No fun.

So sorry about your figs. How disappointing if you end up missing an entire season.

Hopefully they'll recover...

I think the ones that haven't completely come out of dormancy yet will be fine. Just a small setback. It's just those three that I had kept going all winter. I should have brought them inside.

I would think any of them could still fruit for you this year since it's so early in the year yet.  Some of the cuttings I started last year in January and February gave me some fruits by July and August and you've got root systems already established.  Without any more abuse ... ;) they may surprise you.  Good luck.

Been there, don't worry they'll bounce back. Today's a new day! And these type of setbacks make you value success all the more.

Here in the North they say to water the outdoor plants when a frost is expected and if they cannot be taken indoors. Try doing that tonight before it starts to drop.

I don't know the exact science to this. But I guess this seems to help.

James,

Sorry to hear that. The plants sure look down, but if the roots are still okay, I won't be surprised if they bounce back from this in a few weeks. It'll be a neat experiment to see how they respond cold stress.

I heard Texas weather can be pretty bipolar.

Did someone say 'bi-polar'?  

I went ahead and clipped the dead leaves and a few dead terminal buds. The leaves had started drying and the few buds were soft. 

I'm going to try to set up one of those clay pot heaters today so it'll be ready for tomorrow night.

that would be 'tri-polar'

Quote:

Originally Posted by figgary
Did someone say 'bi-polar'?  

What the...?

At midnight last night, the Weather Channel app said Low of 57F and Tomorrow High of 58F and low of 20F.

I wake up this morning at 7am and it's 32F and dropping.  Low expected of 14F.

Accuweather has completely given up trying to forcast temps.
 

It's currently 22F and sleeting..
 

I made a clay pot heater for the green house.  It's not getting super hot and I doubt if it's keeping it above freezing (haven't put a thomometer out there), but it definitely feels nicer inside than out.  I may have to add a couple more candles.

oh.. it was 84F yesterday!!