My 6 ft. single-stem, with a trunk: 2" diameter,  - "Red Italian" fig tree....root-pruned, and containerized, in early Spring-'12 was donated to The 'Sister Servants of Mary' Convent.  I would like to throw this now, containerized tree, in the ground so that the good Sisters could enjoy its figs in the coming years.  In the past, I did nothing to protect this "R-It." variety in my Zone-7b climate, and the trees never suffered any damages.  They were grown in-ground.  The Convent is also located in Zone-7b...about 1 mile from my house, and very near the Long Island Sound.

Questions:

Do you think it would be a good idea to transplant a recently, root-pruned tree, in-ground, to be grown in an unprotected location?

Do you think I should overwinter this containerized tree in my unheated storage shed, and then transplant the tree in Spring-'13 ?

My instincts tell me to do the transplanting in Spring-'13...but I just thought I'd ask the forum members.  I read that fall transplanting is a good thing, but I'm not too sure about this fig tree with a recent root-chop.

Opinions please...and, thanks for the help.  I'd be mortified if this fig tree dies.  It's a "memorial tree".

Frank

Always listen to your instincts!  I vote for transplanting in spring!

Suzi

Frank,

I would not do it now. It's not gonna do anything now that it won't do better next Spring and with less danger to its survival. Make sure you have a spare either way. Good luck

Frank,
I realize it's a complete pain to move it twice but it sounds like you'd be sad if the tree died.
No expert here, but why risk it?

Frank, Darn good man for thinking of the sisters.I totally get that you want to deliver the tree now, I feel the same way. I have little experience in you quandry but I think that overwintering it in the shed is the best option. My friend is giving me a few trees, same spec, and his reccomendation was to overwinter in the garage since its a recent transplant from ground. Hope this helps.

Hi Frank,

I do not have any experience with transplanting fig trees in fall but trees are often transplanted in the fall. Roots continue to develop until the ground gets too cold, for figs that is about below 45 F.  and come spring it has a bigger root system to start the year with.

Johnypray transplanted one last year on Oct 30 http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/The-Figloo-4980845

I think that depending on how cold it gets and for how long it stays at your coldest temps transplanting now would be OK as long as protection for the tree was provided, heavy leaf mulch around base of tree, (maybe 6 feet diameter circle around trunk) as well as adequate wrapping of the tree and branches.

I must thank-you all for helping me make up my mind. 

I am inclined to go conservative with this special planting, and I will wait until early Spring-'13 to plant this fig tree for the good Sister Servants of Mary.

Sister Evangelista, who is now taking care of my 92 year old father - (she sits at his bedside from 8:00 PM until 6:00 AM)- loved the fresh figs that I picked for her just last night.  She remarked that the large fig tree that is growing in the Convent garden, has never produced a fig, even after many years.  I looked the tree over, and for such a healthy tree, there was not one fig to be found.  The tree looks barren.  The light bulb lit over my head and I said:..."I have a tree for you that will produce plenty of sweet, little, black figs".  The idea took wing, and now, I'm committed to make good.

Come Spring-'13 my "Red Italian" fig will go in-ground, along with a few special Magnolias.  One cultivar is called "Phelan Bright", and the other, "Marjory Gossler"...each making enormous, pristine-white blossoms, tinged with baby-ribbon pink markings at the base of the flowers.  I hope all the trees bring happiness to these Saints-on-Earth.

Consummatum est...it is completed.  The trees go in-ground in Spring-'13



Much obliged.

Frank

Bravo, Frank

Such a beautiful gesture - a nice way to say "thank you, I appreciate what you have done for my father, family and me."

My mother was telling me a few days ago there are no more sisters at the church I grew up with.

Frank, I would make some soil amendments if the new tree is going in the same spot as the old tree to rule out that potential problem. I know tomatoes don't fruit if the soil is poor so it stands to reason other plants would follow suit. I did this once planting tomatoes to close to each other. They sucked the life out of the soil so I was watering with fertilizer and lime to help them fruit without BER. Lime made the difference.

See if you can get a few cuttings of the barren tree and see if they root for kicks. Just never know what you'll get as it probably had fruited some time ago. Maybe it just needs a good pruning to spur some life so there is a better root to growth ratio, by that I mean the root system can support top growth and nourish fruiting.

I'm happy you are waiting till Spring!  Sometimes it's tough to wait, but call it "tough love,"  It is love and you are expressing it in a really wonderful way!!

Suzi

Frank,

Some figs (like Mission) will slow production or stop when they get old. A good pruning can restart them.

Thanks everyone....you gave me some other things to consider.  The new tree will go in this coming Spring, and i will take a look at the older fig trees that are barren.  Yes, maybe a good revival pruning might scare the tree into pushing figs.  It does look neglected, and badly grown.




Post # 13.... "Frankie--You are a doll"  
                   Yes, Vivienne...a Voodoo doll!   : )))))   Your trees will be in LA. soon.....



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