Hi, I'm new to the world of figs. I was given a fig tree late this summer, which I planted in my garden.

It has since lost it leaves and been though a few nights of frost. I live in the Toronto area. I was told to bury or pot it and bring it inside.

Not prepared to bury it this year, so I placed it into a pot (see pictures). I've also pruned it.

My concern is where to place it for the winter? My basement doesn't stay cool, it gets warm down there. And I don't have a cold room.

The only option is my unheated, unattached garage, with is very well insulated but does hit below zero. Could I still place it in there and somehow protect it? What should I do to protect it from the cold?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Please help as I would like to see it grow again next year.

Thanks

It's fine for many fig trees to go below zero.  Of course, figs planted in-ground are more cold tolerant than those in pots.  For example, say your fig would stand up to temps of -15ºC planted in the ground, if you plant the same fig in a pot, it could possibly only handle -5ºC because the root system is closer exposed to cold thanks to the structure and above-ground nature of the pot. 

Do you know the average low of temps your detached garage has?

How thick is the wall of the pot you are using?

Also, do you know what variety your fig tree is?  Some varieties are more cold hardy than others.

PS - one piece of advice:  It looks like you are using straight potting soil with no mulch.  I would definitely mulch your pot with a good 1" layer at least of something like pine bark.  I would also consider using a potting mixture instead of potting soil to help the soil drain better. 

Hi, thanks for your reply.

Not quite sure, the low temps of the garage, I'm thinking around between -10 to -15. Can I wrap the pot with something? The pot is plastic probably 1" thick hollow.

I don't know the variety. Where do I place the mulch on top of the soil?

Can I still repot it  with potting mixture?

Some of the guys up north can probably give you better advice about repotting and mixtures.  I'm obviously way down south so my needs are different.

A couple of years back, one veteran forum member, Gorgi, said he has no winter damage for two years putting his potted figs in a garage that is around 20ºF (-7ºC).  But this is not quite the temps that you listed.

For mulching - just put a layer on top of the existing soil.

Can I use any type of mulch? I think I have some cedar mulch on hand.

Designer if your garage is insulated your plant shoud be fine. If you want to take a little extra caution buy some burlap and wrap the tree up and make sure you put some wood under the pot in the garage so that its not on top of the concrete, temps in my fathers garage last year reached -15c.

My grandfather also stores his fig tree in his garage he wraps it up with burlap and puts his potted fig inside a bigger pot with mulch inside so that it keeps the temps higher not sure if it makes a difference but his fig tree has survived the last two years. His garage is unheated and not insulated.

Thanks so much nelson20vt, this helps me a lot. I just went to pick up a thermometer to see what temps are in my garage. But I will take your advice.

Thanks Again

One question do you know what soil he uses?

My grandfather is old school he uses backyard soil mixed with composted sheep manure plant seems to like it.

Okay. one last thing when he places the pot in another pot and places the mulch, does it cover bottom, sides and top? or just the sides and top?

Do you grow fig trees?

His fig tree is in a 5G pot the pot he puts that one in a 10G pot but first puts a layer of mulch on the bottom of the 10G pot then places his potted fig tree on top of that layer and adds mulch all around to the rim of the potted fig he does not put any on top of the soil.

Yes I have a couple fig trees.

Nothing on top? And do you use the same method? Have you ever buried a fig tree?

I took some cuttings from pruning my fig tree about a week ago, and I'm using the ziploc bag method. Have you every propagated fig cuttings?

Nope no mulch on top,not sure if he ran out or what but didnt see any on top. No I live in a condo so I have no inground trees yet but will when I buy a house. I had my plants in my parents cold room last year they made it fine this year they will be going in their garage stacked up like a pyramid.

Yes I have rooted a few cuttings I use this method http://figs4fun.com/Rooting_Bag_New_Style.html

Great thanks for your helpful advice.

See you around.

Sorry, how about watering through the winter?

There are no leaves on the tree, so the roots have no good reason to pull water from the soil.  Most people can get through winter without having to water more than once or twice.  I've read where some guys just throw snow on their pots once or twice a year, when it melts, it waters (I wouldn't do it myself, but ... just tossing it out there.)

Martin suggests a small watering maybe once during winter here: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=35413176&postcount=9

I highly recommend clicking on the Search feature up above and search for winter storage and maybe also watering or possibly winter watering

I think you will be happy with the results.  There are several years of great tips from the pros that visit here resting in older posts.

Tnanks

Dezigner
You already got good advice.
Since you have only one plant this year, here is another option.
Tie the branches closer and wrap the tree in burlap. Then lay the wrapped tree side-wise on the garage floor away from the entrance to avoid drafts. Take a cardboard box big enough to cover the plant (or put together one from two boxes). Cover the plant with maple leaves and put the box over it. This way it will make use of the geo-thermal heat from the floor and will survive in much colder environment. Ye, it wil take a little more space.

Can't I just stand it up wrap it with burlap, place styrofoam boards around it (I've got pretty of foam from basement reno) and then fill it with leafs?

That sounds like it would be asking for rodents to come make a home out of it, but very similar to what some others do.

Searching the forum for winter storage and also for the term wrapping produced these wonderful gems of advice (the last one is especially helpful):

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2655099

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=3093610

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=4505553

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2155726

Dezigner
Of course you can do it with Styrofoam. The amount of ground area covered determines the amount of geothermal heat trapped inside the box.
You have to check if you can face rodent issue during the winter finding the inside of the box as a cozy place. I did not find this as a problem last year but it does not mean that there cannot be such problem. Only the past history of your garage can tell you of such probability.

I think i'm going to go with nelson20vt advice and take it from there.

Thank you all for your suggestions and advice.