Don't give up hope! or an exercise in patience.

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Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1401808408	Reply with quote #1

Not directly pertaining to figs, but after this rough winter in Pennsylvania I'm learning time and again to not give up hope on plants, they just need some extra time. I've been seeing massive mimosa trees just leafing out the past week, crape myrtle and buddleia sprouting from the ground, and lots more that needed a little extra time. For example: I have 3 seedling PawPaw trees of varying age in my lower yard. 2 broke dormancy roughly on time (well over a month ago I think) and are growing beautifully; amazing how much growth they can put on. The most recent addition, a struggling seedling when I planted it late last summer (I got it for free), seemed dead despite it being green under the bark. But behold! This morning the buds are finally swelling and I see green! It made me quite happy, I hate replanting things. So the moral of the story, don't give up on those figs either! Might not be unwise to hold onto them through the summer to be sure, especially for varieties that are important.

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1401809555	Reply with quote #2

Thanks Kelby. I have a few that are questionable at the moment. Struggling to decide if I want to move on or wait. You've given me some hope. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

bigbadbill

Registered:1357527109
Posts: 376

Posted 1401810069	Reply with quote #3

You're right, Kelby. I actually threw away a few small year-old paw paw seedlings in the compost bin late last week because I did see green underneath but no evidence of growth, so I thought "okay, it is June tomorrow, time to give up hope." I noticed it this morning, I thought a weed was growing beside them. Wrong. A few of the seedlings finally starting to leaf out. I would never have guessed it. I am learning a lot from this past brutal winter. __________________ SE Pa, zone 6b https://www.facebook.com/offthebeatenpathnurseries

ako1974

Registered:1393356294
Posts: 299

Posted 1401811902	Reply with quote #4

Definitely. It truly is an exercise in patience...and almost forgetting. I was just trying to get everything going again - I lost beehives - as well as the veg garden and figs and thought my hydrangea had died. It sprouted from the roots just recently, which was nice. My butterfly bush is toast. The purple comfrey shook off the snow and ice as if it were nothing, but in her own time. The asparagus - much later than usual, but going strong now. Good luck to everyone as the dust settles. __________________ Arne Zone 6a - NJ

Allora

Registered:1371832737
Posts: 87

Posted 1402016778	Reply with quote #5

Don't give up. My fig tree, which was started from a cutting from my Grandparent's tree, looked like it had died. I scratched some bark and it was green underneath, some branches brown. I was very sad about it. Today, there are two tiny leaves growing off the bottom of the branch. So, don't give up. After the harsh winter we had, the plants are late this year. It will be interesting to see how the quality and quantity of fruits will be affected. Good luck! __________________ Valerie New York, zone 6b

musillid

Registered:1327758167
Posts: 1,507

Posted 1402017819	Reply with quote #6

Similar experiences here. __________________ Dale non compost mentis in Zone 6a

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1402018954	Reply with quote #7

We purchased a neglected (5 years worth) overgrown, horrible property last year. We cut the vines back, and hit them with roundup. This spring it's amazing what is popping up! We did turn on the sprinklers and drip systems... all in disrepair. JD doesn't want to discuss that! But, we found a hidden lemon tree, a hidden orange, and so much more... There is a beautiful lily out front that is just so pretty! We are sort of in a conundrum about fertilizer. Grape vines are showing signs of stress from this poor soil, but it's hilly, rocky, and when you water, it all goes down hill. We need a way to fertilize that won't go to the bottom of the hill. Things on the bottom are doing great!! Suzi __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

GeneDaniels

Registered:1384021772
Posts: 1,014

Posted 1402023203	Reply with quote #8

Suzi, try Jobe's fertilizer spikes, or some other brand. You drive them in the ground around the plant and they slowly release without runoff. __________________ Zone 7b (Central Arkansas) Seven trees in the ground: Hardy Chicago, Celeste(?), LSU gold, Italian Black, Southern Brown Turkey(?), Strawberry Verte, and Unk yellow. Trees in pots: VdB, CdD, and Sicilian?

Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1402056470	Reply with quote #9

Suzi, can you topdress the soil with compost and then mulch to help catch water/nutrients? Creating small swales or terrraces would help as well. I would also suggest trickle watering to maximize water penetration to the soil and reduce runoff. You can buy GatorBags that work quite well, or my cheap way is a 5 gallon bucket with a couple small holes drilled in the bottom. Takes 15 or 20 minutes to drain and the water goes deep into the soil. You can add liquid fertilizer when you do this if you feel so inclined...compost tea or some sort of fish emulsion/kelp is good to feed the soil life as well as the plants.

seven

Registered:1291856042
Posts: 24

Posted 1402073980	Reply with quote #10

All my potted figs that over-wintered in my garage leafed out a month or 2 ago except for 1. I kept it on the driveway intending on throwing it out but just this week it started budding. My 5 year old protected in-ground tree seemingly died back to the roots but at least 2 of the 5 main trunks are budding about a foot off the ground and there are probably another 4 or 5 new trunks growing from the roots. I'll probably lose 3-4 feet of top growth but at least it's not a complete loss!

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