Would a hoop house be enough protection for baby figs in 8B?

Author

Comment

Jodi

Registered:1443230258
Posts: 343

Posted 1479224284	Reply with quote #1

Morning everyone. First thank you so much to the members here for sharing wisdom, cuttings and plants with me. Now I am trying to decide what to do with the new trees from cuttings started last spring. We do get a couple of weeks with nights into the teens here in the Verde Valley of AZ and it always warms up 50' or more during the day. Would keeping the young plants in their 1 to 5 gallon pots buried in the ground covered in a hoop house be enough protection? Last year I put them in the garage and opened the door every day, it was just a dance with the bugs and I notice such a difference in the plants that are in ground even in a pot with holes. Your esteemed advice is so welcome and appreciated. The garden is my peace, Jodi __________________ In the book the "The Meaning of Trees" it is said the fig regulates the heart and that the true essence of Figs is...food for the soul. Daisy's IBT cuttings will be available in January/February along with a few Lampeira Parda. Wishes for Martinenca Rimada, Black Ischia, I258, CddRoja, Jolly Tiger, Your favorite Figgy! Zone 8a Camp Verde AZ

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,364

Posted 1479230900	Reply with quote #2

Hi Jodi, I'm in zone 8b and anything left on my porch unprotected did not suffer any damage regardless of pot size. If in a windy location away from walls or hedges, you might get some damage. None of my five gallon pots or larger are protected, but they are adjacent to a wall or a hedge in the open. They get sun when the sun comes out offsetting any potential damage that might result from dips in temperature during the night. __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

fignutty

Registered:1374034473
Posts: 580

Posted 1479231563	Reply with quote #3

I think it depends on what the hoop house covering is. If covered in clear greenhouse poly it will be way too hot during sunny days and still as cold as outside at night. If covered with heavy duty frost blanket then in my opinion the plants would be much safer. I'd say being outside uncovered in a protected area would be better than a poly covered hoop house. I think that's what Sas is saying as well. __________________ Steve in Alpine TX 7b/8a Wish list: Sangue Dolce, Siblawi, Victoria, Emalyn's Purple, Colonel Littman's Black Cross

figpig_66

Registered:1416870358
Posts: 2,678

Posted 1479232813	Reply with quote #4

I use two of,them. Just open them up in morning close at night. Put a heater and lights and they will grow a lot over the winter. I do this for my trees in pits that need growth instead of fruit. I have a 1000 watt MH LIGHT. WORKS REALLY WELL __________________ RICHIE BONI HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity Wish list. Col de dame blanc Col de rimada Lsu numbered figs

Jodi

Registered:1443230258
Posts: 343

Posted 1479245541	Reply with quote #5

Quote: Originally Posted by Sas Hi Jodi, I'm in zone 8b and anything left on my porch unprotected did not suffer any damage regardless of pot size. If in a windy location away from walls or hedges, you might get some damage. None of my five gallon pots or larger are protected, but they are adjacent to a wall or a hedge in the open. They get sun when the sun comes out offsetting any potential damage that might result from dips in temperature during the night. Thank you for your comments and interesting difference SAS. I wasn't so lucky last year. I lost several small trees last winter trying to keep them on the porch, covered and with a light. Maybe our zone number is not correct. We have an extended period of low teens in January, February. What are your coldest temps? __________________ In the book the "The Meaning of Trees" it is said the fig regulates the heart and that the true essence of Figs is...food for the soul. Daisy's IBT cuttings will be available in January/February along with a few Lampeira Parda. Wishes for Martinenca Rimada, Black Ischia, I258, CddRoja, Jolly Tiger, Your favorite Figgy! Zone 8a Camp Verde AZ

Jodi

Registered:1443230258
Posts: 343

Posted 1479245645	Reply with quote #6

Quote: Originally Posted by fignutty I think it depends on what the hoop house covering is. If covered in clear greenhouse poly it will be way too hot during sunny days and still as cold as outside at night. If covered with heavy duty frost blanket then in my opinion the plants would be much safer. I'd say being outside uncovered in a protected area would be better than a poly covered hoop house. I think that's what Sas is saying as well. Ah thank you I am seeing the difference here. So maybe planted in pots with holes, close to a wall, covered? __________________ In the book the "The Meaning of Trees" it is said the fig regulates the heart and that the true essence of Figs is...food for the soul. Daisy's IBT cuttings will be available in January/February along with a few Lampeira Parda. Wishes for Martinenca Rimada, Black Ischia, I258, CddRoja, Jolly Tiger, Your favorite Figgy! Zone 8a Camp Verde AZ

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,364

Posted 1479253370	Reply with quote #7

The lowest that I've seen it was 18 degrees at night, but it always warm up during the days. The longest freezing period is usually about three days, with all freeze gone by noon. If you are perhaps 8a then you are more exposed. What I would do is put all the small pots in a large cardbox and cover with mulch for the winter. its probably better than a blanket. I prefer air circulation. I tried using foam pipe insulation to cover individual branches before and it did not work. They still suffered from freeze damage, so now I don't cover anything as long as it is sheltered from wind. The base of tree in ground is what I protect with mulch on small trees too. If your porche is facing south then it's best. __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

Jodi

Registered:1443230258
Posts: 343

Posted 1479259122	Reply with quote #8

Ah yes SAS I tried the foam pipe insulation too and it didn't seem to do any good and one tree actually molded inside the tubes. We probably are the colder part of zone 8 as we are at the bottom of a river valley. I am just fussing with this as I am very attached to these trees! Spent 3/4 of a year babying them! LOL! Can't wait to put them in ground next year. Thank you for your help. Warmly, Jodi __________________ In the book the "The Meaning of Trees" it is said the fig regulates the heart and that the true essence of Figs is...food for the soul. Daisy's IBT cuttings will be available in January/February along with a few Lampeira Parda. Wishes for Martinenca Rimada, Black Ischia, I258, CddRoja, Jolly Tiger, Your favorite Figgy! Zone 8a Camp Verde AZ

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1479293446	Reply with quote #9

Hi Jodi, What is the size of the trees ? How many pots ? Would they all fit in an 80 liters trashcan ? ... You know the rest ... Put holes at the bottom of the trashcan. Put the trashcan under a porch so that no water can turn the trashcan into a swamp. Put them all in the trashcan, fill with loam. Unmold in march :) . __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

Previous Topic | Next Topic