New fig grower ... already addicted !

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angelad

Registered:1475625272
Posts: 31

Posted 1480354985	Reply with quote #1

Hi everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself. Earlier this year I inherited a couple of unknown fig plants from my late mother. As a result of that I have looked at a lot of videos on youtube (thanks newenglandgardening, ross, pa figs, ben from seattle, and some others) to learn as much as I can about growing them and keeping them alive. I didn't realize there were so many varieties!! In late Sept. I ordered and received 8 fig plants from Brugmansia which I am very happy with. In fact I just put in another order for another 8 varieties for next year (very difficult to stop at 8!) Because I live in southern Ontario all my figs are in pots. They will spend the winter in my basement cellar. Thank you to all the information on this forum. Angela __________________ Angela (Southern Ontario zone 6a)

jveri

Registered:1471610371
Posts: 17

Posted 1480356916	Reply with quote #2

Welcome aboard, fellow sw ontario grower here! __________________ Fig noob London, On

NoelG_123

Registered:1406247827
Posts: 180

Posted 1480357025	Reply with quote #3

Welcome! It certainly is addicting. And those potted figs? They grow up fast. Great hobby. Great forum as are the people on it. Enjoy yourself and ask questions. There are many experts as well as recent addicts like yourself (me) who can share what they know. Be well. Merry Christmas. Noel __________________ "A fig by any other name, is a Newton."

torontofig

Registered:1429290881
Posts: 60

Posted 1480357854 · Edited	Reply with quote #4

welcome aboard! We are proud to be Ontario fig lover. :) __________________ Thornhill-Vaughan (GTA) Zone 6 Beginner in 2015

gofiger

Registered:1468681189
Posts: 71

Posted 1480360301	Reply with quote #5

Angela, welcome aboard from a newly joined Oshawa fig grower. This forum is a great place. __________________ Steve Zone 5b-6a Oshawa Ontario That's Canada eh! Wish List: A Canadian member that is willing to share there cuttings with me.

VeryNew2Figs

Registered:1441488407
Posts: 241

Posted 1480363503	Reply with quote #6

Hard to stop at eight, hard to stop at sixteen, heard to stop at...hard to stop ever. Just wait till you get into rooting cuttings. Welcome, Angela. __________________ Cheryl Chicago, Zone 6a (That's what they say, but it still feels like 5) Growing: Hardy Chicago, Black Mission, Brunswick, Kadota, Ischia Green, Desert King, Osborne Prolific (slow but steady), Malta Black, Violette de Bordeaux, Texas Everbearing, Beall, White Adriatic, Nolo Pink Eyed Lady. Rooting: Ronde de Bordeaux, Celeste, Nero 600 m, Violetta Bayernfeing, Marseilles Black VS, Celeste.

vanfigs

Registered:1471470737
Posts: 32

Posted 1480375609	Reply with quote #7

Welcome, Angela. Good to see another Canadian fig lover join the party. Stop at 8? NO WAY!! I had only 3 varieties at beginning of the year. Added 9 in late spring to mid summer. And now, I am rooting 42 cuttings 29 varieties!! Fig fever? No, I think I got fig cancer, only getting worse until the day has come. lol __________________ Eric, Surrey BC Canada, Zone 8B PNW

toisanwu

Registered:1439303885
Posts: 64

Posted 1480376913	Reply with quote #8

Welcome aboard, Angela. Great to see more Canadians here on this forum. __________________ Bill Ottawa, Canada, Zone 5 (USDA Zone 4)

tinyfish

Registered:1472353452
Posts: 223

Posted 1480378705	Reply with quote #9

Welcome from another local figger. I started in Aug with 1 and now I have 24 with 15-20 more on order for next year delivery and 35 cuttings I'm trying to root.

angelad

Registered:1475625272
Posts: 31

Posted 1480379493	Reply with quote #10

Thank you everyone for your welcoming comments. Angela __________________ Angela (Southern Ontario zone 6a)

PeterC

Registered:1442348302
Posts: 286

Posted 1480380205	Reply with quote #11

welcome aboard, these things are addicting, so bad that I turned my wine chiller into a grow room :O, starting to get scared lmao __________________ Growing: Sal's Corleone, Brooklyn Unknown, Peters Honey, White Kadoda, Brown Turkey, Black Mission, Deanna, Green Irchia, Hollier, Sals E Wanted: A very cold hardy fig, Hardy Chicago or Celeste Zone 7 Long Island

tsparozi

Registered:1470160644
Posts: 304

Posted 1480380308	Reply with quote #12

Welcome to the forum and the addiction.... __________________ Tony S - Zone 6A Carmel, NY WL-Ischia Black (UCD/USDA), Martinenca, Calderona, Victoria, Craven's Craving, Colonel Littman's Black Cross, Bon Jesusa, Sant Martina, Princesa, Paretjal Negra

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,727

Posted 1480381108	Reply with quote #13

Welcome! You won't even think of stopping at 800. The only real question is are you going to buy large greenhouses where you are or move the BC or California or the SE US? :) Use the search function and ask questions. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 259

Posted 1480386315	Reply with quote #14

Welcome Angela! Here's what you have to look forward to: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/you-know-when-youre-a-fig-addict-6595871?highlight=addicted+figs&trail=50 __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada Seeking: Panache, Really great unknowns

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1480417025	Reply with quote #15

Hi, Welcome to the forum ! Keep an eye on your trees in the basement. Not too much water, but still you have to avoid the dirt getting bone-dry. What pot size are you at ? My biggest problem with figtrees is that every stick you cut, can become a tree... Knowing that, I hate throwing them on the compost pile ... But I still have to. Bottom line, they produce lots of fruits and that's my main target for trees in my garden. I'm giving up on plums and peaches ... I'm now giving a try at Apricots ... Lets see if they behave ... __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

angelad

Registered:1475625272
Posts: 31

Posted 1480425271	Reply with quote #16

Quote: Originally Posted by TorontoJoe Welcome Angela! Here's what you have to look forward to: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/you-know-when-youre-a-fig-addict-6595871?highlight=addicted+figs&trail=50 Thanks for the link. I really enjoyed reading all the comments and I can relate to many of them! __________________ Angela (Southern Ontario zone 6a)

angelad

Registered:1475625272
Posts: 31

Posted 1480426413	Reply with quote #17

Quote: Originally Posted by jdsfrance Hi, Welcome to the forum ! Keep an eye on your trees in the basement. Not too much water, but still you have to avoid the dirt getting bone-dry. What pot size are you at ? My biggest problem with figtrees is that every stick you cut, can become a tree... Knowing that, I hate throwing them on the compost pile ... But I still have to. Bottom line, they produce lots of fruits and that's my main target for trees in my garden. I'm giving up on plums and peaches ... I'm now giving a try at Apricots ... Lets see if they behave ... My main problem is not knowing how much water to give them when they are dormant. Right now if the soil is really dry I give them about a cup of water. My main worry is that they could die during the winter. The plants that I purchased in late Sept. were in 4 inch pots and I put them in 2-gallon pots (diameter 8.5 inches) right away. My unknowns are in pots with a diameter of about 15 inches. One of my unknowns had 6 small figs but unfortunately they didn't mature - maybe next year. I did take an air-layer from this plant and I wonder if somehow that caused the figs not to ripen in time. __________________ Angela (Southern Ontario zone 6a)

angelad

Registered:1475625272
Posts: 31

Posted 1480426908	Reply with quote #18

Quote: Originally Posted by rcantor Welcome! You won't even think of stopping at 800. The only real question is are you going to buy large greenhouses where you are or move the BC or California or the SE US? :) Use the search function and ask questions. I wish. :) California would be my first choice although the others are good too. __________________ Angela (Southern Ontario zone 6a)

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 259

Posted 1480433254	Reply with quote #19

Watering during dormancy is one of those things that most of those on this forum probably agree...That is if you think it's time to add some water, you should probably wait...OK - I know that doesn't help. The problem is that there is no magic amount and frequency. It all depends on your very local conditions. A fig guru local to me (Steven Biggs - Author: Grow Figs Where You Think You Can't - http://www.grow-figs.com) says in his book that he sticks his finger deep into the soil, and that if he can feel any moisture, he waits.... I never felt that I had a real feel of the moisture in the cold so I gave up on trusting myself and have resigned myself to one cup per month (about) for a 5 gallon pot. I haven't killed any of them.....yet....there's still time. I know an Italian old timer near me who stores in the basement of his shop. He had some last year that he says he didn't water all winter...Mind you his shop basement is pretty humid and dank.... One thing I would't rely on is one of those moisture meters. I've never found one to be even remotely accurate. Maybe if you got one that was high end.... __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada Seeking: Panache, Really great unknowns

ottman

Registered:1438003882
Posts: 1

Posted 1480603188	Reply with quote #20

Welcome aboard Angela, good to see Ontario fig growers join this wonderful fig lovers's group! I live in Ottawa. I started with a Hardy Chicago last year and first taste my own figs this past summer. I bought a Brown Turkey and hopefully I will get figs next summer. Right now all of my figs tree stay in my attached garage. They survived last winter same condition.

torontofig

Registered:1429290881
Posts: 60

Posted 1480627450	Reply with quote #21

Hi Joe, I did water my plant in the garage like once a month. I only water a little when i feel the soil is very dry/ and also I watered the plants when the temperature is relatively high. but I covered the plants/pots in used quilt to keep them warm and to hold the moisture. I guess the plant will die if the soil indeed dry out, or get rot or frozen if it is too wet. Quote: Originally Posted by TorontoJoe Watering during dormancy is one of those things that most of those on this forum probably agree...That is if you think it's time to add some water, you should probably wait...OK - I know that doesn't help. The problem is that there is no magic amount and frequency. It all depends on your very local conditions. A fig guru local to me (Steven Biggs - Author: Grow Figs Where You Think You Can't - http://www.grow-figs.com) says in his book that he sticks his finger deep into the soil, and that if he can feel any moisture, he waits.... I never felt that I had a real feel of the moisture in the cold so I gave up on trusting myself and have resigned myself to one cup per month (about) for a 5 gallon pot. I haven't killed any of them.....yet....there's still time. I know an Italian old timer near me who stores in the basement of his shop. He had some last year that he says he didn't water all winter...Mind you his shop basement is pretty humid and dank.... One thing I would't rely on is one of those moisture meters. I've never found one to be even remotely accurate. Maybe if you got one that was high end.... __________________ Thornhill-Vaughan (GTA) Zone 6 Beginner in 2015

tylerj

Registered:1347291507
Posts: 646

Posted 1480632023	Reply with quote #22

I keep my potted figs in a cellar as well Angela... Its all concrete and stays damp enough that I just give the pots a cup or 2 (depending on size) every month or so. I am not sure its even needed but do it just to be safe. Just don't soak them too much. :) Tyler __________________ London, Ontario zone 6a Wish List: Martinenca Rimada, Genovese Nero AF, Galicia Negra, Brooklyn White

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 259

Posted 1480643318	Reply with quote #23

Quote: Originally Posted by torontofig Hi Joe, I did water my plant in the garage like once a month. I only water a little when i feel the soil is very dry/ and also I watered the plants when the temperature is relatively high. but I covered the plants/pots in used quilt to keep them warm and to hold the moisture. I guess the plant will die if the soil indeed dry out, or get rot or frozen if it is too wet. Spot on! __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada Seeking: Panache, Really great unknowns

Luzzu

Registered:1410823791
Posts: 97

Posted 1480648846	Reply with quote #24

1 cup of water per pot once a month seems to work well for me Happy Figging __________________ Brampton, ON Zone 5b

angelad

Registered:1475625272
Posts: 31

Posted 1480653748	Reply with quote #25

Thanks everyone for your advice. Much appreciated. Angela __________________ Angela (Southern Ontario zone 6a)

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