Every one of them were killed.  All my trees, gone.  Some, I started from skinny twigs, back in 2007....are now cut down in the prime of life.  Most were older trees with good root systems, and had thick, 4" diameter,  baseball-bat trunks.  Many were planted in large 18-25 gallon tubs.  Since I started growing fig trees, I never had any problems with winter damages, or even die-back.  The trees that provided me with delicious figs, are no more.  I watched, with dewy eyes, as the garbage men threw them into the back of filthy, smelly, truck, and hauled them off.  I was prostrate with grief!  I rented a "fainting couch" and laid down, propped myself up on one elbow, held the back of one hand to my forehead, and struck a "woe with me" pose.  Now my mourning period, and wearing black, is over.  Life goes on.

Trees killed:

Atreano- 6 ft. w/4" dia. trunk-25 gallon  (DEAD 5/19/14)
Black Mission-  5ft. w/2" dia. trunk  (DEAD ?  5/19/14)....Sprouted leaves 6/14  UPDATE
Black Mission-7 trees-all 3ft. from tissue culture (Florida Hill Nursery)  (Might be alive 5/19/14)
Red Italian-6ft.w/ 4" dia. trunk  (DEAD 5/19/14)
Kathleen's Black-good riddance!  Reluctant to show her ovaries.
Hardy Chicago
Black Greek
Brown Turkey-heirloom
Bryant Dark (DEAD 5/19/14)
Sal's EL

and, others.....

************************************************** ************************************************** ******************

So now, I'm starting on a new quest for replacements.  I will not grow as many varieties as I did in the past, and I will pay much closer attention to fertilizing and watering, especially from mid-July through onset of dormancy.

Speculation as to why I lost all my trees: 
....Trees went into dormancy with new and old wood NOT hardened off.  Trees leafed out very late in '13 and were still not hardened off properly before the sudden dropping of temps. to the below freezing point.  My trees got toasted by bitter cold, winds in Dec.  I also started to move them into a storage shed way too late.  The deed was done by the end of December.  The freezing, relentless cold, added the Coup de Grace to the already moribund fig trees. 

The rest is history.  Lessons learned.


Frank

EDIT:  Weather in NYC winters is moderately cold.  Usually, the temperatures range for teen-20s at night, and go into the 30s - 40s during the day.  However, this winter the weather was a true Zone-7 from December into March.  It got too cold, too soon, and, for too long.  Not a good combo for fig trees.

We mourn with you Frank. Quite the loss for a fig lover. Really sorry to hear that all of them are gone. May your new figlets grow fast!

Hi Frank. so sorry for your loss. I have some plants that I started this winter that your welcome to if you want them? Let me know if your ready to start all over again? Vito

Sorry for your loss Frank. You have my condolences. The Kathleen's Black's obit - too funny! Lol

Sorry for your loss. Maybe others can learn form this. Do you know how low the temperatures got when the trees were outdoors? Were they wrapped? When did you put them in the shed? Was the shed heated? How did you determine that they were dead?

I have many small Black Mission trees that I would be happy to send you.

Hello,
how cold was it? 
If it was not under -20°C I would be very hopefull.
Then you can't say yet , that they were dead. 
Here in Germany we had winters with over -22°C and many fig trees survived.
We thought sometimes, that the tree has died , but it came from ground again in July and August and
everybody was surprised then.
I pray for you.

Kind regards
Dennis

Frank Sorry about this tragic situation, I would be happy to give you one of my small unknowns also am going to Bills Figs in 2 weeks if you want me to pick up anything pm me he has a great selection,

Very sorry to hear this terrible news.  The elements can be destructive in many ways.  I see members are already offering you replacements. 

Suzi

Frank, if you can make it up to Lyme, CT this summer, send me a PM or email. I can make you air layers of any you really desire, and I'll have some extra rooted cuttings. It's a shame to lose big trees, but I'll have about 20 cold hardy varieties to choose from, to help rebuild your collection. Sorry for the loss. Try to come up in July, we'll pick some blueberries too.

Thank you for your expressions of sympathy and I very much appreciate the friendly offer of replacement trees.  You forum members are the greatest.

Yes, it was a cruel massacre, but all is not lost.  I will rebuild my collection (I can't be without tree-ripened figs), but on a much smaller scale.  Because I have no alternative to growing containerized trees,  I will limit the number to just a few, selected varieties.  I also will limit container size to 18 gallons.  Lifting heavy, 25 gallon containers, at my age, will surely guaranty that I will be planted in a quick-draining medium.

@ Rich in NJ....

The ambient temperatures in December dipped into the teens and low 20s but it was the prolonged, freezing winds, that did the killing. Wind chill factors made outside temps feel well below zero.  The deep freeze never stopped for weeks.   I am almost certain that the new wood that grew in 2013 was not yet fully hardened off.  I stop all ferts. by mid July, and water only when trees look stressed.  I try not to grow trees with too much water.  But because my trees leafed out very late in '13 and I wanted to get to taste at least a few figs, I felt confident that trees would be just fine with my usual growing culture. .  In retrospect, I should have stripped off the few figs that grew, and just grew my trees 'harder'.  Dormancy stage started too late, and then trees got slammed with unexpected, plunging temperatures.  The newer wood didn't stand a chance.

I never wrapped any of my trees.  Didn't need to.  NYC temps. in my area very near to the Long Island Sound, are always tempered, and far milder than the rest of the State.  The vast areas of black top and cement also keep the temperatures on the mild side, effectively Zone 8-9 with occasional cooler periods, usually in Jan-Feb.  But even then, the freezing weather never really lasts for more than a week before warmer temps. return.  Not this winter.  Once we were frozen, we stayed frozen solid for months, and we had plenty of snow too.

By the end of December it was all over for the trees.  When I could finally break through all the ice, and snow that prevented entrance into my UNHEATED shed my trees were already dead.  Putting them in the shed was just an exercise in futility.  The stage was set, but I held out some faint hope that I would have at least some re-sprouting from the roots.  I should have gotten them into the storage shed BEFORE the freezing weather hit, and I should have used some thermostatically-controlled heating source to prevent the containers from freezing solid.  Even some light bulbs would have been better than nothing.  Subsequent deep snows and icing conditions made re-entry into my shed impossible.

When Da Bronx finally defrosted a few weeks ago, I reluctantly, and delusionally-in-denial, went into the shed to check on the trees, and to behold all the new green buds that were sprouting and ready to burst.  Instead, I saw desiccated stems, crispy twigs - that snapped with the slightest sideways pressure - and a sick looking yellow just under freshly scratched bark.  As the trees further defrosted, I dug into the soil and noticed that the bark on the fat, major roots just slipped off.  It looked rotted, and slimy, and smelled moldy.  I know dead when I see it, and the trees were dead.

The sad reality is this:  Take any and all precautions necessary, to prevent hard, prolonged freezing.  Unheated sheds are OK, but you might need some supplemental heat source to prevent damages, or tree/root death.  Cool garages are good too, with precautions.

I've said this before....growing fig trees is easy, keeping them alive -through freezing winters- is far harder.  Now, I will practice what I preach....with new trees.

Hope this story helps.


Frank

Geez sorry Frank:(

Well, sorry about your trees.  Post the varieties you decide you want to go with and I'm sure we'll all help.  Be sure to buy something from Bill so you get invited to his fig tasting party.  With cuttings you start in April you're not all that likely to get figs this year on your own.

Frank now that you are starting from scratch, which varieties would you go with? Would you keep the same kinds as before or would you start out with a whole different selection?

I did a walk around last night, most in ground trees were damaged on all last years growth 6 - 8 " back from the tips. Time will tell for the potted ones.

I am so grateful for all the interest, and especially for all the generous offers to replace some of what I lost.  My heartfelt thanks to all.

There is a silver lining to this dark cloud.  I now have a chance to start over, from scratch, with some new varieties.  I have been doing some homework, and I am beginning to narrow down a few selected varieties that I want to try.  I must always keep in mind that I have a short-season, and some of the more exotic varieties that require more heat units than I can provide in my climate, are of course, off limits.  So, "short-season' figs must be included in my figgy repetoire.

************************************************** ************************************************** *************************
                                                               
I have already ordered and received a very nice, "Black Mission" from Rabbit Ridge Nursery, SC.  It is already sprouting, and was shipped with a beautiful root system.  I received a tree that was trimmed to 4 ft. and has a heavy, 3/4" + diam. main stem/trunk.  I will probably get some figs off this tree, this season.  I've tasted properly ripened "Black Mission" figs and I think it's a "must have" for any collector/grower.  A good, easily found, "premium" tree to grow.

Next on my list to try ...."Sultane" / "Noire de Bellone"....why?  Short-season, fairly hardy, and reputed to be a delicious, rich-tasting fig, as good as "Black Mission" but with a different flavor profile.....and, because I can find it from a local source.

Next:  "Bryant Dark": a 'must-have',  Bronx, NYC, unidentified, variety.  Why?  Hardy in Zone-7.  Original trees are growing, in-ground, unprotected, for 40+ years.  Taste: excellent, a slap yo' mama delicious blend of ripe apricots-peaches-black raspberries, with a nice acid sizzle at the end, to buzz your tongue.  Not cloying sweet.  Just yesterday, I was lucky to get a bearing-age tree from Pete (ascpete) which I will proudly grow to fruition.  Thanks again Pete.  You're a real mensch.

So what would I pick to grow out of my old trees?  Honestly my best performing fig was the "Red Italian" unknown.  It consistently produced dozens of small figs that tasted like black-raspberry jam, and grew without any trace of a problem.  I will miss this tree.  "Atreano", was another tree I will miss.  The huge, golden-yellow figs were so delicious.  It is a prolific producer and being a "white" fig, the flavor was more delicate than the good "blacks", but just as easy to go down.  Perfect with some assertive cheeses and a sip of desert wine, or sherry.  "Kathleen's Black" I will not miss, at all.  Just too meh!  Never produced a fig, and was slow as molasses.  In a different section of the country this variety might be worth the trouble, but I have a very short attention span.  So long Kathy B.  I hardly knew ye.

Sometimes starting off with a clean slate can be a welcomed task.  At least I will have some trees to grow this season.  I'm Italian, it's in my DNA to grow figs.  : )

Frank

Frank, no matter what we say, the words won't replace your losses... ;/
 I can offer you one of my rooted Brown Turkeys...hoping it will last you a long time, since BTs are cold hardy and vigorous growers... 
PM me with your address if you decide you wanted one :)
 

Frank,
so sorry for your loss. I have a few in ground trees killed to the ground, but should grow back from mulched roots. We hit 0 degrees a couple nights. Most of my trees are young and in pots. Look at my fig list. I will be happy to start some air layers for you.

Frank, I am so sorry, I think mine have also suffered the same fate. You described our weather to a tee. I saw the same things with my smaller figs. The weather was definitely brutal and relentless. Good luck with your new figs. Your fellow Bronxite, Colette

I'll have at least one Calliope's Red Greek for you and maybe some local figs from Kearny and East Hanover NJ The red Greek has been growing in ground in Michigan by a distant relative ( my mothers sisters husbands sisters husbands mother) for like 80 years. It's been chopped and buried every year and nearly every year it has figs Michigan is a cold, cloudy and aweful place. I'm sure that fig will flourish for you in the Bronx I also have Dago Pete's Purple Italian unk. (found growing in ground in East Hanover NJ and was originally brought from Italy by Pete) that might be like your missing Italian red

Frank,
I could only imagine losing all my plants, luckily they're just plants and you could always start over

Replacement offers keep piling up.  How can I express my sincere thanks to all the generous members who want to help?

I hope that other members in the cold climate zones will not have a similar experience.  I'm sorry to see another Bronx, NY grower Smaritza, has reported that her trees were severely damaged or maybe killed off.  I have a funny feeling that others will report about damaged trees.  Herman...how are your trees looking?

2013 gave some East-Coast fig growers a double whammy.  It was cold and rainy in the spring, and consequently, many of the fig trees took forever to sprout leaves. It was June before I saw leaves on some of my trees.  In fact, I thought some of my trees were dead.  This was followed by a short, and cool growing season.  Then, a very short dormancy period - actually, it was more of a "quiescent period", and then - bang!....deep freezing weather lasting for months, and continued into March-2014.  A good 4 months of relentless sub-zero winds, snow, and ice.

So, we all live and learn.  Now my trees will go into the shed by early December, and I'll give them a little warmth while they sleep away the winter months. 

My new credo: Better safe than sorry. 

Good luck with your trees in Zone-6/7


Frank

Hey Frank, I am sorry to hear about your trees. If there is anything you are looking for let me know and I will try to help you out. I have some extra plants that are a few years old that you can have if you want.

Sorry to hear of your loss.  I know it hurts.  Let us know what you're interested in as far as replacements.  

I have a Bryant Dark that I just up potted to 2 gal.  It was in a 32 oz drinking cup under a grow light for a few months.  The leaves are a little ragged (vacuum cleaner incident.. don't ask), but it seems to be doing well.  Let me know if you want it.

Hey Frank
Sorry for your loss.
Many of us in zones 5 and 6 will undoubtedly also feel your pain first hand when we uncover ours.  I have 3 in-ground trees that the covers were tore off in a January storm.  I can't bear to even go over and look at them.  They were 20 years in the ground and produced a bushel of figs each.  Lucky thing I took cuttings back in the fall so I will regrow them.

Not to suggest any false hopes but I have had the tops and even the surface roots of trees killed by winter and they still managed to sprout new shoots and they grew incredibly fast and recovered.  So maybe don't toss them just yet on the off chance that there is still some live roots that will shoot new stems.  This might not happen till later in the summer.

Frank I was sooo upset for you when you told me of your tree loss. I'm happy that you have a great outlook though . Members here are very caring and their generosity is heartwarming.

As I said,  I haven't gotten up enough courage as yet to check my trees . I'm hoping that all our extra insulation efforts helped - we'll see .

Sorry for your loss, I have a 1 gallon atreano for you when you are ready.  Also I would stick with the extra cold hardy varieties like florea, nero 600m, celeste, etc.  Narrow it down to specific varieties you want, then post it here.  I will do what I can.  Hang in there.

Hello My Friend
I am growing an Atreano and calling him Frank. 
He wants to meet you
Coop

Frank, sorry for your loss. I know how heart breaking it is, since last spring I lost several dozen plants of my own. Send me an email with the list of the plants that you need.

Navid.

Frank, Very sorry to hear of your loses. I am in upstate NY Zone 5B and it was brutal up here. If my little ones made it through the long winter ,I may have some spares for you. Please let me know.

         

Thats too bad Frank .
Many years ago i had a celeste and brown turkey in our outdoor shed and they perished.
In attached garage which does get into the teens for weeks at a time in January the figs do just fine.
Sounds like you do not have garage.

As a note 10 year hardy chicago was planted inground and its first winter died almost to soil level.
Now this winter was much more brutal with 25 days of below zero temps with coldest near 20 below
and thats without wind chill factor.

Tree is out there naked with no structure protecting it and the north and west winds can be brutal on our winters. No winter protection other than snow and few leaves at its base.

It looks like it may have some die back when i looked at it recently time will tell.
It was and still an on going experiment.

Dont despair its sometimes fun starting over and watching the fig trees grow.

I continue to be so thankful for all the forum members who have been so generous with their offers of trees, and for the very friendly, upbeat expressions of support and optimism.   I was very dismayed when I first suspected that my special trees were killed, but hey, it happens.  Honestly, I was surprised it didn't happen sooner.

I am treating this whole revolting development of losing my collection as an adventure.  Now, I'll get to grow some new trees and be just as fanatic and obsessive-compulsive with new varieties. 

I pray that this thread doesn't turn into a litany of similar stories.  This was a winter to remember.  Spring is the season of renewal.  So, I'm gonna renewal my collection, and be smarter about storing my trees. At least that's my plan.

MARTIN....you are right.  No garage.  Just a 6ft X 8ft storage shed....filled from top to bottom with crap, fake Christmas Trees, lights, extension cords, tools, and, my trees.  I'm hoping that your in ground 'Hardy Chicago' pulls through with flying colors.  Maybe the deep snow gave it some protection.  You'll know soon enough if it's alive.  Good luck.


Frank

I am afraid this winter was one we will remember for a long time.  Sorry to hear of your losses but am glad you are already planning your rebound! 

(I'm only getting my first cuttings rooted now but would be glad to share any duplicates that take!)

This post is not giving me hope on having inground figs in zone 6a.

Shailesh, well said :) Ekierk, this thread has rattled me too. This is the year I'm planting 20 varieties in ground.

Frank, so sorry to read this.  It sounds like you already have a couple offers for a replacement Atreano.  I'll be happy to give you an airlayer of the Red Italian (I started from a cutting you gave me a little over a year ago) later this summer.  Just let  me know.

I always thought that a 2 inch or more diameter would make it much more tolerable to cold temps. I also am rethinking planting this year. Frank, I have a small salem dark start if you'd be interested, I really don't have much.

At first I was not going to start this thread, but I'm glad that I did.  Yes, it's embarrassing to have to admit that I lost my whole collection -which could have been avoided- but some good will come from sharing my BIG FAIL with all you forum members.  This forum is a clearing house for information.  We decide what gets posted, and how this information is going to be used.  We have the luxury, thanks to Jon, to just write and press a button, and instantly share our experiences, good or bad, with the whole world of fig growers.  This is our coterie of fig growers, all sharing the same interests.  It's unique.

Let me again thank all of you for your kind and comforting words and for all the offers of replacement cuttings, and trees.  I'm good.  I have already started to rebuild, but on a smaller scale.  I have some sources for most of my older trees if I need them, even the "Red Italian".

I know some cold-climate growers are worrying about their trees.  Please remember my trees were and still are, all containerized.  So will my new trees. I have no choice.  Grounded, older, trees will react differently to adverse conditions.  In ground trees will take cues from Nature and do what needs to be done to prepare for winter dormancy.  Containerized trees depend on the grower for everything, and can become knocked off their natural schedule if culture is wrong, or worse, poorly timed. 

I killed my trees.  That's the truth.  Yes, the winter was brutal.  I got lazy, and too complacent.  I should have been smarter. I should have gotten my trees in a shed, and I should have given them some heat.  If I did that, this thread would not have to be started.  What's done is done.  Smart growers will learn by my failures.  (Note to self:  Physician, heal thyself....be smarter next time and anticipate and correct adverse conditions).

The new additions to this thread will be written in the weeks to come.  Triumphs and losses will be shared. 

Mother Nature writes The Book, and all we can do is read it.


Frank

Frank, sorry for your figs losses.  Seems like you have a good attitude about it, and are on your way already. 

I uncovered my in ground trees that were well protected and found one ok, and the other the top 2 feet  or so was burnt and brown.  Will likely need a severe pruning, but hopefully is ok.  The one that was OK was hardy Chicago, so I guess that is true to its name.  My low temp I think was -2, so not that low, but the duration of the cold and snow pack i think created an 'ice box' that was too much.    This winter was just incredible hard on lots of plants. There are several mature holly trees around here that are severely winter burned.  

This is a very sad story/event. It has been a brutal 2013-2014 winter, here in the northeast region!

In a few more weeks (when the real 2014-spring springs),
I can only hope that my losses are not that much...

This happened to me two years in a row.
When I first started and before I joined the forums I used to store my fig tree in the backyard shed.
If memory serves me I lost roughly 50 (more or less) trees each year.

It's been good the past few years since I started to store the trees in the garage.
But due to the extreme cold temps we had this past winter I expect some loss.

Right now I have well over 225 different cultivars and adding another 50+.
I will prune some of them soon. I will toss any bad ones and share the good ones with some friends.
I should have done this weeks ago but it's just been too cold. And I've been lazy.

I can put your name on the list if you are interested. I just can't say what for sure at the moment.
It'll be like a box of chocolate.

Good luck

Frank,
Thanks for starting this Topic.
I wasn't planning on posting because we had already conversed on the subject, but I applaud you for this topic and using this incident to aid forum members.

The dormant 5 gallon potted trees came thru this winter quite well with only minor tip dieback from the cold. They were stored on an open porch in a temporary lean-to shelter made of 2" Foam boards with a common wall to a heated space that was maintained above 60 deg F. The temperature in the lean-to never fell below 15 deg F. Next winter I will be adding a separate heater for the lean-to to keep the temperature just above 30 deg F. My only casualties were 12 buckets that were laid on their sides in an experiment to see if this would help in storage. These were also not affected by the cold but were eaten and gnawed by rodents, they were the only plants that suffered rodent damage. The dormant 1 gallon and smaller trees were stored inside in an unheated room, but were more severely affected by the prolonged cold spells. Also the transplanted in ground Noladark tree was left unprotected and only the 3/8" and smaller limbs have any visible damage.


The in ground trees in NYC all  have up to 12" of dieback on 1 year old branches and dieback of most branches smaller than 3/8". I will be pruning 5 of the NYC trees this week, but dont think that there will be much salvageable wood for cuttings. The in ground Bryantdark Espalier was also not damaged by the cold.
Good Luck with the rebuilding

Hi Pete-

Thanks for the additional information.

Interesting to read about the documented results and your observations regarding your storage methods.  Glad also that damages were minimal.

Within the next weeks figs will be breaking bud.  Bronx trees will be on my bucket list for visiting, and to see what damages this winter has caused.  I took note of what you observed regarding die-back on the original grounded trees that you discovered.  I am so happy that those trees will survive, and it's good to read that your espalier wasn't damaged.

Good luck with your trees, and thanks for all your help.


Frank

would love to help you out as well frank
keep me posted
eli

[QUOTE=ascpete]The in ground Bryantdark Espalier was also not damaged by the cold.
Good Luck with the rebuilding[/QUOTE]

Was this against a building or a fence?  Both would provide a windbreak but being near a foundation might really be a benefit because that would moderate the low temps the roots would experience. 

Do folks prefer a South-facing exposure, or East or West?  South would be maximal warmth, but might also lead to earlier bud break and the potential for damage from a late frost in Northern climates.  What experiences about this can folks share?

Philadelphia, lots of people talk about southern exposure for fruit trees. Having moved to a property with lots of plants and trees, I have been reading A LOT about these things, so forgive me, I don't know where I read this bit: If you plant fruit trees with southern or eastern exposure, the sun will warm up the branches of a fruit tree before the soil gets warm, and will cause desiccation of the fruit buds. The idea (in whatever it was that I read) being that by planting on the North-South-West side gives a tree's roots the chance to warm up with ambient temperatures before the fruit buds and growing tips. I feel like it was an article about grapes or peaches, but the information stuck with me. Just another point of view worth pondering. Of course, with heavy mulching, the root zone can be kept warmer...

Wow, Frank. Very, very sorry to read of your loss.

A loss is a loss, but fortunately figs can be propagated from cuttings, and do grow relatively fast, and most bear fruit when young. 

Sincere good luck, Gina.

Philadelphia Gardener,
The Bryantdark espalier is "out in the open" , but as with most tree in NYC backyards, its not really open.
I've been taking pictures to document the hardiness of several of the trees from which I've collected cuttings, attached are a few pictures of this winters damage.
      .


Ruuting,
That info is useful and applicable for fruit trees that produce fruit buds, which if opened could be killed by a late frost. Its not as applicable to figs because the main crops are produced on new wood. The only figs that may be damaged would be the breba crop (that's why Desert King isn't more popular in the northeast) . Also figs need the additional warmth that is provided by the south facing exposure for better fig production and ripening.

Frank, really sorry to hear of this disaster for you.  Thanks for sharing this information - I understand and appreciate your concern for the rest of us. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This whole thread epitomizes why I appreciate all the people on this forum.

Frank has always been ready to share information and suggestions with those who are new to fig growing, both here and on the Garden Web forum.  And now - suffering really a heartbreaking loss, he unselfishly shares his story with the rest of us so that we hopefully will not suffer the same in the future.

And the outpouring of sympathy and offers for replacements is truely heartwarming.