In ground containers

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Lukie29

Registered:1346102796
Posts: 120

Posted 1482947823	Reply with quote #1

I've only grown figs in containers up til now and this year I'm considering keeping them in containers but putting the containers in the ground. How deep do the containers need to be buried? And, living in CT, with cold winters, at what point do you take them out without damaging them? Thanks for any input. __________________ My wish list is: Naples White, JH Adriatic, Deanna, Peters Honey, Paradiso, Raspberry Latte, Jolly Tiger, Malta Black, Maltese Falcon, Maltese beauty, , Petite negra, Zingarella, Black Madeira, 143-36, 184-15, 187-25, Conadria, Black Ischia, Sucrette, Black mission, Trojano, Yellow Neches, King.

gofiger

Registered:1468681189
Posts: 71

Posted 1482949610	Reply with quote #2

Not an expert but I have had good results burying my 15 gallon potted tree fully about 4 inches underground. It's a bit of work but I made a cart narrow enough to wheel into my house so once my tree is on the cart an 8 year old could transport it. I also make a soil wall about 5 inches high in a full circle outside the perimeter of the pot. This "pool" will hold about 3 gallons of water so when I have to water I fill it up and I'm good for 3-4 days. This summer was really dry here and I had to water every 3-4 days for most of the summer. However the previous 2 summers I rarely watered at all....the buried pot was doing fine on its own. You would not believe how many roots will run out of the top of the buried pot and when I dig it out in the fall I have traced some of these roots to be over 6 feet long!!! As far as when to bring in my trees, some got nipped by our first frost this year October 9th and all my trees had dropped most of there leaves by Mid November. I brought them into my cold cellar then. Good luck __________________ Steve Zone 5b-6a Oshawa Ontario That's Canada eh! Wish List: A Canadian member that is willing to share there cuttings with me.

dfoster25

Registered:1337044031
Posts: 723

Posted 1482981339	Reply with quote #3

I shoot for about 1/2 way. Not necessarily becaus the plants need it, but more so the plants stay stable. And don't blow over. All they really need to do is make contact with soil __________________ Zone 6, SE MICHIGAN -14F 1-7-14 -23F 2-?-15 6F 1-18-16

SCfigFanatic

Registered:1450004954
Posts: 469

Posted 1483112261 · Edited	Reply with quote #4

I have buried pots in the past, I keep the edge of the bucket 2" above soil line. I dont want ground surface water running over the top of my pot edge as it will just fill with water and wash soil from the pot. I do mulch heavily around it all when done. Pine bark chips worked best for me. Doug edit make sure to check hole for drainage before sticking pot in it. It will need a very well draining hole, or you just build a mini pool that will hold water. __________________ South Carolina zone 7b-8

DaveL

Registered:1418927587
Posts: 247

Posted 1483125520	Reply with quote #5

Lukie, I have some photos of inground pots I wanted to post. We are in the same zone and it worked really well for me last year. This photo posting issue really sucks big time. Hopefully it gets straighten out by spring. __________________ Dave Waterford, Ct. Zone 6B

SCfigFanatic

Registered:1450004954
Posts: 469

Posted 1483126306 · Edited	Reply with quote #6

I attach pictures by copy n pasting BBCode to post. If you can find that with whatever pictures hosting programs like flicker maybe potobucket. Hope it helps Doug __________________ South Carolina zone 7b-8

don_sanders

Registered:1429304713
Posts: 219

Posted 1483136616	Reply with quote #7

This year, I tried burying buckets fully, burying halfway, and setting them on top with much. They all seemed to perform about the same. I still had to water everyday in the heat of summer. All of them were wind proof including the ones sitting on top once the roots grew into the ground. The difference was in the labor required. It took about 5 times longer to remove the fully buried buckets vs the half buried. Even with a spade as long as the bucket and somewhat sharpened, it was difficult to get a clean cut of the roots. In the future, I'll just bury a few inches. Remove after they go dormant but before it gets to cold out. __________________ Don - Columbus, OH. Zone 5b/6a Wish list: Rafed/Adriano's Genovese Nero, Your favorite fig.

Lukie29

Registered:1346102796
Posts: 120

Posted 1483151796	Reply with quote #8

I appreciate all the info friends. __________________ My wish list is: Naples White, JH Adriatic, Deanna, Peters Honey, Paradiso, Raspberry Latte, Jolly Tiger, Malta Black, Maltese Falcon, Maltese beauty, , Petite negra, Zingarella, Black Madeira, 143-36, 184-15, 187-25, Conadria, Black Ischia, Sucrette, Black mission, Trojano, Yellow Neches, King.

WayneWKY

Registered:1348776626
Posts: 17

Posted 1483200253	Reply with quote #9

I set my 15 gallon pots on top of the ground and mulch around them with straw. After a couple of weeks I don't need to water. By November, the root system is huge. I go around the pot with an ax first, then a shovel.

Jamesoneil1012

Registered:1466304412
Posts: 18

Posted 1483227198	Reply with quote #10

Where in ct lukie

gofiger

Registered:1468681189
Posts: 71

Posted 1483228892	Reply with quote #11

Quote: Originally Posted by WayneWKY I set my 15 gallon pots on top of the ground and mulch around them with straw. After a couple of weeks I don't need to water. By November, the root system is huge. I go around the pot with an ax first, then a shovel. An axe first...that sounds brilliant. Thx for sharing. __________________ Steve Zone 5b-6a Oshawa Ontario That's Canada eh! Wish List: A Canadian member that is willing to share there cuttings with me.

Lukie29

Registered:1346102796
Posts: 120

Posted 1483245007	Reply with quote #12

I'm in Bridgeport, CT __________________ My wish list is: Naples White, JH Adriatic, Deanna, Peters Honey, Paradiso, Raspberry Latte, Jolly Tiger, Malta Black, Maltese Falcon, Maltese beauty, , Petite negra, Zingarella, Black Madeira, 143-36, 184-15, 187-25, Conadria, Black Ischia, Sucrette, Black mission, Trojano, Yellow Neches, King.

jrdewhirst

Registered:1420324567
Posts: 91

Posted 1483247124	Reply with quote #13

Lukie -- I was born in Bridgeport and grew up in Fairfield. My parents and wife were from Bridgeport too. The best advice I ever saw about pots in the ground is to be sure that the holes are on the side, not the bottom. It's hard to cut roots coming out the side but almost impossible to cut roots coming out the bottom. I think it's good to get the plants seriously dormant before taking them inside. I like to give them many nights with temps down to <35F and at least a few down to 25-30F. The leaves will have fallen off or will be easy to remove. This year, for example, I brought mine inside in early December just before temps went into the teens. Then if you keep them cool (<50) all winter, they'll still be dormant in mid/late April, when you can bring them out without fear of frost damage. __________________ Joe D

Lukie29

Registered:1346102796
Posts: 120

Posted 1483248841	Reply with quote #14

Small world man, Happy New Year by the way!! I went to school in Fairfield. I see you now reside in Rhode Island, I spend as much of my free time in the summer as I possibly can all alone the shore. I really like it out there. What varieties do you grow? __________________ My wish list is: Naples White, JH Adriatic, Deanna, Peters Honey, Paradiso, Raspberry Latte, Jolly Tiger, Malta Black, Maltese Falcon, Maltese beauty, , Petite negra, Zingarella, Black Madeira, 143-36, 184-15, 187-25, Conadria, Black Ischia, Sucrette, Black mission, Trojano, Yellow Neches, King.

Jamesoneil1012

Registered:1466304412
Posts: 18

Posted 1483251080	Reply with quote #15

Kool im in stratford. Happy new year. What kinds you grow

jrdewhirst

Registered:1420324567
Posts: 91

Posted 1483282359	Reply with quote #16

Quote: Originally Posted by Lukie29 Small world man, Happy New Year by the way!! I went to school in Fairfield. I see you now reside in Rhode Island, I spend as much of my free time in the summer as I possibly can all alone the shore. I really like it out there. What varieties do you grow? FP? Here's what's in-ground and the years planted: Florea (2013), Paradiso (2013), Hardy Chicago (2014), Marseilles Black vs (2015), Ronde de Bordeaux (2015), Lattarula (2015), Sal's EL (2016), and Brooklyn White (2016). I've also got a lot of plants in pots. Older plants in big pots are Zumwalt, Weeping Black, Smith, Nordland, O'Rourke, Takoma Violet. One-year old cuttings are Malta Black, Black Bethlehem, Black Greek, Salem Dark, ME Unknown, Norella, Natalina, Fico Nero Duemane, Emerald Strawberry, Sumacki, Nero 600M, Valle Negra, Hanc's BT, Laradek's EBT, St Rita, Danny's Delight, JH Adriatic, LSU Gold, LSU Champagne, LSU Purple, Filacciano Bianco. I'm starting cuttings now of LSU Improved Celeste and Red Lebanese Bekaa. I retired a few years ago, so there's time for the obsession. __________________ Joe D

DaveL

Registered:1418927587
Posts: 247

Posted 1483470793	Reply with quote #17

Hey Lukie, thanks to Toronto Joe, I think I might have figured out this photo posting thing. As you can see from the photo I buried the bottom two thirds or so of the pot. Because in my yard there isn't much soil, I had to build up the beds. This made it much easier to dig in and bury the pots. I used pots with holes on the sides, as stated in previous posts. I also covered the beds with water permeable block. This kept the weeds down, soil temperature even and the soil soft for any roots escaping through the holes. The soft soil also made it easier to dig out when the fig went dormant. I used grass clipping between rows to keep the weeds down. I also set up drip irregration for when I went on vacation. However, being retired I mostly watered by hand. I am also zone 6A and use this system for two years without any issues. IMO, burying the pots prevents tipping and keeps the root system at an even temperature. As the tree aged, I increased the pot size. Eventually the larger trees went into a Bills fig type SIP. I didn't dig up the trees until they went dormant and the leaves fell off. Hope this helps. __________________ Dave Waterford, Ct. Zone 6B

Vijgenboom

Registered:1426276591
Posts: 22

Posted 1483476045	Reply with quote #18

Hello everyone, I have figs in containers that are not IN ground but ON the ground. I made large holes in the bottom of the containers and the roots easily grow into the soil under the pots. The big advantage here is that in the fall you don't have to labour that hard, you just cut the roots by horizontally putting the spade under it. It works! __________________ Regards, Vijgenboom The Netherlands (Europe) Zone 8 (cool summers, wet winters)

jrdewhirst

Registered:1420324567
Posts: 91

Posted 1483482292	Reply with quote #19

Quote: Originally Posted by Vijgenboom Hello everyone, I have figs in containers that are not IN ground but ON the ground. I made large holes in the bottom of the containers and the roots easily grow into the soil under the pots. The big advantage here is that in the fall you don't have to labour that hard, you just cut the roots by horizontally putting the spade under it. It works! Vijgenboom -- Thanks for the input. I tried "on the ground" this past summer but gave up by late July. It's not terribly hot here (Z6B, northeast US) in summer; nevertheless black pots can easily get hot enough to damage roots and stunt growth. That risk must be greater in the south and west. So "on there ground" doesn't seem a great option here unless the pots are covered or maybe painted. As noted by others, burying can help keep roots cool. __________________ Joe D

Vijgenboom

Registered:1426276591
Posts: 22

Posted 1483558441	Reply with quote #20

Black pots do get hot in the sun. In my garden the pots are protected against the sun by flowers and knee-high berrybushes. Works really well and looks nice, too. __________________ Regards, Vijgenboom The Netherlands (Europe) Zone 8 (cool summers, wet winters)

EB18702

Registered:1448986849
Posts: 51

Posted 1483561577 · Edited	Reply with quote #21

I was thinking of trying something crazy. Cut the bottom out the pot. Attach a metal screen to let the roots grow massive out the pot. Then winter time. Use a saw or sawsall to cut the roots. I wonder how the fig would respond to cutting its roots like this every year. I think I might try it on one or two. The advantage for me is keeping a smaller pot. Hopefully the fig will think it has more room. I wonder if trying to grow roots every year would decrease fig production? I noticed some plants did better than others. Most of the better plants had massive roots growing out the pots. I'm not a fan of sips. __________________ Growing: DK, VdB, Brown Turkey, Hardy Chicago, Black Mission, Verte, Negronne, Natalina BI, U. Italian Yellow BI , U. Yellow Greek AD, U. South Plainfield, U. Orangeburg U. Carini RG, Rooting: Prosciutto, Naples Dark, Azores Dark, Columbaro Nero, De La Tira, I376, Des Roig Manyo, Greek Church U. Wishlist: ANY PEACH OR PLUM SCION PLEASE PM ME. Smith, any in ground figs for zone 6. Erik zone 6A northeast Pa

gofiger

Registered:1468681189
Posts: 71

Posted 1483563960	Reply with quote #22

Quote: Originally Posted by EB18702 I was thinking of trying something crazy. Cut the bottom out the pot. Attach a metal screen to let the roots grow massive out the pot. Then winter time. Use a saw or sawsall to cut the roots. I wonder how the fig would respond to cutting its roots like this every year. I think I might try it on one or two. The advantage for me is keeping a smaller pot. Hopefully the fig will think it has more room. I wonder if trying to grow roots every year would decrease fig production? I noticed some plants did better than others. Most of the better plants had massive roots growing out the pots. I'm not a fan of sips. Funny you mention that. I was going to experiment this coming summer with a square buried pot with one whole side cut out. Should get lots of roots coming out of that . Then in the fall I was going to have an exact pot left empty so when I dug out the in ground pot I was going to just nest it in the empty pot in my cold cellar for the winter. __________________ Steve Zone 5b-6a Oshawa Ontario That's Canada eh! Wish List: A Canadian member that is willing to share there cuttings with me.

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