New Fig Care - North East (CT)

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APORTO

Registered:1443104360
Posts: 101

Posted 1443107376 · Edited	Reply with quote #1

Hi All, I am new to the forum and started growing figs this summer. I was given 3 Brown Turkey shoots in June. 2 have grown to 3 ft (5ft in pots), and are producing figs! The third did not do well and I put a piece in a baggy and was able to start rooting, and was 8 inches tall by August. BT's seem to be indestructible. -- Encouraged by my success with the BT, I decided to try to root some of my father-in-law's unknown black figs. In July, I placed 4 cuttings in a plastic bag until I saw roots, transferred to plastic cups. These plants have incredible root development but no leaves. This is the opposite of what I saw with the BTs as leaves were forming in the plastic bag. In Sept, I transferred 2 to 12" pots and they are just starting to produce leafs. I have been bringing the smaller plants in at night and plan on keeping them inside during the winter. I keep the house temperature at 65 and worry that might be too cold for the new growth. -- Question: Is there any special care / anything I need to be aware of to keep the smaller plants healthy over the winter? Will the very young plants survive going dormant? Thank you in advance, Andrew __________________ 6B-7A - Woodbridge, CT

Dave

Registered:1312388324
Posts: 1,482

Posted 1443117750	Reply with quote #2

Welcome to the forum! __________________ Connecticut - Zone 6B Wish List - Bordissot negra rimada

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1443131516	Reply with quote #3

Keep potted plants in an unheated, insulated garage for winter, sprinkle some water at least once a month, especially when temps are above freezing in the garage. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

DaveL

Registered:1418927587
Posts: 247

Posted 1443133925	Reply with quote #4

Hi Andrew, welcome to the forum. __________________ Dave Waterford, Ct. Zone 6B

APORTO

Registered:1443104360
Posts: 101

Posted 1443189595	Reply with quote #5

Thank you all for the warm welcome and replies. Rafael, I was planning on storing the larger plants in basement which stays around 50 degrees. The garage is typically below freezing as liquids stored there freeze solid. Based on your reply, you believe the smaller plants just forming leaves should be OK in the same environment? Do you also believe that freezing or below is a better dormant environment than low 50's? Thank you, Andrew __________________ 6B-7A - Woodbridge, CT

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1443195336	Reply with quote #6

Actually I have read that no higher than 45 is the best temperature but you sound like it is warmer than that, there is a possibility they could break bud that warm. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,100

Posted 1443199633	Reply with quote #7

Hello Andrew, Search the forum, there are lots of ways to store your potted figs. But neither a frozen garage or a 50 degree basement are ideal. One way that some people have handled the garage temperature is with a heater, or make some type of partitioned off area you can insulate and heat. You really just need to ideally keep it above freezing. __________________ Ed Zone 6A - Southwest PA --------------------------- Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid), Col Littman's Black Cross. And any cold hardy early fig.

rmulhero

Registered:1429223986
Posts: 263

Posted 1443211105	Reply with quote #8

Welcome to the forum! __________________ Becky, zone 5 Growing: Hardy Chicago, VdB, Dessert King, Celeste, Green Ischia, Marseilles VS, Kathleen's Black, Red Sicilian, Adriatic JH, Violetta bayerfeinge, New Brunswick, Magnolia and Italian Honey. Wishlist: Sicilian Black JR, Petite Negra, Sweet George, Lattarula, Sals Corleone (Gene), Vasilika sika, Galicia negra, Dalmatie and any cold hardy fig.

striveforfreedom

Registered:1322497326
Posts: 437

Posted 1443213633	Reply with quote #9

Welcome to the forum Andrew! Keep all of the fig trees (large and small) in an unheated garage away from the door. For me it's really been the wind chill that had killed them. __________________ Vince Russo Norwalk, CT Zone 7A Wish list - Any cuttings of the Col de Dames would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

BronxFigs

Registered:1333154764
Posts: 1,864

Posted 1443266248 · Edited	Reply with quote #10

Overwintering: Store cool enough to keep trees dormant, warm enough to prevent freezing, moist enough to prevent root dehydration, and avoid desiccating winds. You have to make these things, happen. Bad things will be the result when you don't. Fig trees need protection in other than tropical/Mediterranean climates. Suggestions in post #7 are probably your best best...(I'm sure you will be adding more figs to your collection), and storing in a cool, garage is more convenient when the "fig shuffle" starts next spring. Move your trees out - probably sometime in April - when days are warm, and then move them right back into the cool garage at night. Daytime out, nighttime in. Continue this shuffle routine, until temps stabilized, and can support the newly sprouted growth. Avoid at all costs, any freezing of the new growth. This can extend your growing/ripening season by about a month, and may allow you to ripen two crops of figs....depending on the variety. Match the ripening times of each variety to your climate zone. Good luck. Frank __________________ Bronx, NYC Zone-7

APORTO

Registered:1443104360
Posts: 101

Posted 1443455973	Reply with quote #11

Great Information. It sounds like 35-45 degrees is the ideal range for dormant figs. but.... colder is better than warmer because I don't want to risk having figs come out of dormancy mid-winter. So this is my plan: a) 2 well established 3-4ft Brown Turkeys: Leave outside until leaves turn and fall off, then move to garage against inside wall for warmth. b) 4 cuttings of unknown Black and Excel just starting to leaf: Move them indoors to try to extend growing season, reduce dormant period. When temperature drops to low 40's, move to garage. Move to basement against outside glass door when temperatures drop into 20's. Move back to Garage when temps rise to high 30's. These are in 2 gallon pots and quite easy to move. Next year, all survivors stay in garage. Lesson learned: Root future cuttings / purchase new tress in late February so they will have time to mature / hardy before the next winter. Thank you to all who responded. __________________ 6B-7A - Woodbridge, CT

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