Overwinter container figs outside in PNW?

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aldaigle

Registered:1455831428
Posts: 19

Posted 1480665760	Reply with quote #1

I've got 12 trees in 5-10 gallon pots, and I live in western oregon. I would like to leave them outside over the winter since I don't have a ton of garage space. But since we get so much rain, would they be likely to get root rot? How much insulation would they need? I bought some burlap to wrap around the branches...is that enough? Should I pack them with dead leaves, or would that just encourage mold? It occasionally gets below freezing here, never lower than the high 20's I don't think. The last few years I had a few figs in the garage and they broke dormancy in February or early march during a warmer spell. Would they do that if they were outside, and is it even a problem to break dormancy that early? Thanks! __________________ Amanda Oregon, Zone 8b

ross

Registered:1437442979
Posts: 375

Posted 1480687398 · Edited	Reply with quote #2

You can overwinter them outside. I would recommend insulating the containers. The branching should be fine if temps are in the high 20s. You should have very little to no dieback depending on how thick your branching is. Covering them with burlap is enough to ensure no dieback. Simply fully cover the containers with straw and you'll be fine. Pile them all up together and put them against your house away from wind. They will not break dormancy early outside, and if you're worried about root rot I think you'll be fine. You could cover the pots with plastic first to prevent water from entering the containers. __________________ Ross - Zone 6B/7A - Philadelphia My Cultivar List / Pictures! / My YouTube

aldaigle

Registered:1455831428
Posts: 19

Posted 1480703449	Reply with quote #3

awesome, thank you!! __________________ Amanda Oregon, Zone 8b

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1480826349	Reply with quote #4

As always, it depends :) I used to live in Sutherlin, just N of Roseburg and an hour S of Eugene. A lot of rain is never good but they need a little water even when dormant. How much rain they can handle depends on your soil. Temperatures under 28 may kill your breba buds but you may or may not care about that. Temperatures over 20 won't kill the wood unless it's green. A hard frost will kill green wood. It is bad if it comes out of dormancy early, especially if there's no sun. The branches develop weak growth. Then if there's a hard frost the new growth will be killed and the tree set back, meaning it will fruit later than it would have. Possibly too late to ripen. __________________ 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.

aldaigle

Registered:1455831428
Posts: 19

Posted 1480916564	Reply with quote #5

small world, I grew up in Roseburg! My mom grew 3 amazing fig trees there with no effort at all. But it's a bit cooler in the summertime in Newberg where I live now, near Portland. And generally wetter. I just put my containers against the house and insulated the pots with straw. They're under the eaves, so I'm hoping they won't get as wet. It's often dry under there. I decided not to cover the branches with burlap...see how little hassle I can get away with. Since my in-ground trees can survive without it, hopefully the pots will as well. The breba buds won't happen in jan or february, will they? It's not usually too cold after that. __________________ Amanda Oregon, Zone 8b

aldaigle

Registered:1455831428
Posts: 19

Posted 1480916653	Reply with quote #6

And I'm trying to encourage the breba crops...It's not hot long enough up here to get much of a fall crop. __________________ Amanda Oregon, Zone 8b

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1480992059	Reply with quote #7

The breba buds form the growing season before they ripen. The breba buds now on your tree formed last growing season and will expand next growing season. __________________ 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.

aldaigle

Registered:1455831428
Posts: 19

Posted 1481069194	Reply with quote #8

I did not know that, thank you. I guess I'll see how it goes without covering with burlap...if too many breba buds die, i'll cover them next winter. __________________ Amanda Oregon, Zone 8b

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1481069977	Reply with quote #9

Best of luck! __________________ 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.

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