successful Italian fig growers in Pennsylvania

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Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1300637147	Reply with quote #1

I thought I was crazy about figs until I visited Angelo this morning. This is in my area. Bethlehem, Pa Zone 6. Trees were brought over from Naples, Italy there are about 10 varieties. This tree grown by Angelo Jr. He surrounds the tree by the 4x4 posts and only covered with a carpet. The top is a piece of plywood. Here's Angelo Jr. Look at the size of the trunk. The tree is sawed down in fall prior to placing the carpet around it. No extra treatment. No problem with mice. The twigs are nice and green. Here's Angelo senior with his fig garden. A look inside. Bianca Angelo's wife is the one who brought the figs. One of their favorite tree that they brought from Naples is called Triana. She described it as Golden skin with dark red center, Ripens in September and the fig is long. The others some are black, brown, and green she didn't know all the names. I'm hoping to go back in summer to take photos. Sorry for the picture quality, they were taken with my phone. __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

northeastnewbie

Registered:1267756970
Posts: 407

Posted 1300637776	Reply with quote #2

Nice I love the family stories that come with finding new fig trees. __________________ Al Richer zone 7 nj EBAY ID--06picl member: back yard fruit growers association

will

Registered:1269291114
Posts: 226

Posted 1300640238	Reply with quote #3

molto bene!!!!!

AndreD1101

Registered:1275335380
Posts: 31

Posted 1300642608	Reply with quote #4

I wonder If I can do something like that in Chicago? Lol, I would have to heat the damn thing. It gets way too cold here in the winter.

Johnparav

Registered:1282396529
Posts: 479

Posted 1300644133	Reply with quote #5

Great pictures Bass. Where there's a will there's a way . And as for doing this in Chicago , if you use insulated foam board of 2 inches on the inside then cover with a tarp a 7 x 7 foot structure can be heated with 3 light bulbs controlled by a thermostat for about 10 to 15 dollars a month . I just did it in Toronto this past year . Moisture control not cold is the main problem so gaps for ventilation are crucial. John...

AndreD1101

Registered:1275335380
Posts: 31

Posted 1300644486	Reply with quote #6

I would love to see pictures of the set up and the tree. I think I'll try this out in the future. I'm sure if I do this with a Hardy Chicago, it would be a little easier to manage.

Johnparav

Registered:1282396529
Posts: 479

Posted 1300645149	Reply with quote #7

Hey Andre check out these links ... http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=4980845&highlight=figloo http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=5040799&highlight=figloo

AndreD1101

Registered:1275335380
Posts: 31

Posted 1300649584	Reply with quote #8

Awesome set up. I bet that tree puts out tons of figs. What kind of fig is it?

will

Registered:1269291114
Posts: 226

Posted 1300651509	Reply with quote #9

triana

AndreD1101

Registered:1275335380
Posts: 31

Posted 1300653482	Reply with quote #10

They did the the first time I tried them. Have you put any container figs in the figloo?

rob0520

Registered:1239503203
Posts: 482

Posted 1300654210	Reply with quote #11

Wow Bass that's awesome.Thanks for sharing.

Johnparav

Registered:1282396529
Posts: 479

Posted 1300656927	Reply with quote #12

Hey Andre I don't want to hijack Bass's great thread so I will answer in the figloo thread linked below.. http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=5040799&highlight=figloo John

possum_trot

Registered:1269047402
Posts: 224

Posted 1300657438	Reply with quote #13

The picture with the blue tarp looks a lot like a greenhouse that I used to have. I used 6ml plastic sheeting instead of the blue tarp. worked great but lost a lot of heat at night. Top was also plastic. But with the clear plastic my plants could stay in there when they started to leaf out and I didn't have to do the "fig shuffle". Susan __________________ Susan Brown County, Indiana zone 6

71GTO

Registered:1290311646
Posts: 1,002

Posted 1300666249	Reply with quote #14

Won't a tree that size be able to live uncovered in zone 6? __________________ NJ z7a Wish list :

Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1300666822	Reply with quote #15

I've never seen a trunk that size on a fig tree in our area. Usually fig trees will develop several trunk creating a bushy habit in the cold due to die back. __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

Italiangirl74

Registered:1189815225
Posts: 628

Posted 1300668158	Reply with quote #16

Hi Bass, thanks for sharing this very nice and I see why younger Angelo has Big SMILE on his face, yes, this is the way you would do this in a zone 6 climate in the winter to protect a fig tree this large. Very very good, with trunk that thick is very impossible to bury. Good for Bianca for bringing this tradition and her figs to America and passing to her children! This will be the same story for me one day and hopefully I will see grandchildren who will share same love and connection. Ciao __________________ Maggie Maria zone 7

Johnparav

Registered:1282396529
Posts: 479

Posted 1300670326	Reply with quote #17

Hey Bass Do you know when they uncover the trees , and whether it is a transitional process or just all at once ? Thanks .... John

Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1300709746	Reply with quote #18

When I was there we opened up the vents on the sides. I'm assuming he has to remove everything at once since it's almost one piece. I'm guessing a couple more weeks before he removes it. It reached 77°F last Friday but now it's snowing over here. __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1306200501	Reply with quote #19

Here's some photos of the figs after removing the covering. Photo taken May 14th. As you see the trees didn't suffer any cold damage. They were loaded with brebas when I checked them. __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

nypd5229

Registered:1290455653
Posts: 1,903

Posted 1306201144	Reply with quote #20

That actually looks like a nice simple set up. Canvas, plywood and muscle. __________________ Dominick Zone 6a-MA

rafed

Registered:1252876934
Posts: 5,308

Posted 1306201925	Reply with quote #21

Speaking of wrapping. I have unused brand new moving pads I can sell to those interested. They are ( I think ) 60" x 72" and come 12 in a bundle. $75 bundle. Shipping is out of the question as it will be too expensive. I can arrange local pick up.

Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1306201939	Reply with quote #22

It seems pretty easy, if you're a handy person. They're about 8'-10' high, you will need to climb a ladder to be able to cover it. __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

nypd5229

Registered:1290455653
Posts: 1,903

Posted 1306244274	Reply with quote #23

I have an unused 40x 150 parcel infront of the sidewalk that I need to clear. Boy if I could get a chance to clear it that would be a nice area. Plus it faces South __________________ Dominick Zone 6a-MA

will

Registered:1269291114
Posts: 226

Posted 1306251880	Reply with quote #24

wow what a set up I'm super jealous!!!

robertharper

Registered:1236730861
Posts: 369

Posted 1306252856	Reply with quote #25

Bass, the Trianna fig that Angelo is growing, is that the same fig that Joe Morale in Boston sells, as White Trianna??? Bob

Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1306285264	Reply with quote #26

I would never know until later this summer I can take photos of these figs. They brought these figs straight from Italy. There are other varieties there some are dark, and one they praised about that makes green with dark red flesh. I just visited Angelo an hour ago, and these figs are forming a nice crop of Brebas. You know how the naming of varieties are, judging by the confusion of the Paradiso in Italy, I'm not sure if this Triana is the same as joe morle's. __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

nelson20vt

Registered:1259864353
Posts: 1,847

Posted 1306322124	Reply with quote #27

Lovely photos Bass, the last two season's I have been paying close attention to how people with inground trees protect them over the winter and have noticed a few setups like this or they wrap them with burlap but I have noticed most people bury them. I recently bought a house and found someone down the street with a very big inground figtree atleast 10ft tall once I move in I will try and pass by there and talk to the owner and see how he protects that tall tree and find out more about his figs noticed he had quite a few in his greenhouse. __________________ Mississauga, ON, Canada Z5B/6A

Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1313457068	Reply with quote #28

I visited my friend Angelo today and sampled some of these figs. Very sweet and I was amazed by the productivity of these trees. These varieties came from Italy. __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

Grandinetti

Registered:1210636299
Posts: 45

Posted 1313463512	Reply with quote #29

This is such a great post and thread Bass - absolutely beautiful trees and very innovative set-up...thank you for sharing this story!! __________________ Joe Grandinetti Zone 5b - northeastern PA

Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1313532142	Reply with quote #30

Joe, you're welcome. It's always interesting to see how some people get innovative to grow figs. I ate a few figs while there. This was a main crop which is very early in my area. __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

theman7676

Registered:1305721469
Posts: 361

Posted 1313533966	Reply with quote #31

nelson - congrads on the new home did you ever meet up with john? he has a sweet outdoors set up and is a super generous & nice guy....check out his link above....he cant be that far away from you eli __________________ wish list: Florea Nordland Tacoma Violet LaRadek's English Brown Turkey

GreenFin

Registered:1331268315
Posts: 684

Posted 1393965280	Reply with quote #32

Holy cow, those guys are awesome! Thanks for bumping this thread :) __________________ James, zone 6a Kansas (zone 10 greenhouses); wish list is in my profile http://www.FigCuttings.com

GreenFin

Registered:1331268315
Posts: 684

Posted 1393965556	Reply with quote #33

Quote: Originally Posted by Bass What's the spacing on these trees? Is that about 6 feet? __________________ James, zone 6a Kansas (zone 10 greenhouses); wish list is in my profile http://www.FigCuttings.com

leon_edmond

Registered:1188903453
Posts: 923

Posted 1393983692	Reply with quote #34

How do they fertilize the fig trees? What do they use?

PhilaGardener

Registered:1389014416
Posts: 199

Posted 1393986962	Reply with quote #35

Amazing! Thanks for bumping so us new members get to see these neat older threads! I hope their trees make it through this PA winter OK! __________________ Philadelphia Gardener Near Philly, but winters still feeling like Zone 6!

figlayla

Registered:1430091348
Posts: 155

Posted 1431554160	Reply with quote #36

Wow great setup, makes me with i had more property. thanks for sharing. __________________ Joshua Ahl New York/Long Island Wish List: black madiera, vdb, rdb, nero 600 ( waiting on greenfin's delivery) pomengranete cuttings/plants..and a bmw r25/26/27 Current list in pots: Sals, honey, green ichia, monstrues, hardy chicago, joe morle Goccia d'Oro, atillio purple, black mission. Rooting Unknowns Now

luigiwu

Registered:1410096733
Posts: 87

Posted 1431568443	Reply with quote #37

Beautiful and the sound of those red interiors, yum! __________________ New to figs! Container gardening in NY, Zone 7 Wishlist: Ronde de Bordeaux \| Violet de Bordeaux \| Negronne \| Valle Negra

mgginva

Registered:1320266925
Posts: 1,857

Posted 1431636935	Reply with quote #38

thx Bass. Always makes me feel good to see people with passion. __________________ Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list: Perretta,

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