Winter is here...the temperature has been falling for a while but nothing too bad. The last few days have been much colder though, down to minus 9 celsius one night and not getting much above freezing during yesterday. It has lifted a little today but now it is very windy.

I have all my figs in the unheated polytunnel, in wooden crates, lifted a couple of inches off the floor and wrapped in several layers of horticultural fleece. They had dropped all their leaves. Do you think they will be ok?

It would be a good idea to check the temperature in the polytunnel.  As long as you can keep them above -5 celsius (23 F) and out of the wind they should be ok.  I'm not sure why you have them off the floor (do you mean ground?) given that the ground radiates geothermal heat.

Thanks Rewton, There is no reason that they are raised, other than the crates, which were salvaged packing crates, that the figs are in have a small "foot" underneath. There is a max/min thermometer in there but I don't think it is reliable, so need to buy another this week.

Another silly question! I have moved my smaller plants into a little greenhouse, which has a heater to keep it just above freezing, around 8 degrees celsius. During the day, if we get any sunshine, I open the door to keep the temperature from getting too high. I have been wondering at what temperature the fig plants will come out of dormancy, I wouldn't want to wake them too soon.