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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > First Frost in Zone 6b,Southern New Jersey
 
 


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Herman2

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 

This morning frost was present,with 30*F.
Finally leaves will Fall.
We had a long Sommer.
My Observation is that it was long but it was not very HOt.
This come from the fact that My Col de Dame and Violette de Bordeaux (fred Born,origine),did not get Ripe.
Last year Sommer was about the same or shorter,and They got ripe.
Last Year Violette de B.was killed to ground and grew from roots and still had a handfull of figs.
This year died again,and it has fruits again,and it grew strongly,but They are not ripe anymore.It is 4 yrs old now.

Adriatic did not ripe fruit this year also!
Col de Dame is 3 years old and died within 4 inches from ground ,and grew well, but the fruits are not ripe yet.
I think the Total Heat Index was low in my climate this year.
Now I understand Why many people do not have Success growing these Varieties.
I am sending this Violette de Bordeaux in New Mexico to someone.
I bet it will be very good there.
It does have very good Flavor,maybe better than other Strains.That is according to my taste buds.Other People will differ.
Best Regards

scott_ga

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
First frost today in Georgia too, Herman. Only figs that I have that might finish ripening are Hardy Chicago (since I took it into the garage). Brown Turkey had its leaves pretty well cooked and the last figs probably won't make it.
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pitangadiego

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 

What is frost?  Couldn't resist. ;-)
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scott_ga

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Last two Hardy Chicago picked today, shriveled, very limp, and DELICIOUS!
They sure didn't look like much from the outside, half green and half purple-black.
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Peg919

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
We really haven't had any hard freezing here in CT yet. A few cold mornings. Today was 60 degrees. My neighbor has his fig tree all tied up with a pipe on top but not covered yet...still too warm. I took some of his trimmings. Some are still green.

Peg 
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Posted Reply with quote  #6 

Sorry to bring up a sore subject, but it was sunny and 84 degrees in SD for the third day in a row. It really is time for all of you to move west. ;-))
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gorgi

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Frost (white ice crystals) is created when the air temperature drops below freezing
resulting of water vapor in the ( just previously warm) air condensation, freezing
on such surfaces as the ground or  leaves of a plant.
Frost is soon melted and the moisture dried by the morning (somewhat hot) sun.
However, frost damages plants because the water
inside the cells of a plant freezes and breaks the cell walls. That part of the plant
will die (unless hardy enough).  Figs do survive this well.

Currently, all my outside figs were hit  by the recent hard NJ frost mentioned by
Herman. All the lush green fig leaves suddenly turned into a dark green mush and
should/will soon fall off. This is OK; the figs will go into a normal dormancy.
Above 20*F (rule-of-thumb), there should be no above ground fig damage
(wood/tips/buds). It has also been touted, that underground fig parts (roots)
may can withstand 10 - 5 *F,  ready to spout new shoots, next spring if necessary .

P.S. Water is the ONLY  thing I know of that expands just before solidifying.
Others contact (get smaller/denser). Water is quite unique for life here on our
good Earth. Think of the ponds/lakes with frozen (floating, lighter) TOP ice,
thus protecting/insulating all the rest of the  water and live (possible starter)
 creatures  underneath, AMAZING indeed....

George (NJ).
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moshepherdess

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Herman2,

how do you protect your fig trees in winter?  or is the reason
you had so many to freeze because you do not add any
protection?

jon, 

if we all move to california, it might fall in the ocean
after all.  i rather enjoy the fresh winter air when it isn't
too cold.  having a nice, warm hoophouse to retreat to
during the day is pretty nice also.  seeing all the green
inside when everything outside is brown is quite nice.  by
the time the end of summer gets here, i am ready for a
break from constant outdoor growing.  winter is my vacation
of sorts, especially since i can enjoy a lawn chair in the hoop,
absorbing some sun before picking a fresh salad for supper.

elizabeth
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Elizabeth
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zone5b
7b or higher in hoophouse
Herman2

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Elizabeth:I had many frozen,because i have more than "Many figs"
When you have more than 50 figs in your backyard let see,how you will protect all of them!!!!!
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