Winter Kill- Not Too Bad

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Pattee

Registered:1345750012
Posts: 1,417

Posted 1400006899	Reply with quote #1

So today "we" finally got our figs outside and off the porch. Thank goodness my hubby does all of that - such a good man! Most of my trees are just breaking dormancy or have some new green growth , some have figs on them already! I'm soo happy about those. My JH Adriatic is one for certain, dead as a doornail ! Totally dessicated , main trunk split. I'm not happy about this one - hadn't even gotten a fig off it yet! I don't know why as they all had the same treament and insulation around/under them. The other is Italian Purple- not split but really dead looking - will hold out a bit of hope .... Keeping my fingers crossed for Malone and another still not showing any green , but they just don't look dead.. All in all, not bad at all !! I'm just thankful that we decided to really insulate as much as we did. __________________ 7a & 9b ►I assume all my figs carry FMV ◄ Seeking : Italian 376,395 , Galicia Negra, Negretta,UNK Pastilliere ,Pananas Purple, Malta Blk+purple/red, Italian + Calabrian UNK's , Catanzaro, Malone, Sucrette(Baud) "We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to the meeting of hearts?" - Gandhi

BronxFigs

Registered:1333154764
Posts: 1,864

Posted 1400011842	Reply with quote #2

Pattee- Good luck! I hate to be a pain, but can you list the figs varieties that have definitely survived, and how you over-wintered them? This porch that you mentioned....was it an unheated porch? How low did the temps get on that porch, especially at night. Frank __________________ Bronx, NYC Zone-7

newnandawg

Registered:1344130335
Posts: 2,535

Posted 1400014317	Reply with quote #3

Pattee, I can relate. If you haven't already, don't throw them out. I have a couple that have come back from the dead at the root area.

Pattee

Registered:1345750012
Posts: 1,417

Posted 1400015964	Reply with quote #4

Thanks Mike , I do intend to keep them around for a while . The JH Adriatic just seems dessicated and dk brown - when I saw the split trunk and dryness , well ya just know .... Frank, will get back to you on this in a bit . No problem , not a pain, anything to help ! Yes it is an unheated, enclosed porch. __________________ 7a & 9b ►I assume all my figs carry FMV ◄ Seeking : Italian 376,395 , Galicia Negra, Negretta,UNK Pastilliere ,Pananas Purple, Malta Blk+purple/red, Italian + Calabrian UNK's , Catanzaro, Malone, Sucrette(Baud) "We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to the meeting of hearts?" - Gandhi

Pattee

Registered:1345750012
Posts: 1,417

Posted 1400016358	Reply with quote #5

I wanted to thank a few very,very generous members for offering to replace my JH Adriatic ! I so appreciate your generosity and I wanted to express it here . A big THANK YOU !!! __________________ 7a & 9b ►I assume all my figs carry FMV ◄ Seeking : Italian 376,395 , Galicia Negra, Negretta,UNK Pastilliere ,Pananas Purple, Malta Blk+purple/red, Italian + Calabrian UNK's , Catanzaro, Malone, Sucrette(Baud) "We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to the meeting of hearts?" - Gandhi

Pattee

Registered:1345750012
Posts: 1,417

Posted 1400027457	Reply with quote #6

So Frank , we have a wrap around porch that is above ground level 3-4 ft (open bottom w/ lattice at openings), which does make it colder . It's technically a screened in summer porch. We do have windows frames enclosing the entire porch for winter. Keeps out the wind but that's about all. I'm sure that without the insulation/tarps/quilts I would have had quite a number of dead trees, as it would have been almost as cold as the outside temps . Years back , there were winter temps that froze things I had stored on the porch. We first placed a large tarp on the floor, then added rolled insulation(pink rolls) over the entire tarp, then added another tarp on top of that . All the smaller pots were placed on the house wall side. We put insulation between and around them - there were 2 rows. The larger pots were placed next . We didn't put insulation in between/around the larger pots . Although that would be something I would do now. We hung tarps on the window side to keep the light/cold out. Watered them and I covered all the figs with old quilts , moving quilts , whatever I had . I don't know what prompted me to do all that but I'm sure glad I did. Lately the porch has been pretty warm with the warmer outside temps and still enclosed. Tarps are off the windows. So we decided to put them all out today , and of course it's chilly tonight, ugh. Not freezing but 50 and very windy. We just went out and tarped them to protect them from the winds and my young newbies are back in the house. Negronne and Italian Purple are still questionable. JH Adriatic dead, although a member in NJ says his do fine in his unheated garage! I guess it was something I did , can't figure it out though, since much smaller ones in 1 gal. pots did ok. Hope this helps. __________________ 7a & 9b ►I assume all my figs carry FMV ◄ Seeking : Italian 376,395 , Galicia Negra, Negretta,UNK Pastilliere ,Pananas Purple, Malta Blk+purple/red, Italian + Calabrian UNK's , Catanzaro, Malone, Sucrette(Baud) "We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to the meeting of hearts?" - Gandhi

BronxFigs

Registered:1333154764
Posts: 1,864

Posted 1400030724	Reply with quote #7

Thanks Pattee, for the details. Also got your PM. I am glad that you were successful in over-wintering your fig collection. It's a lot of work, but certainly worth the efforts. Good luck with the rest of the season. Frank __________________ Bronx, NYC Zone-7

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1400031847	Reply with quote #8

Some say Ventura is cold hardy. Guess what? It's not! Mine is 6' tall and died to the ground. It's growing back but I let it stay out when temps reached 9 degrees to test. I brought it in after that freeze. It didn't look good but it is coming back to life with a 6 inch sprout from the roots. The same goes for my O'Rourkes. Completely died to the ground! But growing back now from roots. The one tree that completely shocked me as being cold hardy is Desert King! I got 3, 5 footers in pots. Our hard freeze didn't even burn them! I've got to get more of these! __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1400032389	Reply with quote #9

Dennis, how cold hardy is Desert King with respect to breba production? __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

Mario_1

Registered:1398299123
Posts: 407

Posted 1400034268	Reply with quote #10

The heavier pot may have squeezed the floor insulation, therefore rendering it useless __________________ Wallingford CT, USA zone 6a would be happy to meet and get together with other members near me Wish list; Any fig from any specific place anywhere in Italy

noss

Registered:1244523274
Posts: 2,122

Posted 1400047862	Reply with quote #11

Hi Pattee, Living in South Louisiana, there are many old homes that are up on brick, or concrete pillars. In the summer, the breezes can flow under the houses and keep them cooler and in the winter, people often put skirting around the bottom of the houses to keep the wind from blowing under them and keep pipes from freezing. I'm wondering--I'm thinking you have a basement under your home? I grew up in NJ and we had a front porch that was raised and had latticework to close off the area beneath it. Could you put some sort of skirting around the raised, open area beneath your porch to stop the wind that could make things even colder? Just a thought, noss __________________ noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1400049568	Reply with quote #12

Hello Pattee, Glad to hear that your losses were minimal, wish that I could say the same. My trees were stored in an enclosed, insulated, unheated porch also, but they were not given supplemental heat, which would have helped in those extreme cold spells. I would have to agree about holding on to the "dead" potted fig trees (for at least 2 more months). Last year a few trees that I thought were dead re-grew from the roots, it just took 3 months for any signs of life. Good luck in the growing season.

Pattee

Registered:1345750012
Posts: 1,417

Posted 1400074639	Reply with quote #13

Hi Noss ! Our home is over 100 yrs. old and yes it is on brick stanchions. We do have a basement . We had thought of taking them down there , but thought it might be too warm? Never thought of the skirting ! Canvas with snap closure might work. Luckily there are no pipes under the porch. Thanks for the input! __________________ 7a & 9b ►I assume all my figs carry FMV ◄ Seeking : Italian 376,395 , Galicia Negra, Negretta,UNK Pastilliere ,Pananas Purple, Malta Blk+purple/red, Italian + Calabrian UNK's , Catanzaro, Malone, Sucrette(Baud) "We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to the meeting of hearts?" - Gandhi

Pattee

Registered:1345750012
Posts: 1,417

Posted 1400074958	Reply with quote #14

Hey Pete , thanks ! I'm sorry you had losses though. If there's anything I can help you out with in fall , don't hesitate to pm me. I agree , not too anxious to throw any out until late summer. Should be time enough to tell by then. __________________ 7a & 9b ►I assume all my figs carry FMV ◄ Seeking : Italian 376,395 , Galicia Negra, Negretta,UNK Pastilliere ,Pananas Purple, Malta Blk+purple/red, Italian + Calabrian UNK's , Catanzaro, Malone, Sucrette(Baud) "We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to the meeting of hearts?" - Gandhi

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