DevIsgro
1420826837
Posted 1421076166
Reply with quote #1
Hi everyone, I'm new to this community but read this place daily. I hjust wanted to point something out that I've noticed. Everyone seems to think that we all grow figs in warm places, but this isn'isn'tirely true. I live in the mountains Maine, us. For those of you that don't know it's freaking cold. Like 4-5 feet of snow 4-6 months out of the year. Yet I still grow figs. I got into this hobby because of growing up with a massive six foot black mission in my mothers living room. Now I'm an avid tree collector. The point is that just because a fig needs too much heat, can't take the rain or will split or has a wide eye doesn't mean you can't grow it for your collection or that it's useless for you. I have my trees in 1-15 gallon pots age depensing, indoors. We all probably have homes, so if I can fit 10+ trees, we can all fit a couple. Some trees would be quite happy living on a patio, deck or porch in summer months. Anyway, just wanted to point out that I can grow figs in snow country, and the home is an excellent place for plants that just don't work outside. Note that I have a 4' grow light for my trees, but with large windows you should be fine.
zone5figger
1395082963
Posted 1421077451
Reply with quote #2
Welcome to the forum from a neighbor in Maine, there's a few of us on f4f. One interesting factoid is that Maine shares the same latitude as southern France, but due to the jetstream and ocean currents, we are much colder. The sun is just as strong, so with some creativity we can grow the same crops as Mediterranean countries, ie. figs. Snowing like the dickens and 21F out there right now though!
andreas
1401724296
Posted 1421077504
Reply with quote #3
DevIsgro welcome to the forum andreas-patras Patra Peloponnisos Greece zone..9a
DevIsgro
1420826837
Posted 1421078206
Reply with quote #4
I totally agree on the sun zone5figger, we have cooling winds, but the sum will still produce. I actually remember my great grandfather used to have fig trees, that he brought with him from Italy, in New Jersey, which was the same climate as Maine at that time, and he used to dig a trench next to the trees, bend them over and into the trench, then cover with cow manure so they woulls be warm for the winter. It just takes creativity and plant pots with wheels!!
waynea
1362316304
Posted 1421078509
Reply with quote #5
Welcome to the forum Devin. I was born and raised in New Hampshire so I know cold, especially the temps from Mt. Washington. I now live in sunny Florida, today is an 80 degree day, but I agree with you, grow figs wherever, just establish them in an adaptive environment.
rcantor
1309799312
Posted 1421080625
Reply with quote #6
Welcome! We have some members in warm climates but I'd guess most of us are in climates cold enough to need winter protection and most of us grow most of our figs in pots. That said, you're colder than I am so you win. Sort of... :)
MichaelTucson
1333340598
Posted 1421082185
Reply with quote #7
Welcome to the forum. There are quite a few cold-climate growers who are active on this forum. If you're looking for information that has been posted about this over the years, the search function may be something you'd be interested to learn. Good luck.
Pauca sed matura.
DevIsgro
1420826837
Posted 1421084285
Reply with quote #8
Thanks Mike, I have seen some of the information, but it seems the truly cold hardy fig tree has yet to emerge. I'm in zone 3/4, mostly 4 but some winters are harder than others. I have seen success with nordland and Chicago in zone 5 with 3+year old trees and minor wind/cold protection. The point of all this was just to show that even if cold or bugs Jill the tree normally, indoor plants work too. I'm glad to see I'm not the only oneowith a tree addiction inside the home!
ChrisK
1415844271
Posted 1421084830
Reply with quote #9
Welcome to the forum Devin. You have got see what the top of my fridge looks like! We all have the same addiction here brother! Growing figs any which way possible!
fitzski
1418923211
Posted 1421085060
Reply with quote #10
welcome to the forum. I'm in Eastern MA so I shelter my figs inside for the winter.
DevIsgro
1420826837
Posted 1421086874
Reply with quote #11
Mine aren't that old yet, I've just started building up the collection. I started with citrus then expanded to figs...
DevIsgro
1420826837
Posted 1421087409
Reply with quote #12
@Chris I'm planning on building a super insulated outdoor grow room/building for wintering over my trees. The idea would be to build layer walls with masonary to create insulating air gaps and do the same thing on the roof with 3 or 4 layers of polycarbonate sheeting and an air gap between each layer. I figure if it never freezes I'll rarely have to heat it, if at all, and it will not get super hot in summer because of filtered light, and I won't need very much artificial light. I'm tired of getting told "no more trees in the house" :P
ChrisK
1415844271
Posted 1421087875
Reply with quote #13
Lol I know the feeling! Sounds like a great greenhouse idea to me! Maybe a few removable panels for the summer months? They really love direct sun light. just a thought.
COGardener
1357441505
Posted 1421088370
Reply with quote #14
Welcome Devon.
DaveL
1418927587
Posted 1421090697
Reply with quote #15
Hi Devon, welcome to the forum. I am also familiar with the "no more trees in the house". My response is I have a plan. Of course, however, I don't but I'll figure something out.
DevIsgro
1420826837
Posted 1421092260
Reply with quote #16
Aaaahhhhhh !! Kindred souls !!!!!!
Bevman
1405028595
Posted 1421093309
Reply with quote #17
Plants in the house have benefits too. They help clean the air of pollutants, take the CO2 out of the air and gives us back oxygen, adds moisture to the air, and if I did not have some green life to look at, I would go nuts in the winter.
Arthur, Saint Louis CO, MO (Z 6B)
GregMartin
1370378358
Posted 1421114073
Reply with quote #18
Another welcome from Maine. Funny, I started with citrus as well and then quickly added figs to my collection of plants that move in and out with the seasons. My figs quickly outnumbered my citrus thanks to the kindness of members of this forum. I'm in the tropical part of Maine...York county!
FiggyFrank
1347560723
Posted 1421157063
Reply with quote #19
Welcome to the forum, Devon. It sounds like you've made a happy environment for your trees.
DevIsgro
1420826837
Posted 1421163223
· Edited
Reply with quote #20
That's so cool another citrus to trig but in Maine !! I'm in Franklin, near sugarloaf. It'll be a few years until my stuff produces, but it'll be an awesome year for figs at home !!!!
